Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.
What is breast reconstruction? —
This is surgery to rebuild the breast after mastectomy. Mastectomy is surgery to remove a breast, for example, to treat or prevent cancer. Reconstruction can be done with implants, or using tissue taken from other parts of your body, called "flaps."
How long it takes for you to recover, and what you need to do, depends on which type of surgery you had.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
If you went home the same day as surgery, for the first 24 hours:
●Do not drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery.
●Do not make any important decisions or sign any important papers.
●Do not drink alcohol of any kind.
You should also:
●Sleep with your head and chest raised on a few pillows to help with swelling.
●Your doctor or nurse will talk with you about wearing a bra and the best kind to use.
●Ask when it is safe for you to use creams or lotions on your breasts.
●Wear tops that button up the front. These are easier to put on and take off than ones that slip over your head.
●Take all of your medicines as instructed.
•Use a stool softener to help prevent constipation, if needed. This is a common problem if you take opioid pain medicines. Follow all instructions for taking your pain medicines.
•Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol). This can be used instead of opioids. Talk to your doctor about using other over-the-counter medicines to relieve pain.
●Take care of your incision – You might have stitches, surgical glue, or a special skin tape on your incision.
•Keep your incision dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days after surgery. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep it dry.
•Once you no longer need to keep it dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not put your incision underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.
•After you wash your incision, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on it. They will also tell you if you need to cover it with a bandage or gauze.
•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your incision or bandage.
•If you have a drain in place, the staff will teach you how to care for it and how to empty it.
●Increase your activity slowly – Start with short walks around your home, and walk a little more each day.
•Keep coughing and doing deep breathing exercises for 7 to 10 days after you go home. This helps prevent lung infections. When you cough, sneeze, or do deep breathing exercises, press a pillow across your incision to support the wound and ease pain.
•Avoid heavy lifting, sports, and swimming for at least a week or 2. (Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to avoid these or other activities.)
•Your doctor might give you exercises to do at home to help your recovery. At first, you might have some discomfort, but it is important to continue to use your arms and do the exercises.
●Eat when you are hungry – If you have an upset stomach, it might help to start with clear liquids and foods that are easy to digest, like soup, pudding, toast, or eggs. You can eat other types of foods when you feel ready. If your doctor or nurse gave you specific instructions about what to eat or avoid, follow them.
What follow-up care do I need? —
The doctor will want to see you again after surgery to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.
●If you have stitches, you might need to have them taken out. Your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed. If the doctor used skin glue or skin tape, it will fall off on its own. Do not pick at it or try to remove it yourself.
●If you have a drain in place, it will usually be removed 2 to 4 days after surgery.
●If you have tissue expanders, you might need to go to the doctor's office to have them filled every week or so.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you:
●Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
●Have redness, bleeding, drainage, or swelling around your incisions
●Have nausea or vomiting for more than 2 days after going home
●Have a drain, and it seems clogged or the stitches holding it in place are loose or missing
●Had an implant, and your breast feels firm, feels sore, or changes shape
●Had a flap and notice:
•A bulge or hernia where the tissue was removed to make the flap
•The flap is cool to the touch or discolored
●Have redness, warmth, swelling, or hardness in your arm or hand on the side where your breast was removed
Patient education: Breast reconstruction (The Basics)
Patient education: Deciding about breast reconstruction after mastectomy (The Basics)
Patient education: Mastectomy (The Basics)
Patient education: Flap surgery (The Basics)
Patient education: Choosing surgical treatment for early-stage breast cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: Breast cancer (The Basics)
Patient education: How to care for a closed suction drain (The Basics)
Patient education: Surgical procedures for breast cancer — Mastectomy and breast-conserving therapy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Breast cancer guide to diagnosis and treatment (Beyond the Basics)
