Questions To Ask Before A Breast Reconstruction

Once you decide to undergo a breast reconstruction

, you will spend time with your surgeon planning out the procedure. Some patients have a mastectomy at the same time and try to take care of both operations at the same time. Others choose to wait and allow their bodies to heal from the mastectomy before they move onto the next surgery. Either way, spend some time talking to your surgeon about how the procedure works and what you can expect once it is complete. The more information you have, the better you will feel about what is ahead.

What medications will be administered?

There is no doubt that there is some pain involved in a breast reconstruction. Aside from the general anesthesia, patients are also given medication to help manage the pain. Ask the surgeon what type of medicine you will be taking and how it will be administered. If you stay in the hospital, you may have meds administered with the push of a button to allow you to manage your own pain. Once you get home, you will need something stronger than an over the counter pain reliever to help manage the situation. If you have any type of allergies or you do not do well on certain medications, be sure to talk to your surgeon in advance.

How should incisions and drains be cared for?

It is important to take care of the body as it recovers from breast reconstruction. The incisions will need to be kept clean and dry. Avoid getting into standing water either in a bathtub or a pool until you get the green light from your doctor. Any type of infection can delay recovery and prevent the body from healing properly. If you are still undergoing certain types of cancer treatments, you may already be taking longer than normal to heal. You don't want to make it any more difficult.

Not all patients will need to deal with the drains. However, if you are going to have them, make sure that you understand what you need to do to make sure they are working correctly and find out when you need to come in to have them removed. At this time, the surgeon will be able to take a look at your progress and make sure that your body is on track.

When can patients go back to their normal routine?

Every person's body is different and there is no one answer for when you can get back to work, activities, or even working out. It depends on the type of breast reconstruction you had and how your body is handling the trauma. Don't count on lifting anything heavy for an extended amount of time and do not head back to work or any type of activity that could cause complications without getting the consent of your surgeon.

by: Abigail Aaronson

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