Monitor your surgical site

ATTENTION: It is important to follow your surgeon’s instructions for aftercare. The information here does not replace the information you receive from your surgeon. If there are any differences, you should follow the advice provided by your surgeon.

Signs of complications

Call your surgeon, doctor, or nurse practitioner if you experience:

  • Excessive wound redness
  • Excessive bruising or swelling
  • Excessive yellow or green pus-like drainage
  • The area around the incision is hot or hard and painful to the touch
  • Chills or a fever over 38.5 degrees Celsius (101.3 Fahrenheit) by mouth
  • Pain that is not relieved by prescribed medications or gets worse a few days after surgery

If necessary, go to the Emergency Room.

Bruising and swelling

It is normal to have bruising and swelling after surgery. You may have more swelling on one side than the other, and it can change throughout the day. It will go down gradually, taking up to 6 months to resolve.

Changes in sensation

It is common to have changes in sensation on your breasts and chest wall. You maybe less sensitive to pressure, temperature, pain, or sexual stimulation. It can take 6-12 months for the nerve endings to heal or grow back into these areas.  Once in awhile, you might even feel prickly, stinging, or burning sensations as the nerves heal and grow. There can be permanent changes to sensation, including areas of complete numbness. Erotic sensation may change permanently. Sensation may be permanently reduced.

Itchiness

Recovering from breast construction surgery can involve some itchiness. Itchiness is caused by the reduction of swelling. It can also be caused by your compression garment or an allergic reaction to the adhesive in your bandages. If it’s accompanied by swelling and redness, itchiness can be a sign of infection. Ask your healthcare provider how to manage this side-effect.

Incisions and scars

It is normal to have redness along the incision and sutures that can be seen or felt. Surgeons will often recommend that you avoid getting direct sun on your scars and nipples for up to a year, to help prevent colour changes on the scar tissue. Talk to your surgeon if you find that your scars are starting to thicken up.

Surgical revisions

Surgical revisions can be common. Six to eight months after your surgery is complete, you and your surgeon can determine whether a surgical revision is needed. With a letter of recommendation from your surgeon, the cost of your revision should be covered by the BC Medical Services Plan.

Common reasons for a surgical revision include:

  • To improve contour (with liposuction)
  • To address scarring
  • To correct skin excess, bulges or puckering
  • To adjust the nipple-areola complex position or size