Instructions on discharge

• On the day of discharge the drains will be removed and the sports bra is worn over the dressings and to be worn day and night for the next 3 months.
• All dressings to be kept dry until further instructed.
• TED stockings to be worn for 2 weeks. 
• Discharge with standard painkillers.

Dressing clinic

• Usually about a week after the surgery the strapping around the breasts is removed and a lighter dressing put onto the scar.  There may be a 2nd dressing check a week later if necessary.

Activities

• No stretching arms for the first 6 weeks.
• Normal daily activities like driving etc are allowed after the first week.
• Lower body exercises for example, treadmill, cycling, from the third week onwards.
• Upper body exercises like swimming after the first 6 weeks.

General scar care for first 3 months

• Micropore tape to the scars - once well healed – for at least three months. 
• The micropore tape is to stay on for showering and baths and simply patted dry and not to be changed until it is very loose and almost falling off by itself.  Frequent removal of the micropore tape can irritate the scar.
• Moisturise scar after first 3 months.
• Moisturising to the surrounding breast skin usually from the second week onwards.

Special instructions

• Sports bra to be worn during the day and night for the first 3 months. 
• Normal bra and bikini can be worn for holidays and the odd special occasion for the first 3 months.
• No underwired bra for the first 3 months.

IF YOU EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS OR HAVE ANY QUERIES FOLLOWING YOUR SURGERY PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE WARD.