What to Expect After Your Breast Reconstruction Procedure in Austin

After undergoing breast reconstruction surgery at Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, your recovery period will be a very important part of the treatment process. We want to make sure that you’re fully prepared for your recovery and know exactly what to expect.

Before your procedure, you should arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and stay with you in the days immediately following your discharge. With most breast reconstructions, patients are able to return to work after four to five weeks, but it can take longer if your job requires heavy lifting or other strenuous activity. Moderate swelling of the reconstructed breast for a few months is to be expected, as is numbness in the reconstructed breast, the donor site, and possibly the upper, inner arm for six to 12 months post-op. It’s also normal to feel an emotional letdown after your breast reconstruction surgery.

That said, we offer several different methods of breast reconstruction at Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and the specifics of the recovery process can vary depending on multiple factors.

Breast Reconstruction Recovery Guides

Below, you’ll find links to our downloadable PDF post-surgical breast reconstruction recovery guides. These are ideal to review before your pre-operative appointment with us. We encourage you to write down any questions you have and bring them with you to the office or give us a call to speak with one of our breast cancer survivors on our patient care team.

Oncoplastic Breast Reconstruction

Oncoplastic reconstruction post-surgical instructions

Flap Breast Reconstruction

Tissue Expander or Direct-to-Implant Breast Reconstruction

Tissue expander and direct-to-implant reconstruction post-surgical instructions

Breast Reconstruction Revision

Fat Grafting

Fat grafting post-surgical instructions

Medical Devices

Post-Surgical Care

After two weeks of recovery, you may begin gentle scar massage with a moisturizing lotion to help soften your scars while healing. It’s also important to protect your incision from sun exposure by applying sunblock to scars for the first year. Sun damage darkens and thickens scars and can penetrate bathing suits.

During your consultation and/or following your breast reconstruction procedure, your surgeon will give you additional instructions to ensure that your recovery and healing go as smoothly and quickly as possible. They will also be happy to answer any questions you have about the recovery process.

While recovering from breast reconstruction, you should contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms:

Persistent fever above 101.5º
Rapidly expanding swelling under the skin
Spreading redness around the surgical site(s)
If you had a living tissue reconstruction, change in the color of your flap
Pus in your drain

Schedule Your Consultation Today

At Austin Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, our expert team will be right there with you along every step of your breast reconstruction process. We’ll go above and beyond to make sure that your recovery after the procedure is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. If you have any questions about breast reconstruction recovery or would like to schedule your initial consultation, contact our office today at (512) 815-0123.

Care After Breast Reconstruction Surgery