Recovery After Breast Implant Redo or Revision
First day instructions
- Send Dr. Yates photos and any questions
- Get up and walk
- If you feel muscle tightness, “row” the arms
- No lying on your stomach
- A small amount of incisional bleeding is normal.
- Bruising and swelling are normal and may last for days to weeks
- You can take the bra and push down ace bandage (if used) off to shower. Water directly over incision tape is fine.
- The ace bandage (if used) should be above implants and below armpits. Comfortably snug
- No massage necessary
- Get off the pain medications as soon as possible
- Take antibiotics as prescribed
- Take stool softeners if you are taking any narcotics
- Take the single dose of Gabapentin if prescribed
- Stay hydrated
- Stay active, minimal bed rest is better for a safe and quick recovery
- Your next visit is at three weeks. In-person or online.
Three-week instructions
- Remove incision tape
- Send Dr. Yates photos (front and scars) and any questions
- Begin scar cream. Biocorneum, Mederma or Biodermis cream. Apply for 2 months.
- You no longer need your push down ace bandage (if used)
- You may wear a bra of your choice but don’t buy too many until you are closer to the final size after the 6-week point
- Continue to wear bras at night for support (for at least 6 weeks although for the cautious it is wise to wear bras to bed every night to protect your investment)
- You are able to resume physical work and moderate exercise
- Full exercise at 6 weeks
- Caution with bodybuilding the pectorals. Strong muscles can push submuscular implants to the sides.
- The breast size may be still a little swollen but nearing the final size
- Areas of numbness, shooting pains, and discomfort are common. Let Dr. Yates know if they are significant
- Please share your experience on a review site or social media 🙂
- Schedule an online or in-person follow-up visit at 3 months.
Three-month instructions
- You have no limitations. Check-in with Dr. Yates with photos and any questions
One-Year
- You have no limitations. Check-in with Dr. Yates with photos and any questions
- Return to the office for postoperative photos
- You will plan to replace your implants before 20 years! Preferably in the 10-15 year range
- Leave a kind review 🙂
- If you are brave, send us a fun bikini photo to share on our “real patient gallery” on the website. This can be anonymous or include your face, your choice. 🙂
General Recovery Tips
Minimizing Bruising and Swelling
Bruising and swelling occurs with almost every surgical procedure. Usually, the swelling lasts for only a few days to weeks. There are steps that can be taken before and after surgery to help minimize bruising and swelling… Read More.
Scars
Scars are the necessary trade-off of many plastic surgeries. The goal is a near-invisible, thin, skin-colored scar. Scars are ideally minimized by early attention but there are options for treatment of problem scars as well… Read More.
Preparation for surgery
prepare your house for surgery
1-2 weeks before surgery you should have your childcare, work arrangements, and caretaker lined up. Depending on the procedure you may have a few recovery items on hand. Start with an organized, clean house and full pantry. If you are making meals, simple prep. meals and disposable dinnerware.
prepare your body for surgery
The weeks before surgery are a good time to maximize a healthy diet and stay on top of exercise. Yoga and heart-healthy exercises are particularly valuable. For almost every procedure stopping smoking 6 weeks before surgery is valuable. For some it is critical. Avoid excessive alcohol and marijuana prior to surgery as well.
Check your medications and supplements
Some medications such as aspirin, fish-oils and some supplements can contribute to bleeding and bruising after surgery. If you would like to take SinnEcch for bruising you would want to do so before surgery. The benefit is mild in Dr. Yates’s opinion but some patients swear by it.
Stay away from illness
Avoid getting sick, wash your hands frequently and avoid contact will people who are ill.
Time off Work and exercise
Check the procedure list below for the time you should plan to take off of work or exercise. With most procedures, office work and light exercise are OK between one to three weeks. For most procedures, there are no restrictions after six weeks.
Recovery Supplies
Dr Yates will give you most everything you need after surgery including a bra, scar cream, and dressings as indicated. A few recommended additional supplies are
- Bed that reclines, recliner, or extra bed pillows
- Icy Hot back patch
- Loose baggy clothes
- Paper tape 1″
- Ice packs
- Stool Softener
- Ginger Ale
- Antacid such as Tums
- Melatonin (not to be used with pain medications)
- Benadryl
- Cortisone cream
- Neosporin
- Probiotics or yogurt
- Second stage Spanx or Flexees for appropriate procedures
- Flexible straws for drinking
- Water bottles/ Gatorade
- Entertainment such as DVD or Netflix
- Cell phone charger near bed and sofa
Breast Implant Redo or Revision Recovery Tips
- strip the drains to keep them flowing at least every few hours
- record the drain output accurately in ml or cc’s
- you may shower over the drains but be careful with tugging on them
- they are removed after approximately a week when the drainage is less than 30 cc in a 24 hour period.