Warning Signs: What Is Considered Normal Vs. Abnormal Post Surgery

Getting any surgery can feel like you are walking into a dark, unknown room. Luckily, Dr. George Philip Smith wants all of his patients to have a good understanding of what they can expect before, during, and after getting a breast augmentation. Unless you have previously undergone a breast augmentation, you likely don’t know what is considered to be normal and abnormal while you are in recovery. This article will discuss some things that are normal during recovery and some things that are red flags. Read on to learn more.

Inflammation

After your breast augmentation surgery, you can expect to have a significant amount of inflammation. However, it should die down after about a week. To help get rid of the inflammation, you can take an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory like Ibuprofen, apply some ice, and keep your breasts wrapped in the bandage given to you by Dr. George Philip Smith.

Worsening Pain and Inflammation

If your pain is worsening about 3-5 days following surgery and it isn’t responding to any pain medication, you could be suffering from a condition called hematoma. Typically accompanied by extreme pain and inflammation, hematoma occurs when there is a pocket of blood inside the wound. Only affecting a small percentage of breast implant patients, a hematoma can easily be treated by having a drain inserted into the pocket. If you think you have a hematoma, contact Dr. George Philip Smith’s office right away.

Fever

A fever is your body’s way of telling you that you have an infection. Although it is extremely rare to develop an infection following a breast augmentation, it is possible. To prevent against you receiving an infection, Dr. George Philip Smith will administer a small dose of antibiotics both before and following your surgery, but sometimes bacteria won’t respond to the medication, and it can result in an infection. Luckily, these infections can be treated with a larger dose of oral antibiotics.

If you would like to learn more about breast augmentation recovery, contact Dr. George Philip Smith right away!