Care After Breast Implants

You had a procedure called breast augmentation (enlargement). It is also known as augmentation mammoplasty. This surgery enhances the size and shape of a woman’s breasts. Women choose breast augmentation to enlarge breast size, to correct a reduction in breast size after pregnancy, to balance a difference in breast size, or to reconstruct the breast following breast surgery or mastectomy. Here’s what you need to do after this procedure.

Activity

• Don’t raise your arms above breast level until your healthcare provider says it’s OK. This prevents the implants from shifting.

• Don’t lift, push, or pull anything heavier than 10 pounds for at least 5 to 7 days.

• Sleep on your back. Use pillows to keep the upper part of your body elevated.

• Don’t drive until your healthcare provider says it’s OK.

Other home care

• Keep an ice pack on your chest to relieve discomfort and to avoid extra swelling. Put the ice pack on for 20 minutes; then leave it off for 20 minutes. Repeat as often as necessary.

• Wear the special bra or bandage you were given before discharge as directed by your healthcare provider. Expect to wear the bra or wrap 24 hours a day for about 3 to 4 weeks. You may remove it when you shower, starting 3 days after your surgery.

• Shower as necessary, starting 3 days after surgery. Gently wash your incision site. Pat the incision dry. Don’t apply lotions, oils, or creams.

• Don't submerge your incision in a tub bath until it is completely closed. Doing so may introduce bacteria and cause an infection.

• You will have a dressing over your incisions. Be sure to ask your healthcare provider how to care for your dressing. Your stitches may dissolve on their own. Or, they may be removed at a follow-up appointment. If you have small white adhesive strips at your incision sites, don't remove them. They will come off on their own.

• Make an appointment to have your stitches or staples removed in 7 to 10 days.

• Remember, the swelling in your breasts may take 3 to 5 weeks to disappear.

• Take your medicine exactly as directed.

Follow-up

Make a follow-up appointment, or as directed.