How do I take care of myself before and after the operation?
Prescriptions will be given to you beforehand so you can have them filled and ready at
home. Specific post operative orders will be given as well. Our nurse will go over ALL the
instructions with you prior to your surgery. You will be given Rxs for antibiotics, pain
medication and Valium which helps reduce the muscle spasm in the chest and as a result you
may require less pain medication.
You will be sent home wearing an elastic breast band (a picture of this band will be given
at the time of your consult) worn 23 out of 24 hours a day for a couple of days after your
surgery. It is quite snug fitting. On your first post operative visit we will fit you with
a more comfortable single band. This keeps your implants in the correct position after
surgery.
It is important that you have help at home. You need to relax, take your pain medications
and make this your time. Keep a glass full of some liquid with a straw close to your bed
or chair to sip on frequently. You will be able to shower the next day. Your incision is
protected with surgical glue called DermaBond and Steri-Strips which sometimes stay on for
2 or 3 weeks. You can shower the day after surgery safely. Make sure someone will be there
with you to prevent you from falling should you become weak or unbalanced in the shower.
Remember that we want you to take a week off from work. You may increase your activity as
you wish. You can walk or use the elliptical but jogging is not advisable for
approximately 2 weeks and only when wearing a snug-jogging bra. We do not want you to do
pectoral exercises for several weeks. We will explain these limitations to you in detail.
Dr. Jacobsen has a full list of postoperative instructions to guide you through your
postoperative period. We will go over these with you at length prior to your surgery. Dr.
Jacobsen and his nurse, Denise, are always available to answer your phone calls any time
24 hours a day seven days a week after your surgery. Frankly however we received very few
phone calls from our patients because they are so well-informed and the medications we
prescribe work very well to get our patients through the early postoperative period.
