Any surgery will require you to take particular steps to ensure the procedures are carried out smoothly. Taking the right precautions before and after surgery can help you to heal faster, and it will significantly reduce the risk of complications.
Breast augmentation preparation is not very complicated, but it is important that you follow the recommended ways to prepare for the procedure as well as the breast surgery post-recovery. It can help you feel less stressed about the procedure if you know you have prepared for the surgery and everything is in order.
At the top of the list is blood work. Before you have your surgery, some things need to be checked like creatine, haemoglobin, electrolytes and INR this is to ensure they are all sitting within the normal levels. You won’t need to fast beforehand, and your blood work will be conducted at a lab of your choice, as the clinic itself doesn’t conduct the blood work tests. You will also need to have an electrocardiogram test done if you are over 50 years of age, to ensure that your heart is functioning at a normal rate. If there are problems with your blood tests or if they come back out of range, you will be advised by medical staff on what will happen next.
Two weeks before the procedure
Your preparation will begin around two weeks before the date. Having early preparation will help to ensure that everything goes smoothly.
Two weeks beforehand, you need to organise a few things:
- Childcare (if needed)
- Have someone ready to drive you home afterwards
- Have someone to stay with you for the first 24 hours
- Pet care (if needed)
A few other changes that need to happen 24 hours before the procedure are:
- Do not smoke. Nicotine increases the chance of post-surgical complications and it will significantly prolong your recovery.
- Don’t drink alcohol. Alcohol has effects of the body and it will thin your blood. It will prolong healing and can increase swelling and bruising.
- Don’t take herbal supplements. While herbal supplements can be beneficial for you, there are some that can interact with the anaesthesia like garlic, green tea extract, Ginkgo Biloba and Ginseng. It is recommended to stop all of the herbal supplements that you are taking a few weeks before the surgery. There is one exception here; the herbal product you are allowed to use, either prior or after your surgery, is arnica cream. Arnica cream is plant-based and often used to soothe muscle aches, reduce inflammation and heal wounds. However, always seek the advice of your doctor before you go ahead and use this cream.
The night before
It is important to follow the preparation rules the night before as they are the most important:
- Cleanse your body with antibacterial soap
- You will need to be fasting (and this includes chewing gum and little sips of water)
- If you have not fasted properly your operation will be cancelled and will need to be rescheduled at a later date. This is for your own safety as if you have food or drink in your stomach you run the risk of regurgitating and this can cause water and food to get into your lungs.
Following the preparation rules will ensure that your surgery goes ahead and everything runs smooth and goes to plan without complications.
