Breast Enlargement

After Breast Augmentation Surgery

The procedure itself will take 1 to 1.5 hours.

AFTER SURGERY

Get plenty of rest and limit yourself to light activities for the first 10 days after surgery. Sleep and rest with your head slightly elevated for the first 3 days.
You may take a cool shower the day after surgery. Dab dry. Make sure you have someone helping you. Put your bra or strap back on after your shower.
At 2 to 3 weeks after surgery remove your steri-strips. Apply ScarLess®, allow it to dry, then apply silicone sheet twice a day for two months.
Sutures will dissolve on their own.
Do not drive for the first week or while on pain medications. Do not do heavy housework and do not work out at all for the first 3 weeks, no upper body workout for at least 8 weeks.
Avoid lifting anything heavier than 5 pounds for 2 weeks.
Wear a surgical bra or a breast strap 24 hours a day for 6 weeks unless Dr. Cruise instructs you differently.
Avoid direct exposure of incision to sunlight for at least 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, apply sunscreen (at least SPF 15) to the area of the incision if you will be in the sun for extended periods of time.
Do not smoke for at least 1 week after surgery.
Do not use aspirin-containing products for at least 1 week. You may take Tylenol or pain medication as prescribed.
You may apply ice or bags of frozen peas or corn on the breast for the first 48 hours to decrease swelling. Do not apply directly on your skin.
Be sure to use all your medications as directed.
It is not uncommon for a small part of the incision to open up and look like a pimple at 4 to 8 weeks. This is a stitch abscess caused by a suture expelled by the body. Simply wash it with soap and water and apply Neosporin or Polysporin. If the redness is larger than a dime, call the office.

WHAT TO EXPECT AS YOU RECOVER

Immediately after surgery, some patients feel groggy or nauseous. These feelings normally subside by the next day.
Many patients experience some pain for the first 3 to 4 days and soreness for the first 2 weeks
Do not be concerned if the breasts are swollen and tight for the first six weeks after surgery; they will relax and drop with time. At your follow up appointment, Dr. Cruise will show you how to massage your breasts to make sure positioning is appropriate. Since the body heals asymmetrically, one breast might be more swollen, hurt more, and appear higher or lower than the other. This is normal; do not be concerned.
Swelling and bruising usually clear up within 2 weeks.
Pink scars will eventually fade to an unnoticeable skin tone. It may take up to a year for the scar to fade to its minimal color.
Some firmness may develop. Once the tenderness subsides, you may begin to massage the breasts to help soften them. At 3 months after surgery, you should massage your breasts daily during your shower for 30 seconds. Continue to do this for the rest of your life.
During the first 3 months after surgery, your nipples might become hypersensitive or lose sensation. This usually disappear with time.

WHEN TO CALL US

Post surgical complications are rare. If they occur, they are often easily resolved by the doctor. Please call the office during regular business hours @ 949-644-4808. After hours page Dr. Cruise @ 714-304-8050.

Call us if you experience any of the following:

A temperature of 101 F or higher, increased local redness or warmth, chest pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling, calf pain, or if you just feel that something might be wrong. In addition, call if you have continuous discharge from the incision line, if one of the breasts appears significantly larger and more tender, if the pain increases instead of decreasing after 5 days, or if the breasts become red.

POST-OP VISITS AND CARE SUMMARY

Blood Clot	Immediately after surgery you will be instructed to walk around once every 1 hour. Thereafter it is important to walk at least once every 2 hours while you're awake to prevent blood clotting. Do not overdo it! Pay specific attention to leg swelling. If you notice swelling on both legs or only one leg or experience calf pain, contact the office.
Constipation	If you are constipated at day 2, stop taking Vicodin or Darvocet. Walking, drinking a lot of fluids, or use of a laxative (Ex-lax or Correctol) will address any problems with constipation.
Fever	Make sure to cough and breath deeply as fever is usually in the lungs for the first 3 days after surgery.
Activity	You can take a cool shower the day after surgery. Dab dry. Make sure you have someone helping you. Walk once every hour while awake for the first day and then every 2 hours thereafter. Sleep at a 45-degree angle for the first 3 nights. Begin massage after the first post-op visit. If exercise hurts, don't do it. Wait for your body to tell you what you can do. You can exercise areas other than your chest at 2 weeks. You can exercise your chest area at 8 weeks.
Wound Care	Make sure you wear your bra as directed. Keep the surgical area clean and dry at all times. At 2 weeks after the surgery, remove steri-strips. Apply ScarLess®, allow it to dry, and apply silicone sheet for the next two months or surgical tape, whichever stays on better.

Breast Augmentation Information Resource for Orange County, Newport Beach, Los Angeles, San Diego, Beverly Hills, and Southern California