Can I drive 3 days after breast augmentation?

Breast Augmentation Post-Op Instructions

Thank you very much for allowing us to perform your surgery. Please feel free to call us at any time if instructions are not clear or issues are not addressed by this instruction sheet.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• You will see your physician approximately five to seven days following your surgery.
• An elastic chest strap will be placed during your surgery. Keep the chest strap snug and placed above your implants. You may remove the chest strap to shower.
• You can expect some drainage on your steri strips covering your incisions. Maximum discomfort will occur in the first few days after surgery, and most people are up and around in 3-5 days.
• You may become constipated due to the pain medications and should begin a stool softener (i.e. Colace) after surgery. In addition, you may want to add a fiber supplement (Metamucil, Citrucel, etc.) after tolerating a diet to decrease straining. If you have gone several days without a bowel movement and are feeling uncomfortable, you may want to consider using a glycerin suppository or Fleet’s enema (available at all drug stores).
• You may experience temporary electrical or tingling feelings in the breast and nipple in the weeks following your surgery. The feeling is similar to the feeling when your “foot wakes up after it has been asleep.” This represents nerve healing and is normal.
• Your chest will feel tight for four to eight weeks, until the chest muscles relax. The exact time varies between patients depending on the muscle mass, breast elasticity and activity level after surgery. You may also experience more pain in one breast than the other.
• Sutures are dissolvable. They are under your skin and released at the end of each incision. They are clear in appearance and will be trimmed to the skin line at your first postop appointment.

WHAT TO DO

• Do not take your pain medications on an empty stomach. Eat a light snack, such as crackers, about 30 minutes before you take your medication.
• Refrain from sleeping on your stomach. Sleep elevated on your back until your first postop appointment unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
• Do not drive or operate machinery while you are taking your narcotic pain medication. If you are still taking narcotics by the time of your first postop appointment, then have someone drive you to your appointment.
• You may shower the day after surgery. Blot dry the dressings covering your incisions. If the dressings and/or steri-strips come off, dress the wound with antibiotic ointment (Polysporin). Do not tub bathe until cleared by your doctor to do so.
• After surgery, you may wear any type of bra that does not have underwire. Choose a bra that does not push your breasts up, but just provides coverage. Please wait about three months before wearing underwire bras.
• Do not lift weights more than 25 pounds, and avoid using a vacuum cleaner for about three weeks. When you are released to exercise always wear a sports bra. You will be released to get your heart rate up at roughly three weeks depending on your personal healing and progression, and then slowly return to your normal exercise regimen. Chest exercises will be the last activities to begin again.

RESTRICTIONS

• No heavy lifting (>25 lbs), vigorous activity, or straining for three weeks.
• No tub bathing until cleared by your physician
• No use of heating pads.
• Do not apply ice directly to skin, as you may still have numbness to areas.

WHEN TO CALL

• If you have a change in nipple color or appearance, or if one breast becomes larger than the other
• If you develop severe shortness of breath of chest pain- call 911, then notify physician
• If you run a fever, or have chills- call our office
• If you have markedly increased pain, bruising, swelling, or bloody drainage- call our office
• If you develop leg swelling or calf pain- call our office
• If you have persistent nausea or vomiting- call our office
• If you are uncertain about a medication or treatment- call our office
• If you are experiencing any adverse symptoms or changes that you do not understand- call our office

Breast enlargement (implants)

During the operation, implants are inserted into your breasts to increase their size, change their shape, or make them more even.

Breast enlargement is often known as a «boob job» or breast augmentation.

You cannot usually get breast enlargement on the NHS

You’ll usually have to pay to have breast implants.

There are some circumstances where you might be able to get breast enlargement on the NHS – for example, if you have very uneven breasts or no breasts.

It often depends on the area you live in. Your GP should be able to tell you more about the rules in your area.

How much breast enlargement costs

In the UK, breast implant surgery costs around £3,500 to £8,000. This does not usually include the cost of consultations or follow-up care.

You’ll also have to pay for any follow-up surgery you may need in the future.

What to think about before you have a breast enlargement

Before you go ahead, be sure about why you want breast implants. Take time to think about your decision.

Read more about whether cosmetic surgery is right for you. You could also speak to your GP about it.

Choosing a surgeon

If you’re having breast enlargement in England, check the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to see if the hospital or clinic is registered with them.

All independent clinics and hospitals that provide cosmetic surgery in England must be registered with the CQC.

Be careful when using the internet to look for doctors and clinics who provide breast enlargement. Some clinics may pay to advertise their services on search listings.

Check the surgeon is registered with the General Medical Council (GMC). They should be listed on the specialist register and have a licence to practise.

Also check the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS) to see if the surgeon is a «full member» on the specialist register for plastic surgery.

Always book an appointment to meet the surgeon before the procedure.

You may want to ask your surgeon:

• about their qualifications and experience
• how many breast enlargement operations they’ve performed
• how many operations they’ve performed where there have been complications
• about the type and manufacturer of the implant they use and why
• about the surgical technique used and the placement of the implants
• what results you can expect
• what sort of follow-up you should expect if things go wrong
• what their patient satisfaction rates are
• about any alternative options

Choosing your implants

There are 2 types of implants, made of silicone or saline.

Silicone implants are the most common type used in the UK. They’re less likely to wrinkle and feel more natural. However, they can spread into your breast and cause lumps.

Saline implants are more likely to fold, rupture or go down over time. If they do go down or rupture, the saline will safely be absorbed into your body.

You should discuss the pros and cons of each type of breast implant with your surgeon, along with the size and shape of your implants and where they’ll be placed (behind the breast or behind the breast muscle).

How long breast implants last

Breast implants do not last a lifetime. It’s likely they’ll need to be replaced at some point.

Some women may need further surgery after about 10 years, either because of problems with the implants or because their breasts have changed around the implants.

What a breast enlargement involves

Breast implant surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic.

The operation involves:

• making a cut (incision) in the skin next to or below the breast
• positioning the implant – either between your breast tissue and chest muscle, or behind your chest muscle (as discussed during your consultation)
• stitching the incision and covering it with a dressing

The operation takes between 60 and 90 minutes.

You may be able to go home the same day, but may need to stay in hospital overnight if the operation was scheduled late in the day.

You’ll be given pain relief if you experience any discomfort afterwards.

Recovery

You should be able to move around soon after having breast enlargement surgery.

It can take a few weeks to fully recover from surgery, so you should take a week or 2 off work. You should not drive for at least 1 week.

Some surgeons recommend wearing a sports bra 24 hours a day for up to 3 months after breast surgery (check with your surgeon).

Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for at least a month.

After 1 or 2 weeks: Your stiches will be removed (unless you had dissolvable stitches).

After 6 weeks: You should be able to return to most of your normal activities. Your scars should also start to fade.

After a few months: Your breasts should start to look and feel more natural. You may be able to stop wearing your sports bra.

It’s safe to sunbathe and fly if you have breast implants.

What could go wrong

Breast implants can sometimes cause problems, including:

• thick, obviousscarring
• the breast feeling hard because scar tissue has shrunk around the implant (capsular contracture)
• a ruptured implant – this may cause small tender lumps (siliconomas), which are only noticeable on breast scans; the implant will need to be removed
• creases or folds in the implant
• the implant rotating within the breast, resulting in an abnormal shape
• rippling of the implant – this happens when the implant is only covered by a thin layer of tissue, which sticks to the surface of the implant and is very difficult to treat
• nerve problems in the nipples – they may become more sensitive, less sensitive, or completely numb; this can be temporary or permanent
• not being able to breastfeed or producing slightly less breast milk than you would without implants

Also, any type of operation carries a small risk of:

• bleeding and clots – blood clots can be life threatening
• infection – this is rare and would need to be treated with antibiotics
• an allergic reaction – to medicine or products used during surgery, such as antibiotics or latex

Your surgeon should be able to tell you more about these problems, including how likely they are and how they’ll be corrected if you have them.

Other problems

You should be aware of an association between breast implants and an uncommon type of immune system cell cancer. It’s called breast implant associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL).

A very small number of people who’ve had breast implants have developed BIA-ALCL in the scar tissue around their breast implants.

Some women have also reported having other symptoms after breast implant surgery, such as tiredness, anxiety and joint pain. This is sometimes known as breast implant illness.

A type of breast implant, called PIP (Poly Implant Prostheses) implants, were banned in the UK in 2010 after it was found they contained unapproved silicone gel and were more likely to split (rupture) than other types of implant.

Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry

The Breast and Cosmetic Implant Registry (BCIR) was set up in 2016 to record the details of anyone who has breast implants for any reason.

This is so they can be traced if there’s a safety concern about a specific type of implant.

Breast screening (mammogram) after implants

It’s important to remember you can still get breast cancer after having breast implants. This means you need to be aware of how your breasts look and feel and report any changes quickly to your GP.

You should also still have regular breast cancer screening (mammogram) after having breast implants. Mammograms are safe and do not cause the implant to rupture.

Tell the person doing your mammogram if you have breast implants. X-rays cannot pass through implants, so they may need to do the mammogram a different way to allow as much breast tissue as possible to be seen.

What to do if you have problems

Cosmetic surgery can sometimes go wrong, or the results may not be what you were expecting.

Contact the clinic where you had the operation as soon as possible if you have unexpected pain or symptoms such as a burning sensation, red skin, or unusual swelling in or around your breast.

You can report problems with your breast implants through the government’s Yellow Card Scheme. By reporting any issues, you’re helping provide more information about the safety of the implants.

If you’re not happy with the results or think the procedure was not carried out properly, speak to your surgeon at the hospital or clinic where you were treated.

You can also contact the Care Quality Commission (CQC) if you have concerns about your care. If necessary, you can raise a concern about a doctor to the General Medical Council (GMC).

More information

• British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS): breast augmentation
• British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons (BAPRAS): breast augmentation
• Royal College of Surgeons: cosmetic surgery

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“Dos” and “Don’ts” After Breast Augmentation Surgery

“Dos” and “Don’ts” After Breast Augmentation Surgery

If you’re a Houston woman considering a breast augmentation surgery, you are probably wondering what your recovery period will be like. What instructions will you need to follow in order to properly heal? What restrictions will you need to follow? And when will you be able to resume your normal activities? To help you better understand the recovery process from a breast augmentation, Houston plastic surgeons Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig have prepared this blog post of the top “Dos and Don’ts” after a breast augmentation surgery.

The Top Do’s

After you have a Houston breast augmentation, Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig will provide you with a list of recovery tips to help you best heal from your plastic surgery. This list, which you should follow to a “t,” will include several instructions such as:

• Make sure that you have arranged for someone to drive you home after your Houston breast augmentation. Because you will be placed under general anesthesia for your surgery, you will not be allowed to drive yourself home.
• Arrange for someone to stay home with you the first day or two after your surgery to help you get around the house and be with you in case you have any negative reaction to the general anesthesia you received.
• Rest for the first few days after your Houston breast augmentation, allowing your body to heal from the surgery.
• Sleep comfortably by lying either in a recliner, on your back with pillows under your knees and back or in the fetal position.
• Boost your energy by eating healthy meals and snacks.
• Wear loose and comfortable clothing on the days immediately after your Houston breast augmentation.
• Take any pain and antibiotic medication that you may have been given exactly as prescribed, even if it means waking up in the middle of the night, so you don’t miss a dose. Missing a dose can make it hard for you to stay on top of any pain you may be experiencing.
• Avoid any exercise with high impact that would cause your new augmentation to move. Walking and light aerobic exercise are encouraged and not harmful to your result.
• Call your plastic surgeon immediately if you develop a fever in the first few days after your Houston breast augmentation, or if you have any questions or concerns.

The Top Don’ts

In addition to following the above “do’s” after your Houston breast augmentation, you’ll want to avoid the following activities that can negatively affect your healing process:

• Don’t perform any heavy lifting, carrying or pushing in the first few weeks after your Houston breast augmentation surgery. For mothers, this includes not picking up or carrying your small children and heavy purses.
• Avoid sleeping on your stomach or your side, which can be painful and negatively impact your healing process and final breast augmentation results.
• Don’t worry if your breasts initially appear high set; over time they will drop and fluff and fall into their final, more natural position.
• Refrain from getting your breasts wet – either in a bath, shower or pool, for the first weeks after your surgery.
• Don’t smoke. Smoking negatively impacts your body’s ability to heal after a surgery.
• Don’t wear an underwire bra, which can not only be painful but also prevent your breast implants from settling properly.

Understanding More About Breast Augmentation Recovery Instructions

It’s understandable that Houston breast augmentation patients have several questions about their recovery process. While we’ve attempted to address the most common questions in this blog post, you may have additional concerns. This is why it’s so important for you to choose a skilled, knowledgeable plastic surgeon for your breast augmentation, like Houston’s Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig.

During a consultation at Fusi & Craig Plastic Surgery, your plastic surgeon will discuss the breast augmentation procedure in detail, explaining every aspect of your personalized treatment plan and answering all of your questions.

To learn more about breast augmentation do’s and don’ts, schedule a consultation with Dr. Fusi & Dr. Craig in their Houston offices today by calling (713) 346-9909.