Frequently Asked Questions

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BREAST SURGERY

1. I know it says I cannot drink alcohol 24 hours prior to my breast augmentation surgery, but would a glass of wine with dinner be bad? Or should I totally abstain? Also, can I have a glass or two of wine after my surgery?

A: You should not drink wine the night before as there is a slight chance of increasing the risk of bleeding. Same goes for the day of surgery.

2. It says that you cannot take any aspirin products before breast augmentation surgery. Does Percocet have aspirin in it?

A: Percocet does not have aspirin in it.

3. What should I wear to the surgery center that will be best for after breast augmentation surgery?

A: You should wear comfortable clothes to the surgery center. A zip up would be perfect and easy to put on. After surgery you will have a band around the top of your breasts.

4. Did he say that I can start massaging already? I have seen videos on how to do so, is it ok to start? …and they are more swollen than they were, but are much less softer… this is normal for them to fluctuate in swelling, right?

A: Dr. Nukta said to not massage your breasts until you see him for your next appointment. It is normal for them to be swollen, but if it is for the most part symmetrical. If only one breast has become very firm/hard or is much larger then you would need to let us know that. Otherwise fluctuations in swelling should be expected.

5. My breasts look a little more round and a little more “fake” than they did a few days ago… is this due to more swelling?

A: The shape of the breasts will be constantly changing for the next 3 months.

6. I keep seeing all these “cool” compression garments and post augmentation bras that are supposed to be better than the sports bra and compression band I am currently wearing. Should I even bother? Is there something better about these “special” ones than just a regular sports bra and the compression band I was given at the hospital?

A: Dr. Nukta said do not bother with them. The post-augmentation bra he gave you after surgery or a sports bra is fine.

7. When can I start sleeping without a bra after breast augmentation surgery?

A: 4 weeks after surgery.

8. When can I stop wearing a bra altogether after breast augmentation surgery?

A: 4 weeks after surgery.

9. When can I wear a normal bra after breast augmentation surgery?

A: 4 weeks after surgery.

10. When can I wear an underwire bra or a push up bra after breast augmentation surgery?

A: 4 weeks after surgery.

11. When can I begin to work out again after breast augmentation surgery?

A: 4 weeks after surgery.

12. Would a muscle relaxer help to relax my muscles and help them soften up faster after breast augmentation surgery? Or does it not work that way?

A: No, the muscle relaxer would not work that way.

13. When should I take the steri-strips off after breast augmentation surgery?

A: You should leave the steri-strips on until they naturally start to peel off.

14. When is it ok to have a cigarette without running a risk of infection after breast augmentation surgery?

A: You can socially smoke 4 weeks after surgery. It is important to wait until then so that the smoking does not affect the healing process.

LACERATIONS

1. I have what seems like a suture coming out of the wound, what do I do?

A: You might encounter kinds of sutures coming out of the wound on facial lacerations and both are harmless. If the suture is blue that means a small piece was retained when your sutures were taken out. Although we do our best to remove them, sometimes small pieces break off and they come out on their own. Please call our office and we can schedule you to have that piece taken out. Most of the time it will be gone by the time we see you. If the suture coming off is white that means it is the deeper suture and your body is rejecting it. Please call us if this happens and we can remove it for you.

2. When can I go back to my usual activity?

A: You can resume normal work and school on the same day or the day after. You can shower 24 hours after getting your sutures but avoid heavy water directly hitting the wound until they are taken out. You may return to light exercise, school, recess in one week. You may begin wearing makeup after one week. Heavy exercise and sports can generally be resumed in 2-3 weeks depending on what and how bad the injury was. Avoid swimming or bathing (submerging the wound into water) for 3 weeks. If you have a lip laceration, you can resume eating after a few hours but try to avoid spicy, sour, or hot foods for two weeks.

3. There are small white dots on my wound.. What are they?

A: These white dots are called Milia and they are small inclusion cysts that contain sweat. They will disappear on their own with massage or washing. If large and persistent, we will book you for an appointment to have them removed.

4. When will my scar take its final shape?

A: One year, therefore we don’t do revision surgery if needed unless almost a year has passed.

5. If my muscles were injured, will that affect my motion?

A: Unless the injury was very severe, usually muscles compensate especially with a layer closure.

6. Will a tongue/lip laceration affect my child’s speech?

A: Not usually unless it is a massive injury.

7. It’s been a year and I’m wondering if my scar can improve anymore?

A: Some scarring will be visible after an injury no matter how good the repair. Some patients however can benefit from some intervention. Our office will decide whether surgery or lasers might be of help.

8. Why do I need to use sunscreen?

A: After an injury your skin is hyperactive trying to heal itself. This activity makes it more susceptible to changes caused by sun exposure. Going out in the sun without sunscreen on during this time can cause the wound to get darker faster than the unaffected skin and may take longer to get back to normal.

Lower body of a female patient with thin smooth legs

LIPOSUCTION

1. The little sutures from my liposuction are still protruding from my skin in a few of the incisions. Should I still expect that they will dissolve in time?

A: The stitches should eventually fall out or dissolve. If they are poking out though you can go ahead and pull them out.

2. What should my expectation be for when the soreness/pain will completely go away after my liposuction surgery?

A: The pain and soreness should go away a few weeks after surgery.

3. When can I begin to exercise again after liposuction?

A: You can begin going to the gym for walking and to do light weights a few weeks after surgery.

4. Can I use Spanx when I ultimately am ready to replace the body garment that was given to me ? Is there a preferred period I wear the body garment before I switch over to the Spanx/lycra/spandex?

A: You need to remain in the body garments for at least 2 weeks after liposuction surgery. After that you can begin to use the body Spanx.