*****BIBLE OF PRE/POST OP TIPS *****

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To bump to the top again….

I have made a list for stuff to do and things to pack before my op, from lots of posts from here and other post op girls, and the MYA fact sheets. Hope it’s useful and condenses the info of the last 6 pages x

To get:

Cocoa butter with shea butter lotion – applying to skin in the hope it will prevent stretch marks

Dry shampoo

Hibiscrub body wash (Boots online) for before op and after to prevent infection

Laxatives (for pain killer side effects!)

Dermatix scar sheets (ebay)

V pillow (£10 Argos)

Hot and cold compresses (Boots online)

Zotrim – natural slimming aid that makes you feel full for longer (so I hopefully don’t put on weight while I’m unable to go to gym)

Macom bra and couple of spare sports bras

PJ’s that front fasten

To take to hospital

Clothes that front fasten and are comfy

Macom bra

V pollow and duvet (for car journey home to pad me out)

Camera

Phone charger

Books/games/mags for filling in the time before and after op

Deoderant

Hair brush and make up bag

Snacks and drinks

Pre-op don’ts

Use fake tan 1 week before

Use aspirin or ibuprofen 2 weeks before (or after) op

Use deoderant or body lotion 24 hours before op

No make up, nail varnish, false eyelashes

No metal (piercings, hairbands etc)

No alcohol 48 hrs before surgery (I was told 1 week tho)

No food, drink or gum for 6 hours before admission (not surgery), no water for 2 hrs before admission

Pre-op do’s

Get anything out of high cupboards before op that you might need

Get some easy to put on clothes that you don’t have to lift your arms up to get into

Get lots of dvd’s, books and mags to pass the time for the first week

Be lazy, do as little as possible, it’s not worth risking your new boobies just to put the kettle on!

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awesome list : bump

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Boobies bump

I never get bored of readin through this list. Love it x

I finished my shopping today, got 3 pairs of comfy button up pjs but it’s really hard to find button up tops, I don’t want to sit in blouses all week feeling like I should be sat in an office, so ended up with a few zip up trackie tops from primark. Think I’m ready for my op now!

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http://www.puls-norge.no/upload/Puls/BR-Brosjyrer/RP%20Brystproteser/3%C3%B82.%20E%200573%202008%20Natrelle%20Product%20Catalogue%202009.pdf

LINK to inspira catalogue online x

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Something I found on another forum which I have cut and pasted!

These are ‘some’ of the things you aren’t warned about from your clinic/surgeon but most of us have to deal with!

Post-op blues!

In the first week post-op you’re most probably going to be uncomfortable, maybe your boobs will look like torpedoes and you feel exhausted and sometimes sick too… This can often bring on ‘the post-op blues’ and many women will ask themselves “what have I done?”!!!

You’re snappy, upset and feeling really down – I cried for a whole two days none stop!, but you need to remember that you aren’t going to heal overnight! Your new additions and you will have just been through the trauma of an operation and will need time to settle afterwards.

Positive reinforcement will help to aid your recovery, so it will often help to take a step back and look at the big picture and be realistic about how long it’s going to take for the final results to appear.

This is all normal though and does pass!

Morning boob

OUCH!

The morning boob is I felt the most uncomforatble part of the ‘boob job’ experience and thank goodness this part doesn’t last for very long! No matter how many pain killers you pop before you raise yourself up to that dreaded sitting position from being propped up, you can’t prepare for that rush of blood that sweeps right to your boobs, making them feel like ten ton weights strapped to your chest!

I found ice packs helped so much to ease this feeling placed over the top part of my breasts and got such relief from this – This is nothing to worry about, it is just caused by the swelling and does subside.

Being propped up and the bum shuffle

You will not be able to lever yourself up with your arms after your op, so prepare yourself for….. the bum shuffle!!!!

Prepare those stomach muscles too because you’re going to need them!!! You’ll spend the first week or more having to be propped up when sleeping, this very often causes havoc with your back, so you’ll find a hot water bottle very helpful in easing that, placed on the small of your back.

It’s often thought that you need to be sat bolt upright to aid the swelling, this isn’t true, you do need your head and shoulders raised though.

As you try to get up, for me, with my stomach muscles shaking it was a task all on it’s own! You finally get yourself into an upright postion and then the side of the bed could be a million miles away as you think about attempting to get to the edge to get yourself off the bed! This is where ‘the bum shuffle’ comes in! You clutch the new assets with your hands in a protective way, don’t ask me why, they aren’t going anywhere! But you do it anyway and then… wriggle your bum till you get to the edge of the bed, then comes the countdown!!!! One… Two….. THREE! You push yourself to a standing position!!!!!! I would have given myself a big pat on the back after achieving this if I could but I was too busy clutching the new baps!!!!

After a couple of days you’ll have this mastered and after a week or so, you’ll be just fine!

Recovery instructions

You’ll often find yourself comparing your recovery with other peoples – Don’t!

We all heal differently and although you may have had your surgery at around the same time as another lady, chances are you will be complately different in how you heal and the time you heal.

If you’re at all concerned about something follow the advice given by YOUR surgeon.

You’ll often read conflicting advice about post-op care as so many surgeons have their own opinions on their patients recovery, but you have to remember, you chose the surgeon you have, you paid for their advice so it’s always best that you follow it. YOUR surgeon knows what is best for YOU.

Frankeinboobs!

If you’re expecting to wake up from your surgery with these two new beautifully formed breasts, you’re going to be in for a big shock! Quite often, your boobs will sat high up on your chest, they’ll look like cones, your skin will be tight and might look rubbery, they might look square shaped or your nipples may be pointing in the wrong direction.. I could go on, but what I’m trying to say is that they won’t be perfect, they’re going to need time to drop and settle and along the way, you might find your boobs heal at different rates – one might soften and drop before the other leaving you with a wonky appearance for a while – this again is all a normal part of your recovery and barring all complications you will end up with soft breasts that have dropped into a natural postion, but if you have any concerns at all that you don’t feel comfortable with, call your clinic for advice – it’s what you paid them for.

Boobie greed

Some women never get ‘boob greed’ others experience it fleetingly, some might yearn for a few days and for others, it never goes away- Give yourself a little time to adjust to the new you, when you’re out of the sports bras that you’ve been confined to for so long and in your lovely lingerie, it makes a massive difference to how your breasts look, so allow time for your boobs to settle before making any judgements, the majority of ladies are happy with their boobs even if they do experience a little boob greed now and again.

Nerves

Nope, I’m not talking about the shaky kind, I mean the nerves ‘inside’ your body. As your breasts heal you might experience some pain from your breasts – shooting pains or pins and needles, or a sunburn sensation, or over sensitive nipples although this is uncomfortable, it doesn’t usually last for very long, maybe a couple of days, to a week, rarely more but it can occur and can be quite scary if you don’t know what it is – It’s just the nerves healing back again and it’s a good sign! I found ice packs helped so much more than pain killers to ease this, but others found painkillers worked best and some – both!

You can experience these sensations periodically throughout your entire healing process which for some ladies can take up to a year – Some ladies also lose sensation causing numbness to parts of the breast and nipple, this can take some time to come back and the advice given is that you should give up to year for all sensation to return.

I hope this helps some of you and might at least put some of your minds at ease. xx

BUMP XX

Bump x

1. What if I get sick and can’t keep my medicine down?

Taking your medication with food and water can help you keep it down during breast augmentation recovery. If you simply cannot keep your medications down, tell your surgeon. You may need to have your prescription changed.

2. I am a very active person. How long should I wait after breast augmentation until I resume exercising?

Talk to your surgeon about when you can resume exercising after breast augmentation. Individual instructions may vary, but the usual advice is to wait at least two weeks. Although you may feel fine, you will not be completely healed at this stage. Doing too much too soon can set back your healing. You should not lift heavy objects, bend over, or take part in vigorous activities for at least three weeks after breast augmentation.

3. How long before my breast implants drop?

For most women, breast implants rest a bit high for a short period after surgery, and then they drop into a more normal position. This usually takes a few weeks. The time it takes your breast implants to drop depends upon several factors, including the implant size, what size you were before your breast augmentation surgery, the implant surface type, implant placement, your muscle tone and whether you massage your breasts. Smooth breast implants drop faster than textured implants. If your implants are placed underneath the chest muscle, they will drop slower than if they are placed over the muscle. If you had very small breasts before, and get moderate to large implants, they will take longer to drop because of the tightness of your skin. Sometimes, one side will drop before the other side.

Some surgeons advise patients to push their breast implants down or massage them soon after surgery to encourage them to drop. If you are having problems, your surgeon may have you wear a wide elastic band around the top of your chest to help push your implants down.

If your implants still haven’t dropped within six to nine months, breast augmentation revision surgery may be necessary. Talk to your surgeon.

4. Why do my breasts appear red and feel sunburned?

Your skin has been stretched to accommodate the breast implants. The sunburned feeling and red color are caused by this stretching. This is a normal part of the healing process. Ask your surgeon what he or she recommends for your skin during your breast implant recovery. A moisturizer with shea butter may help

5. Why are my breasts shiny?

The shininess is a result of your skin being stretched. As your skin begins to relax, the shininess will go away.

6. How long after breast augmentation will my breasts soften up?

This depends on the surface type of your implants, the type of filler, your muscle tone, the implant placement, and whether the implants are overfilled. Your breasts will be firm for a while because of the post-surgery swelling. Saline breast implants are usually firmer than silicone implants, textured implants may feel firmer than smooth ones, and overfilled implants are fuller still.

7. Am I too firm?

Firmness is relative. Some individuals think they are too firm when they are only slightly firmer than before, while others crave firmness and fullness around the top side of their breasts. There is no one-size-fits-all answer.

8. What is “the strap”breast band used for?

The strap is a wide piece of elastic cloth that circles your chest and back above your breasts. It can help your breast implants drop. Some surgeons have patients use elastic bandaging, such as Ace bandaging, instead of a strap.

9. How soon can I go back to work after breast augmentation?

This depends on your job, your incision type, your implant placement, and how fast you heal. If you have a sedentary job, you can generally go back sooner than if your job is physically demanding. If you have had a lift, your breast lift recovery will make your overall recuperation more involved. If you have transumbilical breast augmentation (TUBA) surgery, you can go back to work sooner than if you have breast implants and a full lift. During TUBA, a short J- or C-shaped incision is made within your belly button and empty saline breast implants are moved into place using endoscopy, a procedure in which the surgeon uses a tiny fiber-optic camera to view the interior of the breast. After the breast implants are in place, they are filled with sterile saline to the desired size.

Recovery is quicker with TUBA surgery because the milk ducts in the nipple are not disturbed. Plan to take about five days off after your surgery to heal properly. Be on the safe side: Ask your surgeon when he or she recommends you return to work.

10. Will I regret my decision to get breast implants?

You may feel sad and depressed after your breast augmentation. This is common, and may be due to any number of factors, including medication side effects and reactions to the anesthesia as well as post-surgical stress. Some women may think that the bruising, swelling and pain will never go away, which can increase feelings of sadness and anxiety. Give yourself time to heal and the breast implants time to settle before you even consider thinking about regrets.

11. When can I tan my new breasts?

Tanning is not good for any part of your body, including your new breasts. Tanned skin is damaged skin. If you want to tan anyway, you are going to have to wait at least until your skin is no longer red and shiny. Tanning too early after your breast augmentation surgery can increase your risk of hyperpigmentation, a condition in which patches of skin become darker than the surrounding skin.

Keep your incisions out of direct sunlight for six months to a year after surgery. Scars take about one year to mature, so cover them! The skin on your breasts will also stretch out and heal before your scars, so if you start tanning, cover your scars with some kind of tape, not just sunblock.

12. My bra is irritating my incision lines. What can I do?

If your incisions have closed, you can either wear an elastic bandage around your breasts and wear your bra on top of it, or use foam padding like EPIfoam™ from BioDermis. Talk to your surgeon.

13. My new breasts are squeaking and gurgling! Is this permanent? When will it stop?

Do not panic if you hear gurgling, squeaking or crackling noises coming from your new breasts. These noises can result from a fluid build-up or air bubbles within the implant pocket, or from the implant settling in. Give it a few weeks. Although the noises might be disturbing, this is normal after breast augmentation.

14. My breasts look like cones or torpedoes. Is this permanent?

Your breasts may be odd looking because your skin has been stretched over them. Don’t worry, this is likely temporary. If your breasts look like torpedoes, your implants probably haven’t “dropped” yet. The lower half of each breast is probably still tight, forcing the breasts into a high, hard-cone shape.

In the weeks immediately after your breast implant surgery, you may think your breasts are too big, too small, too round, not round enough, too square, too high, too low, too ugly, too this, and too that. This will pass in time. If your implants were placed under the chest muscles, it may take some time for the muscles to relax. If you are right-handed, your right breast may not drop as fast as your left one.

15. My nipples are too sensitive and are constantly erect. What can I do to ease this?

Many women complain of very erect and sensitive nipples after breast augmentation. If your nipples feel very sensitive when your clothing rubs up against them, try covering them with round Band-Aids, large corn pads, or nursing pads. These products can protect your nipples from the abrasiveness of your clothing, and shield your erect nipples from the eyes of the public.

16. My nipples are pointing at the floor. Does this mean I needed a breast lift? Or that I have been “botched?”

This is a normal phenomenon after breast augmentation, so don’t worry. Your implants will likely rest high up on your chest at first, especially if they are placed underneath your chest muscle. This may cause your breasts to point to the floor.

17. My breasts are too big! I hate them! When can I have a redo?

Take a deep breath. In the weeks after breast augmentation, your breasts will be swollen and you will not be used to them yet. They may also be relatively high up on your chest. Wait until the swelling goes down before you decide that they are too big and/or that you want revision breast augmentation surgery.

If you still think they are too big after a year, talk to a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in revision breast augmentation removing breast implants to see if you are a candidate.

18. I feel so depressed. Is this normal?

Many women who undergo breast augmentation feel sad or anxious during their recovery. You may begin to second-guess yourself and wonder if you should have had the surgery in the first place. Some women begin to think their new breasts are ugly and that the bruising and swelling will never go away. This is common, and may be due to any number of factors, including medication side effects and reactions to the anesthesia, as well as post-surgical stress. See our Postoperative Depression Section for more information on this subject.

19. When can I start running again after breast augmentation?

You need to be fully healed before you can start jogging again. Activities like jogging, jumping rope, basketball and horseback riding subject your breasts to a lot of up-and-down movements. Jumping without good support for your breasts can stretch your skin, ligaments, and connective tissue, causing sagging. Talk to your surgeon before you take part in any strenuous activity. And when you do start up again, wear a good support bra.

20. What can I do about my breast implant scars?

There are several products that promote healing and improve the appearance of breast implant scars. These include Mederma®, BioDermis’ Xeragel® and silicone sheeting. While the incisions are closing, some surgeons use tissue sealant (like fibrin glue) or medical paper tape products such as Steri-Strips™. Ask your surgeon which product or products he recommends.

21. When can I begin having sex again after breast augmentation?

Sex is exercise. You should not participate in any activities that can significantly raise your heart rate or cause excessive movement in your breasts for a week or two after your breast augmentation.

The antibiotics that you are taking to prevent infection may interfere with your birth control pills, so use another form of protection while you are on antibiotics if you do not want to become pregnant.

22. Will I have to sleep on my back or side forever?

No. Just like the swelling, pain and redness, this is only temporary. You should sleep on your back with your head elevated for the first five to 10 days after surgery to reduce your discomfort and swelling. You can sleep on your side or stomach after 14 days.

23. My breasts are numb. Will I ever have sensation again?

In almost all cases, the sensation in the skin does return after breast augmentation. The nerves in the skin have pressure on them from the swelling and from the skin being so tightly stretched over the implant. This pressure may temporarily numb the area. What’s more, nerves around your incisions may be cut, and this can take longer to heal.

As the breast envelope relaxes and your swelling subsides, you will notice sensation returning gradually. This may take up to a year.

24. Can I drive myself home after breast augmentation surgery if I don’t have general anesthesia?

No. You must have someone drive you home and care for you during the first 24 to 48 hours after your breast augmentation surgery. In addition to any residual grogginess from the sedative and anesthesia, you may be very sore and bandaged, which could interfere with your ability to drive.

25. I have a ride home from the surgery center, but my friend can’t stay with me that night. Is that OK?

Try to have someone stay with you the night after your surgery. You are going to sleep a lot, but you will need someone to wake you to take your medications and take your temperature during your breast implant recovery. You may also need help getting in and out of bed and going to the bathroom. If you cannot find a friend or family member to stay over that night, ask your surgeon about a home health care aide. You can also stay overnight in the hospital or at an aftercare facility.

26. I am traveling out of town for my breast implant surgery and will stay at a hotel for a few days. Can I take care of myself?

No. If you are traveling for your breast implant surgery, your surgeon should be able to arrange for a staff member or a homecare nurse to stay with you overnight. Some surgeons have overnight facilities. Find out about your options in advance. It is essential to have a caregiver for the first 24 to 48 hours after breast augmentation surgery.

27. How soon after surgery can I fly?

You will need to stay at home or near your surgeon for the first week of your breast implant recovery in case of complications. You will also need to be nearby for your follow-up appointments. That said, air travel in and of itself should not affect your body after the first 24 to 48 hours. Be on the safe side and run your air travel plans by your breast surgeon.

28. I plan on taking holidayssoon after breast augmentation. How long should I wait?

Ask your surgeon. You will need to stay at home or near your surgeon’s office for the first week of your breast augmentation recovery in case of any complications, and for follow-up appointments. If you do travel in the first month after breast augmentation surgery, you need to be very careful, because you won’t be fully healed. If your vacation involves a bathing suit, ask your doctor when you can stop wearing the postoperative bras.

Bump x

What a brilliant thread! I like fairys talk of unders/partials! I clicked on her and it went to a blank page! How is this i wanted to ask her about her surgeon.

sorry george hope u dont think im being mean, but on page one u say that the expensive implants are cohesive gel that cant leak. But u dont say this about cui.

The cui and naturelle range are actually all made by the same company- allergan. The all have cohesive gel also, which cant leak.

The difference is the amount and quality of the cohesive gel.

We no longer use saline implants as commonly as the usa x

Hi kendra, unfortunately fairy left the forum she will be missed that’s for sure, she was a walking encyclopaedia that one…brilliant girl xx

Ah thank u xxjoxx. Wondered why her profile didnt come up at all. Xx

kendra i have fairys email,obviously i cant give it out,i can ask her if she will contact you if you wish,xxxx

Hi tina ah that would be fab! My email is kendrasian@gmail.com

Thank u hun xx

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http://www.puls-norge.no/upload/Puls/BR-Brosjyrer/RP%20Brystproteser/3%C3%B82.%20E%200573%202008%20Natrelle%20Product%20Catalogue%202009.pdf

love this!!

God send!!

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thanks tina x

glad to see this still running thanks to everyone who added stuff x

Bump.xxx

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Pre-op

Plait or get your hair breaded the day before your op, that way you don’t have to worry about it getting in the way, having to put it up or having someone put it up for you! And it will make you feel a lot better knowing you don’t have greasy hair when you are sitting there in your 3 day old pjs and not showered for a few days! If you have a fringe like I do, just use a bit of dry shampoo or talc to keep it fresh.

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