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Please read carefully. If you have questions call the office at 303.872.5103.
- ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING for at least 2 weeks prior to your procedure and 2 weeks after your procedure.
- DRESSINGS: Unless instructed differently, you do not need to change your dressings. If necessary, we will change them the day after your surgery and remove them during your first post-operative visit. Your sutures will be removed at your first or second post-operative visit.
- SHOWERING: You may shower the morning following your surgery, DO NOT soak your clear plastic dressings in the bath tub, hot tub, or jacuzzi. Use water of a comfortable temperature - nothing too hot. Minimize high pressure shower flow directly to your breasts.
- MEDICATION(S): Take your medications as directed on the bottle. Please finish any antibiotics that have been prescribed. You can expect to be on antibiotics for at least as long as your drains are in place. Continue all blood pressure, heart, and thyroid medications. Take any of your required medications at the usual time(s). Check with our staff regarding any medications in question, including those for Diabetes. NO ASPIRIN, IBUPROFEN, HERBS, DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS, OR OTHER MEDICATIONS ON THE "NO-NO LIST" for 2 weeks following your surgery.
- PAIN MEDICATIONS: For the first few days, take your pain medications regularly! It is easier to stay ahead of the discomfort than to play catch-up. We do not want you in a lot of unnecessary discomfort as it is important for you to be doing your deep breathing exercises, be up walking, and avoiding excessive blood pressure elevation. Pain medications may be stopped, if not needed, or substituted with Tylenol should you need something to take the edge off. Avoid taking your pain medications on an empty stomach. You may resume Ibuprofen products 2 weeks after your surgery.
- CAREGIVER: You MUST have a caregiver for the first 24 hours after surgery.
- COMPRESSION STOCKINGS: You may remove your surgical stockings once you are up and walking regularly. However, we recommend that you keep them on while you are sleeping at night for the first week. If you are lying in bed for several hours during the day, we recommend you keep the stockings on and pump your feet every hour or so to keep the circulation moving. Writing the alphabet with your feet is a good exercise.
- GARMENT: Wear your support garment 24 hours a day, every day for 7 days. This will give you the needed early support. Hand wash and hang-dry your garment, as needed—the elastic is sensitive to heat and vigorous machine washing. If your skin becomes sensitive to the elastic in the garment, a camisole may be worn beneath it. After the first 2 weeks, you may transition into a garment that continues to provide support and some compression over the next 4-6 weeks as the swelling continues to reduce. A zip up the front sports bra can be helpful as it is easier to put on during that time when there is remaining discomfort. Be aware that you will continue to have swelling and settling during the first few months from surgery. If you are fitted into a cupped bra during that time, it may not fit as nicely a few months down the road.
- ACTIVITY: It is important for you to be up and walking the morning following your surgery, in particular, to prevent Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) or blood clots in your legs. No bouncing, jarring or aerobic activities (activities that will raise your blood pressure or heart rate), including sexual activity, for 2 weeks following your surgery. This is to minimize bleeding problems. After 2 weeks you can gradually begin to resume your usual exercise/activities.
- ARM MOVEMENT: Start out slowly. You can wash your hair, put on your make-up, etc. You should be moving your shoulders and arms to prevent shoulder stiffness, however, avoid any excessive and strenuous use of your upper extremity on the side of your surgery. Let the amount of discomfort be your guide.
- DRAIN CARE: If you need to go home with your drains, the hospital nurses will show you how to empty and strip/"milk" the drain(s) before you are discharged. This will help to keep the drains clear and flowing. Strip the drain 3 - 4 times a day. Write down the date, time, and fluid quantity each time you empty the drain. Remove the gauze around the drain prior to showering and replace it as needed. It is there to catch any leakage you may have around the drain. You may find that using an unscented sanitary napkin or panti-liner tucked into your support garment is a good substitute for the gauze. These pads are highly absorbent and have a fluid proof barrier to protect your clothing. The sticky backs may also alleviate the need for tape on your skin if you are tape sensitive.
- DEEP BREATHING: Ten big deep breaths every hour while you are awake! This exercise will open up the air sacs in your lungs to prevent post-operative fevers and pneumonias. This may seem trivial but we all tend to take shallow breaths when we are having discomfort. In addition, you have just had surgery on your chest and you are wearing a restrictive garment!
- SLEEPING/POSITIONING: Sleep on your back for the first week or so. We also recommend sleeping propped up or with the head of your bed elevated for the first week. This can help minimize/reduce your post-operative swelling. When you are less tender, you may sleep in whatever position is comfortable.
- DRIVING: You may resume driving once you are off narcotic pain medications and when you feel comfortable behind the wheel. Keep in mind that you must be able to maintain control of your vehicle should you need to swerve suddenly to miss an accident, have a blow-out, etc.
- CONSTIPATION: Take an over-the-counter stool softener (Colace or Peri-Colace) per the package instructions while you are taking the narcotic pain medication. Between a change in diet, decreased activity, and the narcotic pain medications, constipation is not uncommon. Have a low threshold for using a laxative (Dulcolax or Milk of Magnesia), suppository, or enema (also per package instructions) to get your system moving.
- ICE: We DO NOT recommend the use of ice packs. The normal blood supply to your skin has been disrupted with your surgery and your skin is very sensitive to decreased blood flow following surgery. Cooling the skin will further decrease the blood flow to your skin and the incision that is trying to heal.
- MINIMIZING SCARS: Minimize hyperpigmentation or darkening of the scar by avoiding sun exposure to the affected area while it is pink and healing—this may be as long as several months to over a year! Use a sunblock or sunscreen with SPF 45, protective clothing is helpful.
There are few magic potions to eat, drink, or rub into your scar. Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter, Mederma, etc. are often thought to improve scars. These products may help but it is more likely that the massaging action helps to reduce swelling and scar firmness.
Over-exuberant scar formation, such as scar hypertrophy or keloids, scar widening, or discoloration are uncommon but can be minimized or improved using various techniques. Some examples include the use of scar massage, silicone gel or sheeting, and/or steroid injection for firm, hypertrophic or keloid scars; tape support to the incision for scar widening; laser treatment of persistently pink scars; bleaching agents for hyperpigmented scars. We will instruct you on these techniques when appropriate.
- SYMPTOMS: CALL THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY AT 303.872.5103 if you develop any of the following symptoms:
- Temperature ≥ 101°
- Increasing pain
- Increasing wound redness
- Wound drainage or pus
- Persistent or increased bleeding
- Increasing pressure or fullness
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In Our Patients' Own Words:
Thank you to Dr. Atagi and her staff. Each one of Dr. Atagi's staff made me feel as if I was their only and favorite patient. They monitored my healing and well-being as if I was a relative. Thank you for your support and friendship throughout my procedure.
- P. Murguia
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