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Post-Operative
Instructions
Recovering from Your Breast Augmentation Procedure
Following your
surgery, it is important that you follow Dr. Revis' post-operative
instructions very closely. This will increase the likelihood of having an
uneventful recovery, achieving the results you desire, and avoiding
preventable complications.
If you should
have any questions regarding these instructions or any other aspect of
your care, please call Dr. Revis' office at (954) 630-2009.
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Most
importantly, relax following your surgery. Expect to have less energy
than usual the first few days after surgery. The overall effects of
undergoing surgery can take more of a toll on your body than you might
expect. You need rest while your body heals.
- For
the first ten days after surgery, do not take aspirin or aspirin-containing
products (Bufferin, Anacin, Excedrin, etc.). If you need medication
for a headache or other pain, Tylenol is safe when taken according to
the directions on the label. However, your pain medication prescribed
by Dr. Revis contains Tylenol as well. It is NOT safe to take regular Tylenol
at the same time you are taking the pain medication because of the risk of permanent
damage to your liver. Please read all labels carefully and be aware of
the amount of medication you are taking.
- You
may take the pain medication (usually Lortab) as prescribed by Dr. Revis. You should
not drink alcohol or drive an automobile while on this medication.
This medication may also make you drowsy or give you an upset stomach.
If this is the case, ask Dr. Revis about alternative medications.
- You
will also have a prescription for a strong muscle relaxant (usually
Flexeril). This
may be helpful to take if you are having muscle cramping in your back,
chest, neck or shoulders following surgery. If you are taking pain
medication and a muscle relaxant, do not take them at the same time
because excessive sedation may occur. You may space these medications
out by approximately one hour to prevent excessive drowsiness and
disorientation.
- When
deciding between muscle relaxant and the pain medication, it is
usually best to use the pain medication for breast pain (discomfort of
the breasts), and reserve the muscle relaxant for shoulder, neck and
back pain (discomfort located away from the breasts).
- Take
your antibiotics (usually Augmentin unless you are allergic to
penicillin) until they are all gone - usually five days after surgery.
- You
should be up and out of bed and walking around the evening following
surgery to help prevent a blood clot from forming in your legs.
However, walking, climbing stairs, sitting, and standing is all that
you should do. No heavy lifting (anything greater than 20 pounds),
exercising, running, bicycling, tennis, golf, dancing, etc. should be
done until approved by Dr. Revis. This is generally allowed after
three weeks.
- Advance
your diet as tolerated following surgery. The anesthesia you are given
may make you nauseated during the first day after surgery, therefore
it is wise to drink liquids and eat only mild foods during this time (jello,
mashed potatoes, soups).
- You
will be prescribed Zofran, the very latest and strongest anti-nausea
medication available. You may take this every six hours the day of
surgery and the day following surgery. At that time, any lingering
effects from your anesthesia should have worn off, making further
anti-nausea medications unnecessary.
- Your pain medication may
make you
constipated, therefore you may wish to use Colace (100mg twice a day
is a gentle stool softener) or Milk of Magnesia (30cc once or twice a
day is a gentle laxative). These medications are available over the
counter at most drug stores.
- You
may remove your bandage on the second day following surgery. There
will be a three-inch square piece of Telfa dressing over your
incision. You may discard this. Over the incision you will find
smaller tape bandages called steri-strips that are tightly adherent to
your skin. These serve to protect the incision as it is healing. If these begin to peel off, you may
gently clip any peeled up edges with a small pair of scissors. DO NOT
actively pull them off of your incision, because this may result in
bleeding and wound disruption. Dr. Revis will remove the tapes for you at your
three-week postop visit.
- It is safe to shower on the second day
following surgery, allowing the steri-strips to get wet. Afterwards, pat
the steri-strips dry.
- You may wear a soft
bra such as the surgical bra Dr. Revis places in the operating room or
a sports bra, but not one with
underwires or one that causes too much compression of the breasts
(these do not allow your implants to settle properly and may result in
your implants remaining too high permanently).
- Not
everyone needs to massage their breasts after breast augmentation,
although it does help in select cases. As Dr. Revis monitors your
progress, he will instruct you in the proper way to massage your
breasts if he feels this will help improve your results.
- Sauna
and steam baths should be avoided for six weeks following surgery.
- Do
not swim in a pool or the ocean for three weeks following surgery.
- Scars
may become reddened before they fade. This is normal. Everyone heals
differently, so be patient. However, by following these instructions
you greatly increase your chances of having a good result. Dr. Revis
will also instruct you in the use of Silagen to help
improve the appearance of your scars.
- Do
not tan your scars for the first nine months following surgery, because they
are more sensitive to the sun during this period and may tan darker
than the surrounding skin. This darkness, if allowed to occur, may be
permanent. In general it is safe to begin using sunscreen on your
incisions three weeks after surgery. Even if you are wearing a bathing
suit, you should still cover your incisions with sunscreen during this
early period of nine to twelve months. Tanning beds can be
particularly injurious to your incisions, and this activity should be
avoided completely during the first three months after surgery.
- If
you take regular medications, ask Dr. Revis when it is safe to resume
taking them.
- If
you develop a temperature following surgery, increasing pain, redness
around the incisions, or drainage from the incisions of any kind, call
Dr. Revis immediately on his cell phone number that will be provided
to you on the day of surgery.
- You
will receive a phone call to confirm your follow-up appointment. If you
do not receive a phone call from our staff on the day prior to your
appointment, then we do not have you scheduled for an appointment. In
this case, by all means please call us!
- Please
remember that we are here for you to answer any and all questions, no
matter how small! If you have a question, it is likely that we have
the answer.
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