Breast Augmentation

Items to Purchase

3-4 Weeks Before Surgery 

• Obtain Medical Evaluation and Clearance. Make a visit to your primary care doctor to complete your medical evaluation and laboratory testing. Your surgeon may request for you to also be evaluated by a specialist or get a mammogram. Please ensure any preoperative requests are completed 2 weeks before surgery. 

• Work and Recovery Arrangements. Make any arrangements to be off from work or other strenuous activities while you are recovering from surgery. Have extra help available, particularly if caring for small children. 

• Smoking. Tobacco, cigarettes and nicotine consumption will cause poor wound healing, longer healing times, and excessive scarring. We advise discontinuing these products more than 4 weeks prior to surgery

• Send your goal photos! Unless you have chosen your implant size ahead of time, Dr. Allen will order implants based on your goal photos and your measurements. Please choose front facing nude photos focusing on size, NOT SHAPE. Every woman’s breast shape will differ. 

1-2 Weeks Before Surgery

• DIET/SUPPLEMENT RESTRICTIONS. Avoid foods, drinks and herbal supplements than can increase risk of bleeding and bruising. Avoid aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Motrin, blood thinners, vitamin E, omega-3, fish oil, and alcohol. Use Tylenol in place of other over the counter pain medications.

 • Fill Prescriptions. Please make sure we have your pharmacy information which includes the name and the address of your pharmacy. These may include antibiotics and/or pain medication for after surgery. Make sure you understand how and when to take all medications. We suggest keeping a note pad to keep track of the medications you have taken.

• Arrange a responsible driver over the age of 18 to transport to and from our office. You will be given either oral or IV sedation and cannot be permitted to drive. 

• Your surgery is to be paid in full at this time.

One Week Before Surgery

• Do not drink alcohol for 1 week before and after surgery.

The Day Before Surgery

• You will receive a phone call informing you of your arrival time for surgery. 

• DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT. (This includes water and gum chewing). Surgery may be cancelled if this is not followed. A fasting state is required in order to receive sedation for surgery. The only exception is medication, which we instruct you to take with a sip of water the morning of surgery

• Pick up your medications if you have not already done so. You will need to bring these with you on your surgery day. 

•  Wash with hibiclens soap the night before and the morning of surgery. Wash all areas that will be worked upon. 

• Set Up Home Recovery Area. This may include pillows, blankets, books, television, and anything else to assist with a comfortable recovery.

• Relax. Stay calm and get plenty of rest to avoid unnecessary stress.

Day Of Surgery

• Wear something comfortable and easy to get on and off such as button up shirt and PJ’s or sweats.  

• Bring your compression stockings to wear following surgery. 

• Bring ALL of your medications with you to the center. 

• Leave jewelry and valuables at home. Do not wear jewelry the day of your procedure. 

Post Surgery Instructions

• Movement is Important. Make sure to get out of bed and be up and walking around immediately after your surgery. When lying down in bed or on the couch, make sure you are moving your legs and ankles. Take deep breaths frequently to keep your lungs clear. 

• Sleep. Sleep on your back with your head and legs elevated (1-2 pillows). Since the incisions are on the front and the back it can be difficult to get comfortable. Sleeping on your side is ok too if that allows you to feel less pulling at the incision sites. Continue this for one to two weeks. 

• Medications: You will be prescribed a pain medication for post-operative pain control. If your discomfort after surgery is not strong you are welcomed to take Tylenol in place of the prescribed medication. Do not take the Tylenol with the pain medication, as most often the medication you are prescribed will have Tylenol in it. Do not exceed 4,000 mg of Tylenol in any 24-hour time period. Take medication with food to minimize risk of nausea. Do not resume any herbal supplement without asking Dr. Allen prior to re-starting. 

• Nausea. If you are experiencing nausea, which is common after general anesthesia as well as a known side effect of some stronger pain medications, it is advised to take the anti-nausea medication if prescribed.

• Medications to Avoid. Take only those medications approved or prescribed by your surgeon. Avoid medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, Ibuprofen, others) for two weeks before and after surgery. These medications may increase bleeding.

• Substances to Avoid. Avoid alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine, for these will dramatically slow the healing process. 

• Diet. A light low-fat diet is best after surgery. You may start a regular diet after your surgery as long as you are not feeling nauseated or vomiting.

• Hydration. Stay hydrated by drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day. Avoid alcohol for two weeks and while you are still having to take pain medications. 

• Physical Activity. Do NOT remain in bed all day. Although it will be uncomfortable it is imperative that you move around and at least take walks around the house in order to facilitate healing. Avoid lifting more than 5lbs, straining, bending, or any cardio activity.

• Driving. Do NOT operate a vehicle or make important decisions until you have been off pain medications for 24 hours. Use good judgment. After being off pain medications automobile travel can be resumed, although frequent breaks are needed approximately every 2 hours to prevent blood pooling and clots.

• Showering. You may shower with assistance the day following surgery. Remove your garment. Incisions are covered with a waterproof dressing and require no attention. Replace garment after your shower.

• Hot Tubs/Baths/Swimming Pools. No tub baths or Jacuzzi until your incisions have healed, and approved by your surgeon, which is usually around 3-4 weeks. It is best to wait one month for hot tubs as they tend to have more bacteria than regular chlorinated swimming pools.

How To Take Care Of Your Incisions

• Incisions. Your incisions are covered with a waterproof dressing. No dressing changes or incision care is required. After your first postop visit, the dressing will be removed and a special scar tape will be applied. Additional tape is provided so you can continue a planned scar regimen. 

• Stitches. All stitches are dissolvable. If you have any external sutures, they will be removed at your weekly follow up.

• Sun Exposure. Avoid and minimize sun exposure. Use an SPF of 30 or greater when outdoors. Even a mild sunburn can worsen swelling and irritate an incision that is healing. 

• Scar gel. Scars may take up to a year to fully heal. After your incisions have completely healed and when your doctor has told you it is safe, you can begin to use silicone based gel on your scars to improve healing. 

Activity

 • Exercise. Light physical activity may be resumed 2-3 weeks after surgery. Remember to start easy and build back up to your previous exercise levels. At 6- 8 weeks or when further instructed by Dr. Anderson, more intense exercise can be started. Just know that swelling may transiently be worse with exercise. • Arm Movement. Limit your arm use to daily activities such as brushing your teeth, eating, and combing/shampooing your hair. Avoid rigorous movement and do not lift more than 5 lbs. Let pain be your limiting factor. If it hurts, please don’t do it.

 • Surgery Bra. You may be placed in a bra or in a bra strap. Most often you will be without for some time. A light bra should fit can be worn if it is not tight or compressing the implants. 

• Driving. Do NOT operate a vehicle or make important decisions until you have been off pain medications for 24 hours. Use good judgment. 

• Return to work. Most patients require approximately 5-7 days off work depending on their job responsibilities. Returning to work with a light schedule initially or even part-time can be beneficial as well.

What To Expect

 • Bruising. You can expect to have bruising. Most bruising will resolve after about 2-3 weeks. The bruise will go from a purplish color to a yellow/green shade as it starts to resolve.

• Swelling. You can expect swelling particularly in the top half of the breasts. This can take 3-4weeks to improve and the swelling is responsible for the feeling that the implants are high. As the swelling resolves, it seems as though the implants drop into a lower position. 

• Itching. Itching at the incision sites is normal for a few days. You may take Benadryl to help with this.

 • Pain. It is normal to experience tightness, pressure, soreness, itchiness, and fatigue for several days to weeks following surgery as your skin and muscle adjust to your breast implants. 

• Implant Position. Implants may appear higher in position, firm, and uneven due to swelling during the healing process. After 3-6 weeks the implants should show a more final result with significantly reduced swelling. 

• Sensory Changes in Skin. You may feel reduced or heightened sensation in the nipples, incision sites, and breast tissue. This is normal. You can expect return of normal sensation after a few weeks to months. 

• Crackles/Sloshing Sounds. Air and fluid are left behind as a normal part of the surgery and it takes time for it to be resorbed by your body. These sounds are normal after a breast augmentation and will resolve in 5-7days. 

• Purchasing new bras. We advise waiting 8 – 12 weeks before purchasing your new size bra. During this waiting period swelling will go down and you will be better to assess your bra size. In the interim, a t-shirt bra from Walmart or Target is a reasonable investment. Most patients like to wear their surgical bra at night only after the first post op visit. DO NOT’S 

• Do NOT apply hydrogen peroxide to incision sites. Keep postop dressings in place until follow-up.

• DO NOT soak in baths, jacuzzis or hot tubs until all incisions have fully healed. 

• DO NOT take Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen or other blood thinners until your surgeon advises you it is safe. 

• Do NOT apply heating pads or ice packs to the treated areas unless otherwise instructed by your surgeon.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS – WHEN TO CALL THE OFFICE OR GO TO THE HOSPITAL

 • Signs of Infection. Spreading redness, worsening swelling, increased drainage or drainage of pus, worsening pain and warmth at incision site. Temperature over 101 degrees Fahrenheit. 

• Excessive Bleeding. If the dressings are saturated with bright red blood and you are having to make very frequent dressing changes.

 • Other Emergency Situations. Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chest pain, lightheadedness that does not quickly resolve, severe vomiting, pain or asymmetric swelling in your legs.