Breast Augmentation Post-Op Instructions

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No Aspirin, Salicilates, Vitamin E or Ibuprofen for two weeks before and following surgery. Check all over-the-counter medication labels to assure medication you take does not contain the above. (Alka-Seltzer, Contact, Dristan, Midol and many others contain aspirin and other ingredients as listed above.) Tylenol is safe and may be used at any time following your surgery. Do not exceed more than 8 Tylenol pills in a 24 hour period.

If you take prescription medications, you may resume all medication following surgery except non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and blood thinning medications unless specifically directed by your surgeon.

Begin taking your Demerol and Flexeril either in the recovery room or immediately once you get home. Take these two medications on schedule the first 2 days even if your pain is not great, provided you are not excessively sedated. Once your discomfort becomes less acute, take your pain medication as needed. If you feel you will run out and need more, call the office so this can be refilled during regular office hours. Take any prescribed antibiotics until you have finished the entire prescription. If you feel you are having sensitivity or allergy to one of your medications, discontinue it at once and notify your surgeon. Tylenol Extra Strength is best taken between your Demerol doses. This helps prolong the effect of the Demerol.

Bathing

You may only sponge bathe until after your first post-op office visit to your surgeon.

Leave your surgical bra in place continuously until your first post-op visit. You will be instructed at that time what type of bra if any to wear until your next office visit.

Activity

No sexual activity for 10 days following surgery. (This is to prevent engorgement of the breasts.) No aerobic activity for 2 weeks following surgery. After two weeks, if you desire, you may begin walking or the use of an exercise bike for up to 15 minute intervals, twice a day.

Care of Your Incisions

Your sutures are placed below the surface and will be removed in the office in about 10 days after surgery. Steri-strips (which have been placed at the time of surgery) will be removed or changed if necessary by your surgeon. Clear plastic sutures protruding from the edges of your incision should be protected from being pulled or dislodged.

Notify your surgeon of any increased redness, warmth or excessive bruising in your breasts.

You may use ice bags to decrease swelling and pain as needed.

If you have a fever (temp. greater than 100.5 degrees) within the first 3 days following surgery, most likely the source is from lack of complete expansion of your lungs following anesthesia. Take several deep breaths and then exhale forcibly and quickly to allow for complete expansion. Inspect your breasts for any excessive redness. If none is present and your temperature returns to normal after 2 Tylenol tablets and does not rise again, you need only report this to your surgeon at your next office visit. If your temperature persists, call your surgeon.

Once your incisions are free of their Steri-strips, you may feel a small temporary ridge beneath the incision. This will subside within a few weeks and the incision should become imperceptible quickly. Do not expose edges of your incision to tanning until they have completely faded. You may feel a bristle at one or both edges of your incision, if so your surgeon may remove the suture knot at 6 weeks following surgery.

Buying New Bras

Do not wear underwire bras until approved by your surgeon.

We recommend you purchase only 2 bras soon after your surgery. Three months after surgery, most settling, softening and shifting will have occurred. At that time you may complete your selection of new bras.

After 2 weeks your surgeon may recommend taking Vitamin E 800 iu. daily. Nature Made (D-Alpha Tocopheryl) Vitamin E may be purchased at HyVee.

For scar reduction, Mederma Cream is recommended. Apply this cream 3-4 times a day to the incisions after the sutures are removed. This may be purchased in our office.

To report a problem to your surgeon call 816-795-5262 (24 hrs.). To obtain refills on antibiotics or pain medication call 816-795-5262 during office hours (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm).