Breast Reconstruction – Tissue Expander/Implant

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Please monitor the surgical sites for signs of infection (increasing redness, pain, fever). If you are concerned about the surgical site, please contact your surgeon's office or return to the emergency department at the hospital where your operation was performed.​​

 

• There are no dietary restrictions; you may eat what you can tolerate.

 

• Some people experience some fatigue and may feel they get tired easily.
• Take frequent rests in between your activities.
• Your body will guide you of how much activity you can tolerate.
• ​​​Avoid strenuous activities and pectoral muscle (chest) exercises.
• ​If you were told by your surgeon to wear a surgical bra, please wear it until your follow-up appointment.

Resources for more information:​

• Helpful Hints for Better Sleep
• Relaxing Exercises to Relieve Stress
• How to Manage Your Fatigue
• Mental Fatigue and What You Can Do About It

 

• If you have a clear dressing on your surgical site, you will be asked to leave this on until your follow-up appointment.
• ​If you have a fabric type of dressing, this can be removed 48 hours after your operation. Leave the Steri-Strips (paper tapes) along your incision until your follow-up appointment.

 

• ​​You will not be unable to do any heavy lifting of more than 10 lbs for 4 to 6 weeks after the operation. This includes pushing heavy objects.

 

• ​You will be given a prescription upon discharge from hospital; please take your medications as directed.
• ​If you were given a prescription for antibiotics, please take them until your drains have been removed.

 

• DO NOT drive when you are still taking pain medications.
• You may start driving once you are able to check your blind spot safely and you must feel comfortable to make a sudden jerky movement in case of an emergency.

Go to your nearest emergency department if you see these signs of infection:

• Your temperature goes higher than 38°C (100°F) and lasts longer than 24 hours.
• If you feel chills.
• If your incisions or the skin around you incisions is bright red, hot and swollen.
• Your incisions are leaking white fluid or pus.
• ​Your incisions have pus that smells bad.