Before your breast augmentation surgery with Dr. Vitenas, we recommend reviewing our patient checklist. You want to be prepared ahead of time so you won’t run into any issues during or after your operation.
What Should You Do Before Your Breast Augmentation?
1. Plan Ahead And Take Time Off
Before doing anything else, you must look at your schedule and plan for your surgery. Days before surgery, ensure that everything is set for your absence. Breast augmentation is an invasive operation that requires healing and some time off from your job. So, you want to prepare ahead of time. That way, you won’t have to scramble to find time to recover.
Remember, you won’t be able to return to your daily life immediately. Keeping this in mind, patients should schedule time off for work and other responsibilities. You should also talk with the people in your home and let them know that you won’t be able to do strenuous activities for several weeks.
Why It’s Important: Breast augmentation is a significant procedure requiring ample recovery time. Planning for time off work ensures a stress-free recovery period without the pressure of immediate responsibilities, however, most patients having surgery on Friday are able to return to office work on Monday.
2. Plan For Childcare
Again, major surgery, like breast augmentation (implants), requires rest and healing. Especially if you have children, you will need to make a solid plan.
Talk about this with your partner and determine things like school pick-ups and drop-offs. If your partner can’t take time off work, secure a babysitter or childcare service ahead of time.
It’s crucial to have these conversations early on to prevent stress and anxiety from building up near your operation date.
The Rationale: Post-surgery, your mobility will be limited, making it challenging to perform regular childcare tasks. Arranging for childcare in advance ensures your children’s needs are met while you focus on recovery, reducing the risk of strain or injury from lifting or strenuous activities.
You’ll also need to plan for pet care if you have pets. Ensuring a responsible adult can manage feeding, walking, and other pet-related tasks will alleviate any added pressure on you during recovery.
3. Schedule A Pre-Op Appointment
Pre-op appointments are an essential part of the surgical process. Using the information in the last portion of this post, you can schedule one with our staff over the phone. Pre-op appointments will help fully prepare you for surgery. Our nurses will go over everything you need to know about your breast augmentation and will make sure you are ready for surgery.
Benefits Explained: This appointment allows you to understand the surgery specifics, discuss any concerns, and receive personalized advice from your plastic surgeon. It’s a vital step for mental preparedness and clarifying any last-minute doubts. Having this comprehensive consultation ensures you enter your surgery with confidence and a clear understanding of the process.
4. Ask All Your Questions At Your Pre-Op Appointment
If you have any questions about your breast augmentation procedure, ask them during the pre-op appointment. Our medical team is highly knowledgeable and ready to provide patients with any information relevant to their surgery, including the potential risks and complications.
For instance, if you want to know the recovery time of breast augmentation, what activities you can do after surgery, or what the surgery will be like, this is a great time to ask these questions and learn more about breast augmentation and everything you need to do before surgery.
Why This Matters: Creating a comfortable recovery space at home with essentials within easy reach minimizes physical strain post-surgery. This preparation can significantly impact your comfort and ease during the recovery phase.
Addressing any concerns about potential risks and the overall process during your pre-op appointment sets the stage for a safe surgery and a smooth recovery.
5. Get Your Prescriptions Filled
Another thing you should do is get any prescription medications filled before your surgery. You don’t want to have to go out and do this after surgery. You won’t be able to drive or move around much. This includes any pain medication or narcotic pain medication that your surgeon may prescribe to manage discomfort during your recovery period.
Medical Insight: Some medications and supplements can increase bleeding risks or interact with anesthesia. Discussing your current medication regimen with your surgeon and pausing certain medications like Aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, etc. ensures a safer surgical procedure with less bruising.
Having your prescription medications ready at home will alleviate the need for any strenuous activities post-surgery and contribute to a smoother recovery process.
6. Consider Getting A Multivitamin and Tylenol
We also suggest getting some multivitamins before your operation. Multivitamins are a great way to stay healthy and energized as you recover.
Tylenol should also be bought before you have your breast augmentation. Two 500mg extra strength Tylenols are the equivalent in analgesia as a narcotic pain pill without the negative side effects. This way, you can deal with any discomfort or pain right away.
We are here to provide all the information necessary to ensure a safe and smooth surgical experience.
7. Prepare For a No-Salt Diet
You want to stay as healthy as possible before your surgery. This includes staying active, resting, and eating well. The healthier you are before your operation, the better the results will be. It’s best to stick to a healthy, no-salt diet and try to avoid highly processed foods and beverages so the recovery goes as smoothly as possible. Salt will make you retain water and so you will stay swollen longer.
Plan your meals and buy food with low amounts of sodium and processed chemicals. This will make it easier to stick with your new diet. We don’t recommend diet pills as a supplementary option, but ensure you discuss this with your surgeon beforehand to avoid any potential complications.
Also, consider planning your meals for your post-surgery recovery. Eating a healthy diet with low-sodium foods can help bring down swelling and improve your body’s natural healing process. This holistic approach to your health will significantly contribute to a smoother and faster recovery.
8. Make Sure You Have A Caretaker To Stay With You And Drive You Home
After your surgery, you will need someone to drive you home and help you with your recovery for the day. So, before your breast augmentation, talk with your family and friends and see whether anyone is willing to help you.
Most importantly, make sure your caretaker can drive you. Post-surgery, you cannot drive for 24 hours and will need someone to take you home.
9. No Make-Up Lotion Or Deodorant Before Surgery
Preparing for breast augmentation requires many steps, including keeping your skin clean and free of contaminants.
Lotions, makeup, nail polish, hair spray, and deodorant should be removed before surgery. Since you will be put under general anesthesia, your face needs to be free of makeup and lotion.
Additionally, you should remove nail polish from your fingernails to enable proper monitoring of your oxygen levels during surgery. Your body needs to stay clean. This means no deodorant, body moisturizers, or hair spray. Your skin should be fresh and ready for your breast augmentation.
By ensuring that your body is clean and free of any products, you help reduce the risk of infection and other surgical complications. This meticulous preparation contributes significantly to your procedure’s overall success and safety during the operation.
10. Use Your Hibiclens Wash The Night Before Surgery.
Finally, make sure to use Hibiclens the night before your surgery. This antibacterial soap will prepare your skin, cleanse the body, and help prevent infections before your procedure.
How Else Can You Prepare For Your Breast Augmentation?
Create A Recovery Space In Your Home
Recovery is a crucial part of your breast augmentation. You want your body to heal and recover properly after your procedure so that you won’t have any complications. But how exactly can you ensure that your recovery is a success?
We suggest putting essential recovery items in your recovery space. These can include tissues, water, painkillers, vitamins, snacks, your phone charger, and other comfort items. Additionally, ensure you have comfortable clothing on hand, such as a comfortable loose-fitting clothing, which will be gentle on your healing incisions.
Use Ice Packs
Your body will swell after the surgery, which is completely normal. However, to reduce swelling and pain, purchase plenty of ice packs for your recovery.
An ice pack will reduce the swelling and can be used right after the surgery. We recommend keeping the pack on for five minutes and then taking it off for another five minutes.
Plan Your Outfits
This is purely optional, but planning your outfits ahead of time can help you avoid significant stress during recovery. You should put together outfits that are comfortable and loose.
Any clothes you choose should also be easy to take on and off. Jackets and shirts with zippers and buttons are ideal as you won’t have to lift and move around a lot to take off more form-fitting clothes.
Enhancing Your Surgery Success with Informed Preparations
- Optimizing Physical Health: It’s crucial to be in the best possible physical shape before undergoing breast augmentation. This isn’t just about comfort; it’s about safety and recovery. Patients with a healthy BMI typically experience fewer complications with anesthesia and a smoother healing process. Discuss your physical health with your surgeon, and consider a pre-surgery fitness and nutrition plan to optimize your body for surgery.
- The Risks of Smoking on Surgical Outcomes: Smoking can significantly impact your surgery and recovery. Nicotine constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow, which is vital for healing. Moreover, smoking impairs the immune system, increasing the risk of post-surgical infections and complications. Ceasing smoking at least three weeks before surgery can significantly improve your recovery process and surgical outcomes.
- Medication Management: Certain medications and supplements can interfere with surgery. For instance, blood thinners like aspirin can increase bleeding risks, while herbal supplements might interact unpredictably with anesthesia. A detailed consultation with your surgeon about your current medications, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements, is essential to adjust your regimen safely before surgery.
- Mental Health Considerations: The psychological impact of surgery is as significant as the physical aspects. Feeling confident and mentally prepared for the changes and recovery process is crucial. If you have concerns or anxiety, consider discussing them with a mental health professional. This preparation can help ensure you’re mentally and emotionally ready for surgery and recovery.
Contact Dr. Vitenas Today
If you are interested in breast augmentation, contact Dr. Vitenas’s office today. Our staff can answer any of your questions and help you schedule a consultation for any procedure you plan on getting. We can be reached at this number: 281-484-0088. You can also contact us through our website and schedule an appointment using our online contact form.