Breast Lift

After the Breast Lift procedure

The procedure itself will take approximately 3 to 4 hours.

AFTER SURGERY

Get plenty of rest and limit yourself to light activities 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. Make sure you have someone to help you. Let water run gently over the drains exits. Dab dry. Place gauze over drain exit. Put your bra back on.
At 2 to 3 weeks after surgery take your steri-strips off. Apply ScarLess®, allow it to dry and then reapply silicone sheets 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 24 hours a day for 8 weeks unless Dr. Cruise instructs you differently.
Avoid direct exposure of the 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 packages of frozen peas or corn on the breast for the first 48 hours to decrease swelling. Do not apply it directly on your skin.
Be sure to use all you medications as directed.
At 4 to 8 weeks, it is not uncommon for a small part of the incision to open up and look like a pimple. This is called a stitch abscess. It is caused by a suture which is expelled by the body. Simply wash it with soap and water and apply Neosporin or Polysporin on it. 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
Usually the breasts are very swollen and tight for the first six weeks. Do not be concerned; they will drop with time. At your follow up appointment, Dr. Cruise will show you how to massage them to make sure your positioning is appropriate. Since the body heals asymmetrically, do not be concerned if one breast is swollen, hurts more, or appears higher or lower than the other.
Swelling and bruising usually clear up within 2 weeks.
Pink scars will eventually fade to an unnoticeable color. 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. After 3 months, you should massage your breasts daily during your shower for 30 seconds for the rest of your life.
Your nipples might become hypersensitive or lose sensation for the first 3 months. This usually goes away.

WHEN TO CALL US

Post surgical complications are rare and are often easily solved by the doctor. If you experience any of the following symptoms, please notify us.

A temperature of 101 F or higher, increased local redness or warmth, chest pain, shortness of breath, leg swelling, calf pain, or if you simply 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 than the other, if the pain increases instead of decreasing after 5 days, or the breasts become red.

Please call the office during regular business hours @ 949-644-4808 or after hours after page Dr. Cruise @ 714-304-8050.

POST-OP VISITS AND CARE SUMMARY

Blood Clot	It is important to walk at least every 2 hours while you're awake to prevent blood clotting. Do not overdo it. Right after surgery you will be instructed to walk around once every hour. Pay specific attention to leg swelling. Even if you notice swelling on just one leg or experience calf pain, contact the office.
Drain Function	Make sure that your drains are functioning. Empty drains every 8 hours or when they become more than half full. Write down the amount of drainage. Do not be concerned if the fluid from the body leaks around the drain. You may need to milk the tube if it appears to be clogged. Drains come out at about 2 to 3 days, depending on the amount of drainage. The drain is always uncomfortable, but it is absolutely necessary to prevent fluid accumulation.
Constipation	If you are constipated at day 2, stop taking Vicodin or Darvocet. Walking, drinking a lot of fluids, or using a laxative (Ex-lax or Correctol) will address any problems with constipation.
Fever	Make sure to cough and breathe 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. Dab dry. Make sure you have someone helping you. Walk every hour while awake for the first day and then every 2 hours afterwards. 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 work out your chest area at 8 weeks.
Wound Care	Make sure you wear your bra as directed. Keep surgical area clean and dry at all times. At 2-3 weeks after surgery your steri-strips will be taken off and surgical tape will be applied for about 10 weeks (you will re-apply it every two weeks) After 10 weeks, take the tape off and apply ScarLess® on incisions for about 4 weeks.

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