Recovery After Breast Implant Removal

First Day Instructions

  • Dr. Yates will reach you through the Symplast app.  Send Dr. Yates photos and any questions
  • ACTIVITY - Get up and walk
  • Refrain from lifting over 10 lbs or significant activity for THREE weeks
  • Full exercise may resume at SIX weeks
  • SLEEPING - No lying on your stomach
  • BRUISING AND SWELLING - A small amount of incisional bleeding is normal.
  • Bruising and swelling are normal and will last for days to weeks
  • A large volume of swelling and bruising could indicate a HEMATOMA and Dr. Yates would need to be informed
  • BATHING - You can take the bra off to shower. Water directly over incision tape is fine.
  • SUTURES - The sutures are all internal and do not need to be removed
  • The incisional tape will be removed at THREE weeks.   If there is significant drainage or odor before that time contact Dr. Yates for instructions
  • DRAINS - If drains are used, make sure you are stripping the tube and recording outputs
  • Drains (if used) are removed at approximately one week when drainage is less than 30 cc.
  • SENSATION - It is not unusual to have sensation issues early in the healing process, this could involve areas of numbness of the skin or nipple
  • Review Medication instructions
  • 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 may soak in a bath, pool, or hot  tub so long as the incisions are closed and doing well
  • You are able to resume physical work and moderate exercise
  • Full exercise at 6 weeks
  • 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
  • If you feel you have been treated with exceptional care, leave a review!
  • 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
  • Leave a kind review 🙂

General Recovery Tips

Bruising and swelling occur 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 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.

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.

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.

Dr Yates will give you most everything you need after surgery including 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 Removal Recovery Tips

You should expect no significant bedrest after breast augmentation. Get up and walk.

We use rapid recovery methods for all patients. For patients with simple implant removal surgery there may be essentially no pain at all. For complex revision, there may be more pain. The pain is moderate but usually controlled with arm motion, Tylenol and Ibuprofen. If narcotics are necessary they are only for 1-2 days.

There will be surgical tape on the incision. They can be left alone and will be removed at approximately three weeks. They are not “holding” the incision together, which is accomplished by internal sutures. The purpose of the tape is to protect the scar. If the tape comes off early apply new tape or leave it alone.

You can shower directly over the incision tape, drains, and breasts immediately. Any soaking should wait until the tape is removed at three weeks.

Drains are uncommonly used for breast revision surgery. When used they typically are used for a week. Drain instructions include:

For toddlers or children that need a lot of care, you will want assistance for a week after surgery.

You can return to light lifting with the arms and a good walk at one week. You may return to moderate lifting with the arms (10-15 lbs) and heavier lower body lifting by three weeks and full exercise at six weeks.

Office and desk work can be resumed right away. For most physical jobs you can return at 3 weeks.

It is safe to resume sexual activity by two to three weeks after breast augmentation. Caution with handling the breasts for closer to four weeks.

Overaggressive activity can cause problems with healing. In the first week, we are worried about bleeding. This could result in a hematoma and a second trip to the operating room.

The breasts will change instantly. With implant removal, the skin can look loose and upper breasts less full compared to the results with implants. It is not yet time to consider whether you will want any additional surgeries such as fat grafting, re-augmentation or a lift. They continue to improve in appearance over the next 2-3 months.

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