Be aware that your own surgeon will issue both pre-op and post-op instructions. Those instructions supercede any others, including the ones found on this site.
You've decided to get surgery - you've paid your deposit and you've been pencilled in for an OR date sometime in the near future. What should you be doing?
- If you're a smoker - quit now. Optimize your chances for the best possible results - There's plenty of time to smoke after the initial healing process.
- You have up to your surgery day to decide on breast implant sizes. Go bra shopping and narrow your decision on how large you want to go.
- You should have given your surgeon your complete medical history and your medication list - all your meds: prescription, over the counter and herbal. You'll be told what to stop and what to continue. You will likely be told to stop any aspirin containing medications one to two weeks prior to surgery.
- You'll have to go shopping and buy after-surgery care items: bags of frozen peas, antibacterial soap (Dial or Hibiclens), dressing and gauze, thermometer and easy-to-prepare foods.
- Your doctor will write you prescriptions for pain medications - fill them before surgery.
- Make sure the house has been cleaned and you have clean clothes.
- Arrange for someone to be with you for the first 48 hours after surgery.
- Your doctor will give you a regimen for scrubbing yourself with the anti-bacterial soap prior to surgery - follow it.
Next: "I'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow. What should I do?"
