Within a few days, the bandages or surgical bra will be replaced by a soft support bra. You'll need to wear this bra around the clock for three to four weeks, over a layer of gauze. The stitches will be removed after a week or two.

Patients need to take one week off after surgery. This means staying at home and no driving. During this week off, the patient should stay fairly quiet keeping arm movements at a minimum. We suggest sitting around the house watching television, enjoying videos or reading. Patients with small children will need help at home. While this may sound excessive to some, staying quiet in the first week speeds the healing process and helps promote a better surgical result. Pain pills are prescribed to help reduce post-operative pain. Patients can gently exercise in about 2 weeks. This means walking, stair-master or treadmill walking is allowed but no upper body workouts, running or high impact working out for one month.You can expect some loss of feeling in your nipples and breast skin, caused by the swelling after surgery. This numbness usually fades as the swelling subsides over the next six weeks or so. In some patients, however, it may last a year or more, and occasionally it may be permanent.