The postoperative period following any surgical procedure is an important part of the intervention. It is important to consider this period with as much reverence as the ‘Perioperative’ period (which is the time frame just before and after the operation.
The time frame of the breast reduction procedure depends on how long the post procedure care should be from the professionals’ point of view. If the procedure was part as a day care procedure, then the post operative period, whereby the surgeon and breast care nurses follow up the patient in a routine fashion, may be shorter.
In Philadelphia, there are several clinics, and a good number of surgeons who have the much-needed expertise in performing a breast reduction surgery according to your need. When you decide on having your surgery there, it’s a good idea to know what happens as preoperative and postoperative care. Let’s see what can one expect following a surgery done for the breast reduction in Philadelphia. Of all things, the Pain is an important consideration.
As with any medical procedure, pain relief is an essential part of the proceedings. In most cases, general anaesthetic would have been used during the operation, but other types of pain relief such as ring blocks, epidurals can be used if there is a good reason whereby general anaesthetic cannot be used (i.e. a contraindication). Local anaesthetic is also usually infused into the tissue especially around the scar areas to reduce pain levels after the procedure. In this case, preferably long acting local anaesthetic agents are used. Pain relief is provided by the hospital for use either in hospital or after discharge, in which case it would usually be in tablet form or in subcutaneous or muscular injection, which the nurses can teach you to administer.
Local practises generally conform to a worldwide standard. Whether you are in San Jose or Phoenix, the choice of pain relief available to you is fairly constant. In some cases, you may be given patient-controlled anaesthesia (otherwise known as PCA), which usually involves very potent painkillers such as morphine. This is usually administered into your bloodstream via a cannula inserted into your hand or arm. Although it runs continuously, you can give yourself top ups by pushing a button.
For any surgical procedure, the risk of infection is ever present. This of course applies to surgery done for the breast reduction in Philadelphia as well. For this reason, you will be given specific instructions to reduce the risk. Keep the surgical dressing on the wound at all times and resist the temptation to pick at the wound or scars. It is preferable to avoid showers in the immediate aftermath of the procedure as this increases the risk of getting the dressings and therefore the wound wet, something that increases the risk of getting an infection. If at all in doubt about any aspect of wound care, be sure to ask the doctor, general nurse or a specialist breast care nurse.
You will be provided with a special type of bra called a surgical bra, which you should wear for a given number of weeks following your breast reduction surgery. The purpose of the surgical bra is to reduce pain and inflammation and also to give more support than an ordinary bra would. It is also designed to accommodate the bandages and dressings that would have been placed on the wound sites at the time of surgery. When you have your surgery done for the breast reduction in Philadelphia, many of the clinics would have a provision from which you can get this surgical bra, so, remember to ask for one.
Other symptoms, like numbness and itching, may persist even long after the pain has subsided. This is because they form part of the healing process. Gentle application of aqueous cream may help itching. Numbness usually denotes nerve damage, but this is recoverable in the long term, as nerve regeneration takes place.
It is important to remember that heavy lifting and excessive movement of the upper arms may result in disruption of the wound and this may increase the risk of infection.
Special care should be paid to any unusually coloured discharges emanating from the wound. Although this may not always signify infection, your surgical team should always exclude the possibility of this.
Rest, plenty of fluids, and a healthy diet, are essential in order to increase psychological well being and wound healing during the post operative period.