Things to do Prior to Breast Surgery

Before your surgery, it is important to educate yourself about as many options as possible. It is a great idea to have an active support team of friends or family who can help sort out the wealth of information available courtesy of the internet, media and your medical team. The doctor or surgeon is the source of information valued by the majority of patients as the most authoritive. After learning as much as you can about the various treatments, you are much better prepared to ask your doctor specific questions.

Questions such as:

What kind of surgery are you recommending for me?
How much of my breast will be removed?
What are the risks of this surgery?
What are the risks if I decide not to have the surgery?
Why do I need this particular procedure?
What kind of incision am I going to have?
Will I have a lymph node dissection? If so, how many lymph nodes do you anticipate will be removed?
What are my options for anesthesia?
Will you come to see me following surgery?
How long can I expect to stay in the hospital?
What kind of follow-up care will I need?
How will I feel after surgery? Will I need pain medication?
How long will my recovery take?
Are there symptoms I should be aware of that would alert me to contact you immediately?
How often will I see you for follow-up care?
If I have a mastectomy, am I a candidate for reconstruction? What options do I have?
If I decide on reconstruction, what type of reconstruction would you recommend?
Do you have photos of other surgeries you have performed that I can see?
How long will an implant last? What happens if I gain or lose weight?
How much pain or discomfort can I expect after reconstructive surgery?
Will I need more than one surgery? Will they all require general anesthesia?
When will you have the results of my pathology tests? Will I come in to discuss them or will you phone me?
Will my medical insurance cover all charges from you and the hospital?
What restrictions, if any, will I have on my normal activities while recovering?
How much help will I need at home to care for the drains and surgery site?
Will you be recommending physical therapy for me as part of my recovery?
Should I expect swelling in my arm? What steps can I take to help prevent the onset of lymphedema?

Being Prepared about Breast Surgery >>>

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Things to do Prior to Breast Surgery Before your surgery, it is important to educate yourself about as many options as possible. It is a great idea to have an active support team of friends or family who can help sort out the wealth of information available courtesy of the internet, media and your medical team. The doctor or surgeon is the source of information valued by the majority of patients as the most authoritive. After learning as much as you can about the various treatments, you are much better prepared to ask your doctor specific questions. Questions such as: What kind of surgery are you recommending for me? How much of my breast will be removed? What are the risks of this surgery? What are the risks if I decide not to have the surgery? Why do I need this particular procedure? What kind of incision am I going to have? Will I have a lymph node dissection? If so, how many lymph nodes do you anticipate will be removed? What are my options for anesthesia? Will you come to see me following surgery? How long can I expect to stay in the hospital? What kind of follow-up care will I need? How will I feel after surgery? Will I need pain medication? How long will my recovery take? Are there symptoms I should be aware of that would alert me to contact you immediately? How often will I see you for follow-up care? If I have a mastectomy, am I a candidate for reconstruction? What options do I have? If I decide on reconstruction, what type of reconstruction would you recommend? Do you have photos of other surgeries you have performed that I can see? How long will an implant last? What happens if I gain or lose weight? How much pain or discomfort can I expect after reconstructive surgery? Will I need more than one surgery? Will they all require general anesthesia? When will you have the results of my pathology tests? Will I come in to discuss them or will you phone me? Will my medical insurance cover all charges from you and the hospital? What restrictions, if any, will I have on my normal activities while recovering? How much help will I need at home to care for the drains and surgery site? Will you be recommending physical therapy for me as part of my recovery? Should I expect swelling in my arm? What steps can I take to help prevent the onset of lymphedema? Being Prepared about Breast Surgery >>> Return to Table of Contents Information provided by American Breast Care