Mastectomy
Your physician has scheduled you for a mastectomy. This is a surgical procedure to remove the breast. Understandably, you have questions about what to expect.
What should I do on the day of surgery?
What should I expect once I arrive at the surgical center?
What should I expect after the surgery?
When do I need to call the doctor?
Authorization and Payment
Important Numbers
What should I do on the day of surgery?
Do not eat or drink anything for at least 12 hours prior to the scheduled procedure or as instructed by the surgical facility. You will need someone to take you home after the surgery. Wear loose, comfortable clothing.
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What should I expect once I arrive at the surgical center?
- You will need to check in at least 1 hour prior to the scheduled procedure for preoperative assessment.
- The procedure generally lasts one to two hours.
- The doctor will speak to the family after the procedure.
- Oftentimes, you will spend the night in the hospital. Occasionally, you may go home the same day.
- You will be in recovery for approximately one hour and will be able to leave after that if an overnight stay is not planned.
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What should I expect after the surgery?
- As an exercise, raise your straight arm above your head so that it touches your ear. This should be done at least once an hour while you are awake for the first six weeks. This will not disrupt your wound.
- Usually, you will have a waterproof plastic dressing over your incision.
- Because you are wearing this plastic dressing, you will be able to take a shower on the day after surgery unless your physician specifically tells you otherwise.
- Do not remove the dressing.
- You might have a small amount of bleeding and swelling. This is normal.
- You will have a plastic drain connected to a bulb to collect the excess fluid from the wound. The nurse will instruct you on how to care for this drain.
- The drain will be removed in the office during your post-op visit. It is recommended you take a prescription pill prior to this visit.
- You will not be able to drive while the drain is in place. Once it is removed, do not drive until you feel that your reaction time is no longer impaired.
- Most of the time, the fluid will drain through the tube. It may also leak around the drain site. This is not unusual. Place gauze over the area. This is not an emergency. Call the nurse during office hours to inform us if this happens.
- The sutures are usually dissolvable underneath the skin, so that you will not have to have them removed.
- Your physician will write a prescription for pain medication. Oftentimes, you will not need to take this medication and Tylenol or Ibuprofen (Motrin/Advil) will suffice and are allowable.
- If you take just one prescription pain pill, you make take one, additional, regular-strength Tylenol.
- Do not exceed this amount, as Tylenol is an ingredient in most prescription pain pills and can have severe consequences with over-dosage.
- Do not drive or operate heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
- Prescription pain medicines may alter your judgment.
- You may gradually resume normal activity during the week after your surgery, although it is normal to feel weak the day after surgery.
- Do not do any exercising for one week without consulting your physician.
- Beware of any trauma to the surgical site for at least one week after the surgery.
- You should get your results 3 to 5 working days after the surgery. Your physician or nurse will call you with your results if they arrive before your post-op visit.
- You should call the office and schedule a post-op visit for approximately one week after your surgery.
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When do I need to call the doctor?
- If you have a fever over 101.5 in the first week after surgery.
- If you have blood that continues to leak from under your dressing.
- In this event, hold tight pressure with a towel over the site until you reach the doctor.
- If you have excessive nausea and / or vomiting.
- If your wound becomes tight and excessively painful.
If at any time, you feel you have a life-threatening or urgent problem, either call 911, or proceed to an Emergency Room before reaching the physician.
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Authorization and Payment
We will call your insurance company to pre-certify the surgery. If there is a question of coverage, we will let you known as soon as possible. If you will not utilize insurance, we will provide you with an estimate of fees associated with the surgery, so that you may budget appropriately. Our billing department will work with you to discuss payment arrangements or questions about your benefits. As a reminder, you will most likely receive a series of bills associated with the surgery, as many providers will be involved with your care: the facility where the surgery takes place, our office, the radiologist, the pathologist, and the laboratory, etc.
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Important Numbers
Northside Hospital |
404-851-8000 |
Aesthetica |
404-303-7542 |
Breast Care Specialists |
404-255-8086 * |
*For an emergency after hours, you will receive instructions for reaching the doctor
BCS Surgery Scheduling |
404-255-8086 ext. 204 |
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