First Day Instructions
- Dr. Yates will reach you through the Symplast app. Send Dr. Yates photos and any questions
- ACTIVITY - Get up and walk
- Refrain from lifting over 10 lbs or significant activity for THREE weeks
- Full exercise may resume at SIX weeks
- SLEEPING - No lying on your stomach
- BRUISING AND SWELLING - A small amount of incisional bleeding is normal.
- Bruising and swelling are normal and will last for days to weeks
- A large volume of swelling and bruising could indicate a HEMATOMA and Dr. Yates would need to be informed
- BATHING - You can take the bra off to shower. Water directly over incision is fine.
- SUTURES - The sutures are all internal and do not need to be removed
- If applied, the incisional tape will be removed at THREE weeks. If there is significant drainage or odor before that time contact Dr. Yates for instructions. Most commonly we don't apply any inicisional tape, however.
- SENSATION - It is not unusual to have sensation issues early in the healing process, this could involve areas of numbness of the skin or nipple
- Review Medication instructions
- Your next visit is at three weeks. In-person or online.
Three-Week Instructions
- Remove incision tape if it was used
- Begin scar cream. Biocorneum, Mederma or Biodermis cream. Apply a very thin layer for 2 months.
- You may soak in a bath, pool, or hot tub so long as the incisions are closed and doing well
- Send Dr. Yates photos and any questions
- You are able to resume physical work and moderate exercise
- Full exercise at 6 weeks
- The breast size is still a little swollen but nearing the final size
- You may wear a bra of your choice but don’t buy too many until you are closer to the final size after the 6-week point
- Areas of firmness and discomfort are common, massage as necessary
- If you feel you have been treated with exceptional care, leave a review!
- Schedule an online or in-person follow-up visit at 3 months.
Three-Month Instructions
- You have no limitations. Check-in with Dr. Yates with photos and any questions
One-Year
- You have no limitations. Check-in with Dr. Yates with photos and any questions
- Return to the office for postoperative photos
- Leave a kind review 🙂
General Recovery Tips
Bruising and swelling occurs with almost every surgical procedure. Usually, the swelling lasts for only a few days to weeks. There are steps that can be taken before and after surgery to help minimize bruising and swelling… Read More.
Scars are the necessary trade-off of many plastic surgeries. The goal is a near-invisible, thin, skin-colored scar. Scars are ideally minimized by early attention but there are options for treatment of problem scars as well… Read More.
Prepare your house for surgery
1-2 weeks before surgery you should have your childcare, work arrangements, and caretaker lined up. Depending on the procedure you may have a few recovery items on hand. Start with an organized, clean house and full pantry. If you are making meals, simple prep. meals and disposable dinnerware.
Prepare your body for surgery
The weeks before surgery are a good time to maximize a healthy diet and stay on top of exercise. Yoga and heart-healthy exercises are particularly valuable. For almost every procedure stopping smoking 6 weeks before surgery is valuable. For some it is critical. Avoid excessive alcohol and marijuana prior to surgery as well.
Check your medications and supplements
Some medications such as aspirin, fish-oils and some supplements can contribute to bleeding and bruising after surgery. If you would like to take SinnEcch for bruising you would want to do so before surgery. The benefit is mild in Dr. Yates’s opinion but some patients swear by it.
Stay away from illness
Avoid getting sick, wash your hands frequently and avoid contact will people who are ill.
Dr. Yates will give you most everything you need after surgery including a bra, scar cream, and dressings as indicated. A few recommended additional supplies are
- Bed that reclines, recliner, or extra bed pillows
- Icy Hot back patch
- Loose baggy clothes
- Paper tape 1″
- Ice packs
- Stool Softener
- Ginger Ale
- Antacid such as Tums
- Melatonin (not to be used with pain medications)
- Benadryl
- Cortisone cream
- Neosporin
- Probiotics or yogurt
- Second stage Spanx or Flexees for appropriate procedures
- Flexible straws for drinking
- Water bottles/ Gatorade
- Entertainment such as DVD or Netflix
- Cell phone charger near bed and sofa
Breast Lift Recovery Tips
You should expect no significant bedrest after breast lift. Get up and walk.
We use rapid recovery methods for all patients. For patients with a simple breast lift surgery there may be essentially no pain at all. For complex cases or when an implant is used, there may be more pain. The pain is moderate but usually controlled with arm motion, Tylenol and Ibuprofen. If narcotics are necessary they are only for 1-2 days.
There will be surgical tape on the incision. The tape can be left alone and will be removed at approximately three weeks. The tape is not “holding” the incision together, which is accomplished by internal sutures. The purpose of the tape is to protect the scar. If the tape comes off early apply new tape or leave it alone. Once the tape is removed you will apply scar cream 1-2 x a day to the incisions. Biocorneum, Biodermis, and Mederma are good options. Plan to use scar cream for 2 months.
You can shower directly over the incision tape and breasts immediately. Any soaking should wait until the tape is removed at three weeks.
For toddlers or children that need a lot of care, you will want assistance for a week after surgery.
You can return to light lifting with the arms and a good walk at one week. You may return to moderate lifting with the arms (10-15 lbs) and heavier lower body lifting by three weeks. Full exercise at six weeks.
Office and desk work can be resumed right away. For most physical jobs you can return at 3 weeks.
It is safe to resume sexual activity by two to three weeks after breast lift. Caution with handling the breasts for closer to four weeks.
Overaggressive activity can cause problems with healing. In the first week, we are worried about bleeding. This could result in a hematoma and a second trip to the operating room.
The breasts will look nice immediately after surgery. They continue to soften and improve in feel and appearance over the next 2-3 months.