Care After Breast Reconstruction Surgery

Below are links to our downloadable PDF post-surgical breast reconstruction recovery guides. These are ideal to review before your pre-operative appointment with us. Write down any questions you may have and bring them with you to the office or give us a call to speak with one of our breast cancer survivors on our patient care team.

You should arrange for someone to stay with you in the days immediately following discharge. Most patients are able to return to work after four to five weeks, or possibly longer if your job requires heavy lifting or other strenuous activity. Moderate swelling of the reconstructed breast for a few months is to be expected, as is numbness in the reconstructed breast, the donor site, and possibly the upper, inner arm for six to 12 months post-op. An emotional letdown after surgery is normal.

Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction

• Oncoplastic reconstruction post-surgical instructions

Flap Breast Reconstruction

• DIEP flap reconstruction post-surgical instructions
• PAP & GAP flap reconstruction post-surgical instructions

Tissue Expander or Direct-to-implant Breast Reconstruction

• Tissue expander and direct-to-implant reconstruction post-surgical instructions

Breast Reconstruction Revision

• Breast reconstruction revision post-surgical instructions
• Breast reconstruction revision with implants post-surgical instructions

Fat Grafting

• Fat grafting post-surgical instructions

Medical Devices

• Wound VAC instructions
• Drain care instructions & log

After two weeks, you may begin gentle scar massage with a moisturizing lotion to help soften scars while healing. Protect your incision from sun exposure by applying sunblock to scars for the first year. Sun damage darkens and thickens scars and can penetrate bathing suits.

Please call us if you experience:

• Persistent fever above 101.5º
• Rapidly expanding swelling under the skin
• Spreading redness around the surgical site(s)
• If you had a living tissue reconstruction, change in the color of your flap
• Pus in your drain