If you had an expander placed, you will need to regularly see your doctor every couple of weeks. During these visits, more salt water will be added to the expander. Or if you have an expander that uses air, you may need to add air at home. After several months, this will stretch the skin enough to cover the implant. Your new breast may feel firmer and look rounder or flatter than your other breast.
The new breast may not have the same shape as your breast did before it was removed. Breast reconstruction with an implant won't restore normal feeling to your breast. It may take several months for your breast to heal.
This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems.
It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for any changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if you have any problems.
Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional.
Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Your Recovery How can you care for yourself at home?
When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Recovery Breast reconstruction is surgery to rebuild the shape of your breast after you've had part or all of your breast removed because of cancer. How can you care for yourself at home? Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover. For about 6 weeks after surgery, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain.
This may include a child, heavy grocery bags, milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or anything that weighs more than 4. Do not lift anything over your head for 3 to 6 weeks. You may have pain for a few weeks after surgery. Support the area with your hands or a firm pillow when you bend, cough, or move.
The most common problem with breast implants is capsular contracture. A scar or capsule can form around the soft implant. As it tightens, it can start to squeeze the implant, making the breast feel hard. Capsular contracture can be treated. Sometimes surgery can remove the scar tissue, or the implant can be removed or replaced.
Using tobacco narrows blood vessels and reduces the supply of nutrients and oxygen to tissues. Smoking can delay healing in any surgery. This can cause more noticeable scars and a longer recovery time. Sometimes these problems are bad enough that a second operation is needed to fix them. You may be asked to quit smoking a few weeks or months before surgery to reduce these risks.
This can be hard to do, so ask your doctor for help. Your doctor will give you medicines to help control pain and other discomfort. Moving forward, you now have the opportunity to determine what you want to have happen next. But first you must do some careful thinking and delving into your feelings in order to figure out what is best for you. Asking yourself some questions can help you start to think about what type of reconstruction you want -- if you want reconstruction at all:.
It's also important to know that while breast reconstruction rebuilds the shape of the breast, it doesn't restore sensation to the breast or the nipple. Over time, the skin over the reconstructed breast can become more sensitive to touch, but it won't be exactly the same as it was before surgery. This section of Breastcancer. To read stories from some of our Discussion Board Community members about their reconstruction decisions, visit our Member Stories: Members Sharing Their Reconstruction Decisions pages.
Sullivan, M. The effects of breast reconstruction have the capacity to transcend the surgical techniques, providing the final link in the circle of treatment, a return to wholeness, and an overall sense of recovery.
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