Mastopexy Post-Operative

INSTRUCTIONS

  • Have someone else drive you home after surgery and help you at home for 1-2 days.
  • Get plenty of rest
  • Follow balanced diet
  • Decreased activity may promote constipation, so you may want to add more raw fruit to you diet, and be sure to increase fluid intake
  • Take pain medications as prescribed. Do not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin
  • Do not drink alcohol while taking pain medications
  • Do not smoke, as smoking delays healing and increases the risks of complications

ACTIVITES

  • Start walking as soon as possible, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots
  • Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics)
  • Do not drive a car for 2 weeks; after 2 weeks, only drive car with automatic shift and power steering
  • Limit use of arms for 4-6 weeks
  • No heavy lifting
  • Social and employment activities can be resumed in 7-14 days, check with your surgeon
  • Avoid strenuous exercise and activities such as sports for 4-6 weeks

INCISION CARE

  • You may shower 48 hours after surgery
  • Avoid exposing scars to sun for at least 12 months
  • Always use a strong sun block, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater)
  • Keep steri-strips on, replace if they come off
  • Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for signs of infection
  • No tub soaking while sutures or drains are in place
  • Leave dressing on for length of time prescribed by your surgeon
  • Once a dressing is removed, a soft, wireless, full support sports bra must be worn 24 hours a day for 2-4 weeks, unless otherwise instructed by your surgeon

WHAT TO EXPECT

  • There may be postoperative pain, temporary bruising, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin, swelling, discoloration
  • May be some loss of sensation of the nipples
  • Sagging breasts can recur  with the aging process, pregnancy, and weight changes
  • Scars will fade in several months to a year

APPEARANCE

  • Wearing a bra helps maintain your new appearance
  • Increases firmness

FOLLOW-UP CARE

  • Drainage tubes are removed in 3-7 days
  • Surface sutures removed in 7-14 days

WHEN TO CALL

  • If you have increases swelling or bruising
  • If swelling and redness persist after a few days
  • If you have increased redness along the incision
  • If you have sever or increase pain not relieved by medication
  • If you have any side effects to medications: such as, rash, nausea, headache, vomiting
  • If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees
  • If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice foul odor
  • If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure
  • If you have loss of feeling or motion

For medical questions, please call:

  • 812-477-6600 Evansville Office
  • 812-634-6600 Jasper Office