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.

@MsSquizcant quite figure out how to send a dm 🫣

I just did a search and apparently it’s only available on the desktop version of Mumsnet, not the app 🤦🏻‍♀️

A quick update, it’s 48h post surgery and I’m still feeling pretty well. In fact I would feel almost completely normal without the drains they had to leave as still giving too much fluid. My only pain is where the drain tubes are inserted which is below the breast area on both sides of the abdomen.
It’s very frustrating as forcing me to take painkillers and preventing me from going outside as I have two bottles filled with red fluid attached around the waist.
Otherwise I feel almost no pain around the breast and arms and would be almost back to normal if it wasn’t for these bloody drains 🤬 I’ve been WFH fine today sitting at my desk and could have gone out to this dinner tonight if I didn’t have the drains. I guess looking on the bright side it’s a good thing as forcing me to stay calm inside the house which is better for the healing process.

@Flyingcacti You’re nearly one week post surgery, you must feel pretty good now?

Yes! Walking around pretty normally and no longer napping in the day. Also very little pain just occasional twinges of soreness. Will go back to the office on Monday!

The worst part for me is sleeping on my back and waking up with a back ache. Did they say anything to you about how long to sleep on back?

Coming at this from a very different place as I had a double mastectomy but you'll be surprised what you find yourself being able to do without lifting your arms. In my case, it was putting on a sweatshirt and being able to put my hair in a bun. Couldn't wash it myself, so either had a friend come over to do that for me or else I went to the hairdressers.

On a practical note, as I knew my recovery period was long - six weeks - I made sure everything I might possibly need during this time was a waist level. Like others, I had to sleep on my back, something that was hard because I sleep on my front. I didn't get a wedge pillow, but I did stack them in a specific way so I could sleep on my back. You'll be surprised how quickly you get used to it.

Just noticed you have drains. So long as they're always waist level or below, you can take them with you. I used to put mine in a shoulder tote bag and went out and about as normal! Be warned, the removal can be a bit painful, but it's quick!

Hope all goes well with your new breasts.

@doublec sorry you had to go through all of this and hope you’re well now.
Regarding keeping things at waist level, I hadn’t thought about but quickly realised it and keep reminding husband and children to leave things I use on the worktop or lower shelves in the fridge. I also realised I can’t use some appliances like the microwave (I could lift my arms if I really wanted as they feel ok but I don’t want to cause any damage as this is such an early stage).
Like you I carry the drain bottles in a tote bag as recommended by the nurse but it gets quite painful when I move as the tubes also move and put pressure on the insertion point which really hurts. I can’t wait for them to be removed but dreading it at the same time due to the pain…

@Flyingcacti I forgot to mention sleeping is really difficult here as well as having to stay in the same awkward position when I normally sleep on my stomach. I couldn’t fall asleep last night so at 2am I took a small dose of a gentle sleeping tablet.
Regarding for how long I have to sleep on my back I am planning to ask on Monday as I have a follow up appt. I’m assuming at least 2-3 months with perhaps some side sleeping allowed after 6 weeks… But in your case I believe it should be much quicker given you have no implants.

@kdoiathey are not PIP and are absolutely fine. It’s a business, there is profit in replacement!

All I'm saying is that until you've had a scan you can't possibly know. I had no idea mine had ruptured.

Update day 5 (4th day post surgery)
The drains got removed yesterday morning. It wasn’t a pleasant experience but not overly painful either (I took pretty strong painkillers one hour before the nurse visit just in case she would remove them).
I’ve felt almost completely normal since. Walked 10mn to the hairdresser, then went to watch some friends’ kids at a sports competition, and have stopped taking the painkillers as it was mainly the drains causing pain. Also managed to load the washing machine. Despite having resumed a pretty normal life I’m still very careful with my arms and try not to lift the upper arms too much in everything I do.
The breasts are still quite hard, swollen and a bit bullet-shaped which is completely normal. They should drop and soften over time. But everything looks pretty promising so far 😉
I did wfh on Friday but will go back to the office tomorrow.
I also have a follow-up appt with my surgeon tomorrow which is good as got a tonne of questions to ask I didn’t think of asking before the surgery.