Breast Augmentation

PRE OPERATION

Now that we have met, and gone through what the surgery entails, here are just a few guidelines on the upcoming weeks prior to your surgical day.

1 month prior to surgery:

-Refrain from smoking completely, it impairs healing, can cause stretched, widened, elevated and thickened darker scars, as well as causing skin death.

2 weeks prior to surgery:

-Avoid anything with aspirin, or any flu medication combinations-these contain blood thinning drugs

1 week prior to surgery:

-Stop all over the counter medications including vitamins and avoid anything over 1 unit of alcohol[a glass of wine/ a beer] per night -Stop all health and gym supplements completely -Stop any tea preparations[green tea/health tea] other that the normal varieties. 

-Avoid anything with aspirin, or any flu medication combinations-these contain blood thinning drugs

- This is for 2 weeks prior to surgery.[any other blood thinning medication must be reported to Dr Singh if you happened to omit this on my information/consult form] 

-Continue taking all other medications

Day of Surgery:

-Anxiety is expected, mixed with excitement, but most importantly, a feeling that you are in the best hands and will be well looked after throughout your whole surgical experience. 

-Chat to me about any last minute questions you have, I pride myself in being an approachable person, not just an approachable surgeon.

With my breast patients, we meet often more than once to go through sizes with my specialised sizing kit, however sometimes last minute nerves kick in and we decide to change sizes- not to worry- I will have them in stock. 

-Don’t eat or drink from the specified time on your admission slip, and come through to the day ward where I will go through things again, and mark you out. 

The anaesthetist will come through and go through the anaesthetic procedures, and will prescribe some meds to take the edge off and get you a bit drowsy before you are wheeled into theatre [this is called a pre-med]

POST PROCEDURE:

We will wake you up in theatre and transfer you back to the ward.

You will be surprisingly pain free, as I inject the area whilst you are asleep to keep you pain free post op.

You pressure garment will be on, and you will not have any drain.

I will come and examine you when you are awake. 

You will be discharged with some painkillers, and anti-inflammatories, antibiotics as well as some dressings and micropore tape[only for use when I see you 5 days later in my rooms.] 

The local anaesthesia wears off in approx 5-7 hours so please take as much meds as you require to alleviate the symptoms.

Do not smoke, take any alcohol, or start any over the counter meds or any other of the blood thinners as set out in my pre-op formDo start your chronic meds[besides blood thinners] the day of surgery. 

Please sleep on your back and leave the bra on- this must be worn round the clock[ie never removed] for at least 1 weeks post op.I will see you1 day and  5-7 days post op- and remove the bra and dressings. 

There are no stitches to be removed, and I will apply micropore tape to the suture line, After one week- you may remove the bra to shower only, but continue wearing it 24 hours a day for 6 weeks post op. This prevents the implants moving around. 

Return to work 5-7 days post op[as well as driving]

You may start walking only as exercise 2 weeks after surgery[ with the bra on]Start gym at 6 weeks and progress as tolerated.  

After approximately 2 weeks, the residual discoluration and bruising subsides almost completely. You might lose some erogenous sensation for approx 3 weeks but this is very rare. Haematoma is one of the complications, it is hence important to leave your bra on, and not take any medication that could thin your blood. 

Infection is also very rare, often treatable with antibiotics, however occasionally you might require to return to theatre. 

Capsular contracture is also very rare, we don’t fully understand why it occurs, it is a lot less common with our new generation implants, but might require further surgery Breast feeding and sporting activity should not be affected or limited by your implants, and the rupture rate of the newer implants is extremely low. 

I will see you again in a month, then 3 months, 6 months, a year and then when necessary.

Mammograms are possible, and should you have any further questions, my doors are open. You will be most happy with your new look, it brings a world of confidence and a whole new wardrobe!