General Post‑Op Instructions

Post-operative instructions. Evening after surgery. During your first evening, please ask for assistance from your loved one. Since you may not feel as stable as you would normally, I recommend getting up and moving around at home at least every 2 hours during the day. Surgery can increase your risk for blood clots in the legs, and we want to ensure the blood is kept flowing.

It is best to rest in an upright position for comfort and to decrease swelling. You will want to use pillows under your arms to keep them elevated. Either rest in a recliner or in bed with 2 to 3 pillows behind your back and pillows under your arms. Avoid raising your arms over shoulder level for the next 2 weeks. You may do your hair. Wear comfortable loose clothing which is easy to take on and off, such as a button-up shirt rather than pullover.

Recovery. Typical downtime is 1 week, 3 to 7 days. Our post-operative dressings are very minimal. It is normal to experience soreness, swelling, and some bruising during the recovery phase.

Incision care. During your first week post-operative, you do not need to apply anything. Once the skin glue or Steri-Strips fall off, apply vitamin E oil to the area twice daily. Once you get to 1 month post-surgery, you will switch to a silicone gel and/or silicone patches. Your incisions will be at maximum strength about 6 weeks after surgery. You may gradually increase cardio activity within 2 weeks and controlled weights after 4 weeks following surgery. Out of an abundance of caution, you will be able to return to full activity 8 weeks post-surgery.

Multimodal therapy medications. Tylenol Extra Strength, 500 mg. Take 2 every 6 hours for 5 days. Do not wait for pain. Tylenol makes up the foundation of your pain management and will decrease the number of narcotics needed. Ibuprofen, 600 mg. Take 1 every 6 hours, scheduled, for 3 days. Do not wait for pain. Ibuprofen makes up the foundation of your pain management and will decrease the number of narcotics needed.

Tramadol, 50 mg. Take 1 every 6 hours as needed for pain for 3 days. It is okay to wait until you have pain. Tramadol is a long-acting narcotic that will begin to work in about 30 minutes and can last up to 6 hours. Oxycodone, 5 milligrams. Take 1 every 4 hours as needed for pain for 3 days. It is okay to wait until you have pain. Oxycodone is a long-acting narcotic that will begin to work in about 30 minutes and can last up to 4 hours.

Zofran, ondansetron, 4 mg. Take 1 every 8 hours. The dissolvable tabs can be placed under your tongue if you are feeling nauseous from the anesthesia. Scopolamine patch, Transderm Scop, 1 mg. This patch is a preventative for nausea prior to surgery. You will begin taking this medication 1 day before surgery.

Singulair, capsular contracture, 10 milligrams. Take 1 daily for 90 days. A study was performed that showed a reduction in the already low rate of capsular contracture in women that took Singulair daily for the first 90 days after surgery. Doxycycline or Bactrim, antibiotic, 100 mg. Take 1 twice a day for 7 days. You will take an antibiotic for the first week after surgery.

Cyclobenzaprine, muscle relaxant, 10 mg. Take 1 every 8 hours as needed. It is okay to wait until you have pain. The pressure you feel after surgery is due to the pec major muscle getting tight/stretched. This can lead to spasms and pain. A muscle relaxant will help to break that spasm and can help you sleep better.