Now that you are going home after your Mastopexy operation (Breast Up-Lift), here are some useful guidelines for you to remember:

1. You are advised not to drive until after your follow-up appointment, as this will pull on the wound. After that you yourself will know when you are comfortable and confident enough to start driving again. You may wish to phone your insurance company to let them know you have recently had surgery and make note of the responder’s answers to keep with your insurance documentation.

2. When you go home you may feel more tired than when you left hospital. This may go on for two or three weeks and is quite natural.

3. You should do no lifting, stretching or strenuous exercise until you feel comfortable (usually not before 6 weeks after your operation) as this will cause a strain on your wound and interfere with the healing process.

4. Wear a comfortable support bra/sports bra for 23 hours a day, if it makes you feel more comfortable; remove for showering / bathing.

5. After 6 weeks, go to M&S (or equivalent) for re-measurement of your bra size, because your swelling should now be reduced and settled.

6. Showering is better than bathing.

7. Observe suture lines for oozing or bleeding after dressings have been removed (one week). In the event of concern, cover the wound with a dry dressing and contact the hospital or your consultant’s secretary.

8. Whenever your breasts become less painful, massage the gently approximately 2-3 times a day with Diprobase cream (or equivalent non perfumed cream)to soften the breast tissue and scarring. This should become part of your daily routine for the next 18-24 months, until the healing process has stopped.

9. Protect your scars from the sunlight, as this new skin is very sensitive and if exposed to the sun will become very painful. Keep covered up for up to a year and if the scars become exposed to the sunlight, use Factor 30 sun block while they are still red.