WATCH THIS VIDEO ABOUT THE DAY BEFORE YOUR SURGERY:
General Instructions
Well in advance of your surgery, you will receive a detailed instruction book which contains a copy of the surgical consent, preoperative and postoperative instructions, a detailed list of medications (both prescription and over-the-counter) to avoid prior to surgery, what to expect in the coming days, weeks and months following your surgery and other very useful information. This is your “surgery bible” and will answer the vast majority of your questions and concerns. We are always looking for patient input to make this instruction book as complete and comprehensive as possible. If you can think of something we should add to the booklet, please let us know!
Preoperative Visit
Approximately two weeks prior to surgery, you will be scheduled for a preoperative visit where you will meet with both myself and the surgical coordinator. I will take photographs of your breasts (no facial or other “identifying” areas will be on the photographs. These photographs are essential during surgery for reference. We will review the anticipated implant size, what the anticipated aesthetic outcome of your surgery will be, and answer all questions that you may have. I will review all your routine medications, both prescription and over-the-counter. If there are any special concerns, I will address this with you during this visit. Following your visit with me, you will meet with Maryellen, my surgical coordinator. She will give you final instructions, accept final payment for your surgery and complete final paperwork with you.
Medical Clearance and Blood Work
An appointment for general medical clearance with your primary physician (when indicated), screening mammogram (when indicated) along with some routine blood work needs to be scheduled so that the results are in by the time of the preoperative visit. Mammograms can sometimes take a few weeks to get scheduled. Occasionally, the mammogram report will request additional studies such as an ultrasound or even occasionally an MRI. This is all to ensure that your breasts are healthy prior to surgery and so it is safe to proceed. For this reason, please try to get your mammogram as soon as possible after we give you the prescription for it.
Nurse Telephone Call
One of our registered operating room nurses will call you to review your medical history, review your medications and preoperative instructions, give you a time to report to our facility for surgery and answer any questions you may have.
Pre-Surgical Cleansing
For infection control and proper healing, two days prior to surgery, the night before surgery and the morning of surgery, please thoroughly cleanse with antibacterial soap (such as Dial, Lever 2000). Please clean all areas and skin folds especially under the breasts, in the arm pit and groin, as well as the abdomen. Also, cleanse your belly button well using a wet, soapy Q-tip.
Anesthesiologist Telephone Call
You will receive a telephone call the night before your surgery by either Dr. Levy or Dr. Slepian, our two board certified anesthesiologists. They will review your medical history and medications, ask you some brief questions and may give you some final instructions. Please make certain you will be available the evening before surgery for this important telephone call. Patients usually are told not to eat or drink after midnight, however, depending upon the time of your surgery, you may be allowed some clear liquids in the morning. Please make certain that you understand these instructions as well as the time that you can no longer take anything by mouth. If you are on any routine prescription medications please make sure that you understand whether or not you are to take them in the morning (usually with a sip of water). It is a good idea to review all your medications as well as any over-the-counter preparations, vitamins, herbs, etc with the anesthesiologist during this important telephone call.
Jewelry and Piercings
It is best that you remove all jewelry, especially rings and body piercings prior to leaving for our facility on your surgery day. Metal objects can result in electrical burns on your skin due to the use of the electrocautery during surgery.
Nail Polish
Please have at least one finger without nail polish on the day of surgery. This is because nail polish will interfere with the oxygen sensor that is placed around your finger tip. This is crucial so as to allow the anesthesiologist to continually monitor the levels of oxygen in your bloodstream during the surgical procedure.
Anxieties
If is completely normal to feel a mixture of emotions prior to your surgery. Being nervous is just part of the process, so don’t feel that you are alone in this. Feel free to discuss this with us, or anything else that is on your mind prior to your surgery. We want you to feel completely at ease and excited about your upcoming surgery. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do to make you feel more comfortable.
Topics – Instructions Before and After Breast Augmentation Surgery
Sections – Five Key Decisions You Need To Make
- Get Up And Go-One Day Recovery Breast Augmentation
- What Is Different About The One-Day Recovery Breast Augmentation?
- One-Day Recovery Vs. Rapid Recovery Breast Augmentation
- One-Day Recovery Breast Augmentation – The Process
- Surgery – Where And How Is It Performed?
- Will I Have Nausea Or Vomiting After Surgery?
- How Much Discomfort Will I Have After Surgery?
- How does a breast lift affect the recovery?
- Instructions Before & After Surgery
- What Will I Be Able To Do For The First 24 Hours After My Surgery?
- What To Expect As I Heal?
Prev Chapter: Five key decisions you need to make »
Next Chapter: Anesthesia – General, Sedation or Local? »
Chapters – Breast Augmentation Guide
- Intro to Breast Augmentation
- Five key decisions you need to make
- One-Day Recovery Breast Augmentation
- Anesthesia – General, Sedation or Local?
- Will I need a breast lift (Mastopexy)?
- What else should I know about breast augmentation?
- Important Things to Consider When You Decide to Move Forward With Breast Augmentation
- Revision of breast augmentation
- ALCL and Breast Implant Illness
- Motiva Breast Implant Clinical Trial
