Recovering From Your Breast Augmentation at Rao Plastic Surgery in Tucson, AZ
Once you wake up in recovery room in Tucson, Arizona after your breast augmentation the recovery process begins. The recovery room nurses will make sure that your pain is controlled before you go home and that you are able to keep both liquids and food down. The nurse will review the breast augmentation discharge instructions that I provide you. Once you get home I recommend that you take a short 2-3 hour nap and then try and get up and try to go about your normal day. You should take the antibiotics, pain medications, and muscle relaxants that we prescribe once you get home. The next morning we recommend that you take down your ACE bandage that was placed at surgery and switch to a sports bra.
We have had several patients after breast augmentation comment on how they preferred a sports bra that fastens in the front as opposed to a one piece. A front fastening sports bra is easier to get in and out of especially early on. It is acceptable to shower 48 hours after your breast augmentation, but we ask that you do not bathe or go into a pool/hot tub for about six weeks. It takes about 6 weeks for your incision to become “water tight”. I place white paper tape bandages over the incision called steri strips. These serve as a dressing for your incision and I recommend that you keep them in place. The steri strips will eventually fall off on their own. We ask that you do no lifting of greater than 10-15 lbs for 6 weeks after the surgery. It takes about six weeks for the wounds to completely heal.
On your first follow up appointment after the surgery we review techniques for implant massage to try and reduce capsular contracture. Six weeks after surgery you are able to transition from a sports bra to an underwire bra. I recommend avoiding underwire bras initially as the underwire can rub up against the inframammary incision. While taking narcotics I recommend that you drink as much water as possible and take stool softeners to avoid constipation. I recommend against taking any NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, Advil, Alleve, etc for two weeks after surgery. We typically see our breast augmentation patients the following day after surgery, this gives us a chance to answer any questions that may come up. After the first visit we will see you in our Tucson office at regular intervals. Everyone recovers at a different pace, and it is important to listen to your body during the recovery process.