Your decision to undergo breast augmentation can affect many aspects of your life for several months following the procedure. For this reason, it’s important to strictly follow your surgeon’s guidelines prior to surgery to ensure proper postoperative healing and an optimum end result. Typically, a surgeon will ask you to quit smoking, stop taking some medications, and complete tasks that will facilitate a comfortable recovery.

Quit Smoking

Smoking cigarettes can lead to a number of complications in any surgical procedure and may adversely affect wound healing. Oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood, along with fibroblasts (tissue-building cells), are essential components of the wound healing process. The nicotine in tobacco products can constrict blood vessels, hinder blood flow, and affect the reproduction of fibroblast cells. Carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide, two other dangerous chemicals found in cigarettes, can impede the delivery of oxygen to a wound. The presence of these chemicals in the body can drastically slow the healing process and may result in a number of complications, such as infection, skin necrosis, keloid scarring, or pulmonary problems.

To help you avoid these risks, your plastic surgeon may recommend smoking cessation for at least two weeks prior to a breast augmentation procedure. Additionally, you should not smoke or have contact with secondhand smoke at least two weeks after the surgery.

Stop Taking Certain Medications

Your surgeon may also suggest that you stop taking aspirin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) at least one week prior to and following surgery. These medications interfere with the body’s blood clotting mechanism. Platelets are cells that adhere to and plug an opening in a blood vessel, a process that is critical to wound repair. Aspirin inhibits platelet function, or “thins the blood,” and can therefore increase the risk of excessive bleeding during a surgical procedure.

Additionally, alcohol and some herbal remedies, supplements, and alternative products (Vitamin E, fish oil, etc.), can all affect platelet function, so your surgeon may ask you to refrain from taking these supplements or drinking the evening before the procedure.

Setting Up for the Recovery Process

Prior to surgery, your surgeon will ask that you complete several tasks to facilitate a smooth recovery. You will be asked to have a friend or family member drive you home and plan to stay with you for at least 24 hours following your breast augmentation procedure, as resting and limiting strain are essential to your recovery. Additionally, your surgeon will prescribe antibiotics and pain medication, and those prescriptions should be filled a day or two before your procedure. This will allow you to review directions and place the medicine near your resting area ahead of time.

Your surgeon may also suggest ways to prepare your home to accommodate you in the early stages of recovery. This may include:

– Outfitting your bed or sofa with extra pillows

– Ensuring you have ice packs or cold compresses to help reduce swelling and pain

– Laying out loose-fitting clothing and plenty of bandages

– Placing forms of entertainment, like books or movies, within easy reach

Since every breast augmentation patient is different, your surgeon’s preoperative guidelines will be tailored specifically to your needs and circumstances. Adhering to these guidelines can help you achieve a favorable outcome.

Katie Perry is an online content editor in the Tampa Bay area. She posts articles about plastic surgery topics and procedures including breast augmentation, breast implants, and more.

Katie Perry is an online content editor in the Tampa Bay area. She posts articles about plastic surgery topics and procedures including http://bayshoreplasticsurgery.com/ breast augmentation, breast implants, and more.

Author Bio: Katie Perry is an online content editor in the Tampa Bay area. She posts articles about plastic surgery topics and procedures including breast augmentation, breast implants, and more.

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