Breast augmentation surgery can be very intimidating. You have decided that it is the option you want to choose, the path you want to follow, but you are not sure what to expect. Like any procedure, there is fear in the unknown. Fortunately, if you take the time to research and prepare, the day of your surgery will dawn with no butterflies dancing the jitterbug in your stomach.
Before the “big day,” your surgeon will most likely want to do a baseline mammogram so that he or she has something to talk about in the future to make sure you’re healthy. Self-exams are still possible after the operation, but it is always a good idea to have a frame of reference for support. You can never be too cautious.
Long before the day of surgery, you will be asked to stop smoking and taking medications such as aspirin. These can interfere with the success of the procedure and can also pose a health risk during or after the operation. Since breast augmentation is an outpatient surgery, you will also need someone to drive you home and take care of you for a while. This person, be it a truly dedicated husband, mother, sister, or friend, should be prepared to stay for at least the first night to care for you hand and foot.
On the day of surgery, you will be given anesthesia, either in the form of sedation or general anesthesia. Sometimes you may receive localized anesthesia that will completely numb only the area being operated on. Sedation or anesthesia is given so that you feel little or no pain during the surgery, as you are in a sensitive area. After the operation, you will need to spend some time in the recovery room before your surgeon can meet with you and go over the details to consider during your recovery period. Bandages will be applied to your breasts that will need to be cared for. After a few hours, you should be allowed to go home. In some cases, you and your surgeon may decide that you should spend the night under observation, but this is rare.
A day or two after surgery, you should be awake, feed the dog, watch television, and gradually resume your daily life. The bandages will come off after a few days and you may be instructed to wear a bra with special supports to make sure everything heals and forms properly. Now is not the time to end up with saggy breasts and have to undergo surgery again. It’s a good idea to have plenty of perfume and deodorant on hand, as you won’t be able to shower until three to seven days after the procedure.
There will be some discoloration and swelling after surgery, but this should go away in a few months, leaving your breasts looking good as a result of your breast augmentation surgery.