Breast augmentation is a popular invasive surgical procedure chosen by women who feel that their chest is rather small, drooping or unshapely or fixing the look after some ailment, injury or other scenarios.

Breast Augmentation

Just prior to the operation, the specialist surgeon would make markings on the chest wall using a marker pen following an in-depth discussion with the woman on the type of implants, specific size, site and incision. This is to demarcate the location where the incision would be made and where the implant would be placed (underneath the breast/ areolar edge/ underneath chest muscles). The patient is then brought into the operating room and anesthetized.

The area is then prepped up for surgery by sterilizing it. The team of doctors would then perform the procedure after which the patient is shifted to a recuperation room and would have already received pain killers along with local anesthesia. Thus, there isn’t much discomfort initially. Later, when the patient is given discharge she would be given oral medicines to allay pains. Only moderate discomfort, swelling, tenderness and bruising is felt for the initial week or so and full resumption of regular activities within a fortnight or so is possible. Based on the form of sutures used during the surgery, they would be removed by the doctor when proper healing has occurred.

How To Deal With Breast Augmentation

Any remnant nauseous feeling after being anesthetized (general) during operation is resolved by intake of medications that the doctors prescribe. It usually subsides within hours after the procedure. Antibiotics course is also prescribed along with analgesics (prescription-only or over-the-counter) for preventing infection at the operated site and reducing discomfort.

An elastic bandage would be enfolded firmly around the chest which could be gently taken off after a day of the operation. Doctors most likely recommend wearing post-surgical compression undergarments or brassiere round-the-clock (except when bathing) till totally recovered. The Mayo Clinic states that these are created for supporting the breasts during the healing process sans application of excess pressure. This lowers the chances of scarring from the incision.

Refrigerant gel or instant cold packs must be applied in the initial 48 to 72 hours post operation for combating inflammation and minimizing bruising.

Lifestyle and Diet Modifications

It is crucial that the patient takes total bed rest for the initial 72 hours post-surgery and props herself in bed or lounger while sleeping to maintain a forty-five inclination (partly erect bodily posture) to lessen swellings. Place cushions around oneself so that one doesn’t roll over on one’s side or abdomen while asleep. Seek assistance from near and dear ones and avoid overexertion.

Any form of arduous exercising must be avoided for a minimum of four weeks post-surgery, although one can take brief walks twice or thrice daily to accelerate recuperation, avert clot formations and lessen swellings. Also, do not lift anything heavy or bend during this time period.

Avoid eating heavy meals and instead have smaller ones along with light snacking for the initial 2 to 3 days following operation. This would stave off any nauseous feeling and abdominal discomfort which is experienced when big meals are consumed shortly after being anesthetized. Have plenty of fluids and steer clear from salty foods to minimize swellings when you recover.

Care of Incision Site

Take care that the incised site doesn’t get wet for the initial day or so after operation. When external suturing has been done then it is important that there is no contact with water for several weeks.

One needs to keep tabs on the extent of fluid emptying from one’s surgical drains which must be notified to one’s doctor. After procedure any type of fever (crossing 101 degrees Fahrenheit), any excess blood loss from incised site or cloudy emission or smell from the nipple or stitches must be immediately reported to the doctor. Any blister formations on the site or close proximity of the breasts, protrusion/deflation of breast implants or any type of unmanageable pains, giddiness or loss of sensation in legs are also red alert signs to promptly get in touch with the concerned physician.

Breast Care After Procedure

Creams to reduce scars are recommended by doctors to be used twice daily (dawn and before retiring to bed) when complete closure and scarring over of the wound has occurred. Gentle rubbing of the cream over the area till total absorption has occurred is advised.

Silicone sheets to reduce scars are also applied on the breasts prior to wearing clothing. They are self-sticking in nature and must be pressed down on the areola scar for covering it. They help the scarring to subside while also functioning as a shielding agent from clothing which might rub against it and result in it reopening.

Massaging Exercises

On an average, a physician would advise the patient on the right way to massage the breast following augmentation. This must be done for thirty minutes daily in the initial three months and five minutes daily thereafter.

After flattening your palm, place it in a manner that sufficient pressure is applied for flattening the implant, though not till it causes pain. Optionally, the hand can be placed on the center of the breast implant and rotated to the outermost ends of the breast compartment in rounded motions (clockwise and then anticlockwise) so that the implant is massaged into every quadrant.