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Post Op Instructions for Breast Augmentation / Mammaplasty

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Prior to your surgery it is important not to take aspirn or motrin containing products to minimize the chance of bleeding. I will meet you in the prep and holding area of the OR area prior to going back to the OR. We will discuss the goals of the surgery and place markings. The surgery generally takes about an hour. Friends or family will be able to see you once you are fully awake. I will contact you the evening of surgery or the next day to see how things are going. The first post op visit is 2 or 3 days later. These are some guidelines to help you during your recovery. They are not meant to be all inclusive and you should call the office if you have additional questions or concerns.

1. You will have either an Ace wrap or surgical bra on at the end of the operation. If you have an Ace wrap it should be snug but not too binding. It should be applying pressure to the upper half of your breast to keep the implants low. You may make some adjustments to it for comfort but try not to take it off and "peek".
2. If the On-Q "pain buster ball" was placed nothing is needed to be done to care for it. You should notice it slowly emptying over time. If it is empty you may remove it by tracing the catheters to the skin, removing the covering film, then pulling them out. It is designed to last about 2-3 days so I tend to remove it during the first post op visit. You may think that it is not working because you don't see any fluid moving or it doesn't seem to be emptying. However, you will see it getting wrinkled along the edges and smaller very slowly indicating that it is indeed emptying.
3. You should feel that both implants are in roughly the same position. If one seems to be markedly different than the other then please call. After the first visit and all the dressings are taken off you should pay close attention to implant symmetry. I will teach you how to do this in the office.
4. You will be more comfortable sleeping on your back in a reclining type position for several days. Try not to sleep on your side or abdomen for two weeks.
5. Try not to reach above your shoulders for at least a week to minimize pain.
6. Working out with arm weights, jogging, or tennis is okay 3 or 4 weeks after surgery.
7. It is not uncommon to hear or feel a "sloshing" noise during the first few weeks after surgery. This is just swelling fluid which will absorb on its own.
8. Shooting pains, burning, spasms, or numbness are common sensations and are temporary. Most women are taking minimal pain medicine by two weeks after surgery.
9. Infections are uncommon. However, high fevers, excessive drainage from the incisions, swelling or redness not present on the opposite side could be signs of one and you should call.

For additional information on Mammaplasty / breast augmentation, visit the American Society of Plastic Surgeons for this procedure.