Breast Reconstruction: After Your Surgery
These discharge instructions will give you basic information on caring for yourself after you leave the hospital. Your surgeon may also give you specific instructions.
Please read these instructions and refer to them in the next few weeks. If you have any questions or problems, call your doctor.
Activity
Rest as much as possible during your first two weeks at home. Avoid standing for long periods of time. Don’t lift anything heavy (more than three pounds) with the affected arm(s). Don’t do any overhead reaching, pulling, or stretching with your arms. This means you cannot vacuum or mop because of the stretching involved. Your doctor will tell you whether you can drive.
Bathing
You may tub bathe or sponge bathe. Do not shower unless your doctor says you may. You may wash your hair, but keep any dressings (bandages) completely dry and intact. Do not use deodorant or shave the underarm(s) (armpit) on the side of your body where the surgery was done.
Pain control
Take pain relievers as prescribed. If none were prescribed, you may take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin). Do not take any product containing aspirin.
Care of your incision
Keep all dressings dry and intact until your follow-up visit. Unless the doctor or nurse tells you differently, wear a supportive bra or a surgi-bra (if you were given one). Some patients go home with one or more Jackson-Pratt (JP) drains in their incisions. If you have a JP drain, refer to the booklet and instructions given to you by your nurse on how to care for it. If the drains were removed, keep the dressing that covers the site dry and intact.
Other instructions
- Keep your arms and elbows at your sides. Keep your arm movements within the limits set by your doctor and/or physical or occupational therapist.
- Do not sleep on your stomach or press anything against your chest for two to four weeks. This means you will not be able to hold a small child during this time.
When to call the doctor
Call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:
- shaking chills or a fever higher than 100.4 F (38 C)
- increased muscle or chest soreness accompanied by fever or numbness or tingling in either arm
- drainage that becomes heavy or is accompanied by redness or swelling at the incision or drain site(s) (Note: Slight drainage is normal, especially within 24 hours of surgery.)
- one breast becomes larger than the other (especially if implants were inserted)