Breast enhancement surgery next week - any tips?

[Seahorses26]

Hello everyone

not sure it’s the right place but can’t think of any other board on MN that’s appropriate to discuss the matter.
I’m due to have a boob job next week and was wondering if any of you had any tips to help with the recovery/healing process, or anything you would have liked to know/be able to anticipate when having the surgery. Any DOs/DON’T’s beyond the obvious and the usual doctors’ recommendations? I’m particularly worried about sleep as sleep on my tummy.
Also wondering when you’ve been able to blow dry your hair yourself?

thank you!

NB: Not looking for judgment on the surgery itself - decision’s made and I’m at peace with it. Just after practical advice from those who’ve been there.

Context: I am in my late 40s, used to be a B/C, but flat as a board now, not even filling up an A, after a handful of children and years of breastfeeding. Tall, skinny and breastless, I’ve been hesitating for the past 10 years or so and ready to take the plunge now to feel like me (and a woman) again.

Tight sports bra, arnica tablets for bruising.Erm, no you wont be able to lift your arms to dry hair for a few weeks. Rest lots, don’t pick up small children or heavy items.

You won’t be able to sleep in your tummy and will have to sleep sitting up for a bit. I got a V shaped pillow and a flight/neck pillow and it was a life saver.

Get plenty of front fastening bras. the sports types are great. You won’t be able to lift your arms or stretch round to do up so no back fastening bras or blow drying. You will find it hard washing your hair too so I booked in some wash and blow drys to wash my hair. Nothing fancy just at my local ‘older ladies’ hairdresser where it’s cheaper. Blouses are great too as you won’t be able to get into tight tops. Buttons at the front. Everything to the front lol

I got some straws to drink with for the first few days so I wasn’t lifting a drink up and bending too much.

good luck xx

Hi op. I had implant removal and a lift last week.
I have 2 front fastening macom bras one to wash and one to wear.
lots of front fastening pjs.
I also bought a pillow wedge from Amazon a few days after the op. I have slept better since having it. I mean it’s still not great but once I’m asleep I am actually staying asleep now.
Everything right by your bed pain relief and other meds/water/charger/lip balm/tv remote
easy meals in the fridge/freezer
big clean/tidy house before you go
someone great to look after you

good luck with your surgery!!!

I had implants in my early 20s, then 10 years later had them removed, and then back in again for an uplift and new implants a few years after that, so I’ll try and list some things.

-I didn’t think I could sleep on my back, but I got used to it, and still do now, 2 years later. A large V pillow is MUST! Keep yourself propped up.
-Have spare support/post surgery bras so you can wash and wear them. Make sure they’re really supportive!
-Don’t risk hoovering, even if you feel okay to. I know 2 people who caused a haematoma from hoovering over a month or so after their op. I think I left it around 8 weeks until I started doing proper housework.
-I still wear soft but high-support sports bras every day, unless I’m wanting to wear something particularly nice. I didn’t wear proper support after my first op and they definitely dropped because of it.
-I had my acrylic nails removed until I was fully healed because I didn’t want to risk infection.
-The 3rd op, I didn’t get the area wet for 3 weeks!!! It was tough not having proper showers, but I somehow managed it, and I left my sealed dressings on for about 3 weeks. My mum was a dressings nurse, so she kept an eye on everything. But once those dressings come off, you are opening yourself up to infection.
-Keep on top of pain relief, even if you think you’re okay. Don’t skip ibuprofen, as it helps with swelling and inflammation.
-Yes, it hurts! But after a week you turn a corner and improve weekly.
-Kelo-Cote scar cream on your incisions once everything is completely healed.

I think that’s everything. If I think of anything else, I’ll pop back. Oh, and everyone is different. That’s just my opinion and what worked for me.

Good Luck!

@ahlancs @DressingGemma @Rhodesbride @ymemanresu Thank you so much ladies, this is super helpful.

I am off to order a V shape pillow or whatever it’s called on Amazon now so it arrives on time. Sounds like it’s consensual among all of you.

I have 2 front fastening bras (prescribed by the doctor)
however I hadn’t thought about front fastening tops/pjs but that makes so much sense!
I need to check what I have in my wardrobe and top up this wkd if needs be.

For the hair, for how long do you think I’ll have to rely on external help? I wonder if I should train my daughter to blow dry my hair! Going to book some hairdressers’ appointments now in any case.

Last Q - I have an important work dinner on day 5 post op. Do you think I will be able to go? For context, my husband will be there so able to help if needs be. I am also quite “tough”, having had a lot of operations/GA in the past including some very painful/debilitating ones. I’m getting used to it and tend to recover quickly after a few first very painful days. I also know that it’s important to be diligent with pain killers.
I also have an invitation on day 2 (not work, social) but I suppose this is a no go and I should find an excuse?

Thanks again, you’ve been incredibly helpful

I wouldn't have been able to do a dinner 5 days post - but also don't think its worth discounting it yet as you may feel up to it. No other advice to add as you've some great suggestions already - hope it all goes well!

My top tip is saved up for the explant. I loved my implants so I'm absolutely not judging and took on board this tip. When I had the implants removed after 16ish years I was so glad I'd got the cost saved and put aside. The forums and explant help groups are full of people desperate to have leaking burst or just uncomfortable implants removed but who can't afford it.

I had my implants at 39 and was told they'd last a lifetime but that's absolute bs all implants need removing or changing somewhere between 10 and 15 years often earlier so plan ahead. My left implant was burst by a very unpleasant and aggressive mammogram nurse but you can't get them removed on the NHS (rightly so) and I'd have been in a very tight spot if I hadn't had an explant fund.

And yes explant is a word and yes it's actually called explant surgery.

I think the recommendation is 2 weeks rest no lifting of arms to allow the implant to settle. It's not so much about how tough you and how quickly you bounce back. You'll have 2 large foreign objects in your chest and need to take it easy til your body accepts them. Too much moving will make them shift about and could very well spoil the placement.

Explant is removing the implants as you no longer want them or replacing them?
My surgeon told me they would need to be changed after 10-15y

Ok got it. I was actually wondering what about eating, lifting the fork to the mouth, is that even possible?

Yes, you'll eat fine, I could for a reduction so you'll be fine

You won't be doing an important dinner 5 days post op and certainly won't be socialising on day 2. I had a removal of implants uplift and new implants at the beginning of the year. It took a good 7-8 weeks before the pain was (mainly) gone. I was permanently in bed for two weeks (sleeping upright with a million pillows), mainly in bed/on sofa resting for about 5 weeks. Exercising again very lightly after a couple of months. I'm now four months down the line and I still have some minor pain at night.

You won't be able to wash (or even really brush) your hair for a few weeks. You probably won't be able to drive for a few weeks either. I had to keep mine dry for a couple of weeks so flannel/body wash only.

Admittedly the explant and new implant has been worse than the original implants.

Also keep in mind that explant is a lot more expensive than implant so get saving..

@kdoia You’re scaring me a bit but I guess I should prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Hopefully mine won’t be as bad as no explant, and the implants are not very big (if that makes a difference!).

The site of the implant won't affect the recovery process. It's the fact that your body has a foreign object in it.

You'll be absolutely fine as long as you stay in bed to recover. You will probably mainly sleep for a couple of days initially. You then have to accept being a bit minging for a couple of weeks. I just put in a wide stretchy headband and used a soft hair scrunchie to pile my hair onto the top of my head and left it for a couple of weeks. Then my husband washed it for me over the kitchen sink and also had to blow dry it for me (which was interesting..).

You won't want to be going anywhere partly because you will not be looking your finest and partly because having a seatbelt on is not recommended or comfortable. You can't drive yourself for a while.

Re the sleeping on your tummy - that is likely to be a thing of the past. It just doesn't really work with implants. You will adjust though.

In terms of eating and drinking the straw suggestion is a good one. You'll basically be doing an impression of a T-Rex for a while..

I went to watch Peter Kay after around a week, my hubby bought me the tickets 2 years prior so I really wanted to go.
I just took it really slowly, he made sure people didn’t bash into me.
I managed to slowly/roughly do my hair with dry shampoo and tied it up, also put on a bit of make up. Had it not been that, then no I wouldn’t have gone but I did and didn’t regret it.
We just went straight home back to bed for more rest, left before the end though to avoid the crowds.

Everyone is different, everyone manages differently and you won’t know how you will feel until the day, so just see how you go.

On Day 5 I was very sore and wouldn’t have been up for socialising or an important dinner. I was shattered due to lack of sleep because I couldn’t get comfy or I was in pain. It wasn’t so much how I felt during the day it was the lack of sleep wiping me out. Day 2 you will be napping, I doubt you’ll be out with your mates. But everyone’s different.

Defo teach your daughter to blow dry if you can. My girls aren’t the most gentle so I booked in, if I didn’t get slapped around or my hair ripped out whilst the blow dried and watched tik tok I would have got them to do it haha.

I forgot to mention cool packs or the cool gel strips. Game changer. Defo use those!

@ahlancs Thank you, after the V shape pillow, I have now ordered the cool gel packs!

buy silicon tape too for the scarring. And plenty of pain killers.

@Seahorses26 when is your op booked in? I had mine yesterday and am currently sore and aching but just ate a roast dinner so can confirm eating is not a problem.

I've been sleeping a lot today - haven't showered yet or removed the compression bra to have a look. No plans for socialising for the week but will be working from home in a few days. Hoping the pain will have subsided a bit by then! I'm worried about overdoing things so trying not to bend to pick things up but with young kids it's second nature.

@Flyingcacti I’m booked for this Wednesday. Did you have the implants behind or in front of the muscle? Good to know you were able to eat normally the next day already. Planning to wfh from the following Monday (day 5) but not sure how realistic it is… Let’s keep eachothers posted. Hope the pain isn’t too bad and sleep is ok.

No implants, just an uplift - considered implants but would have needed an uplift anyway so decided to stick with just that for now as was more the overall shape and appearance I wanted to improve, rather than size.

Good luck for Wednesday! So far it's not been too bad but it's early days. Stock up on pillows if you haven't already!

Another vote for button up tops or things that you can pull up from the bottom,eg vest tops.
I had my implants eight years ago.
Wishing you well.
Oh and be prepared for the pain when you sit up out of bed in a morning, even if you’ve slept propped up. It gets better.