Pectoral Augmentation and Recovery

ONLY A REALLY GOOD PLASTIC SURGEON  KNOWS A MAN’S BODY REALLY WELL

This letter is addressed to you, the prospective client who wants to change his or her life today. It was written by Ray Gapuz to inspire you to take the first step.

Hi,

I’m Ray A. Gapuz, a certified regular client for aesthetic surgery and one of the many satisfied clients of DR. ANGELES.  So let me reassure you that you are in good hands if you have chosen Dr. Angeles to perform your surgery. In my case, I have undergone 10 procedures (including BLEPHAROPLASTY, LIPOSUCTION, CHEEK AND PECTORAL IMPLANTS, ETC.) 

Here are some helpful hints for those who are preparing for PECTORAL IMPLANT SURGERY. These helped me recover fast. I was able to return to my office meetings within 3 days after surgery. I hope this regimen will help you, too.

(Signed, Ray A. Gapuz)

PERSONAL THINGS TO PREPARE:Although valuables are looked after during your procedure, the clinic is not expected to   take responsibility for these items, so it’s best to only bring necessities. The following personal things are what I prepared for my personal use after the procedure.

·         Polo with buttons all the way to the front for ease of wearing after the surgery·         Bathrobe which you may prefer to use at discharge
·         Extra large sleeveless shirts ( sando) for everyday use after surgery

·         ‘Garterized’ shorts for a comfortable adjustment to the swelling

·         Bactidol gargle to counteract sore throat

·         Stretchable Corset (THAT SERVES AS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO THE COMPRESSION BANDAGE OR VEST) to minimize edema and pain when moving·         Battery-operated handheld mini massage machine helps minimize swelling

·         Call bell to facilitate communication with care provider

Preparations before surgery

Eat a  well-balanced diet

·         A well-balanced, healthy diet  aids healing and strengthens your immune system,leading to a faster recovery.

·        Take one  vitamin C a day which improves wound healing but avoid vitamin E intake for about two weeks prior to undergoing surgery, as it can interfere with blood clotting.

Do regular Exercise

·        By exercising, you increase your metabolic rate and build muscle mass which assists in avoiding weight gain during the recovery time. Check with your doctor which drugs are safe to take.From my personal readings I learned the following 

·        Two weeks prior to surgery: Stop vitamin E intake. Wheat germ, nuts, and some vegetable oils contain the largest amounts of vitamin E so avoid these for the two weeks before your surgery.

·        Seven days prior to your operation: Stop taking aspirin, clopidogrel (eg. Plavix, Iscover), dipyridamole (eg Asasantin, Persantin) and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). The use of birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy and some forms of post-cancer treatment medication may also involve an increased risk of complications during or after surgery. Use of these types of medications may produce an increased risk of developing dangerous internal blood clots that can, in rare cases, lead to embolism.

·        Five days prior: Stop taking warfarin medications (Coumadin, Marevan). However, for high risk patients, stopping warfarin can lead to life-threatening blood clots and daily injections with low molecular weight heparin may be required. High risk patients most commonly include those with artificial heart valves or those who have suffered myocardial infarctions. Your doctor can advise if you are in the high risk category. Low risk patients stopping warfarin may require no course of action.

·        Stop eating at least six (6) hours before your procedure. However, you may continue drinking water and clear apple juice (and only clear apple juice) up to two (2) hours prior to your procedure.

·        On the day of your procedure: Shower and wash yourself with mild soap and shampoo your hair. Remove all jewelry.

·        Your own maintenance medication can be taken with a sip of water on the morning of surgery.

What to wear in the hospital

·        On the day of surgery, wear loose-fitting clothes (which do not have to be put on over your head).

·        Avoid using  aftershave, face cream or other cosmetics.

·        As contact lenses cannot be worn in the operating theatre, wear glasses, if required.

·        Please refer to the list of personal things needed in the aforementioned paragraph.

After Surgery

·        Dr. Angeles  will check you   after your surgery to ensure everything is going well. You will be able to go home a few hours later.

·        Some post-operative pain (varying from quite severe to mild or moderate) will occur on the first day. This gradually improves over the next few days and is usually well-tolerated by patients taking the prescribed painkillers. Increasing pain that is unresponsive to painkillers should be brought to the attention of Dr  Angeles as this may be an indication that complications are developing.

EXPECT DISCOMFORT DURING THE FIRST 24 HOURS

·         Pain-Take the prescribed pain medications and communicate a need for dose adjustment  to Dr. Angeles, if necessary

·         Muscle Fatigue-Massage the joint affected. Ensure that the extremity is properly positioned after the surgery.

·         Oozing-Apply additional gauze if necessary

·         Constipation – Increase fluids and fiber in the diet and move around as soon as you can.

AFTER 24 HOURS

·         Itchiness of the skin at the back due to the bandage, I used calamine lotion to manage it.

·         Swelling, I used the massage machine, cold compress in the first 48 hours and warm compress there after to lessen it.

·         Bruising , The SINECCH I bought at the clinic helped a lot.There was very minimal bruising because I took it as prescribed.

·         Numbness , I did squeezing exercises using a rubberball to minimize numbness of the arms and fingers.
·         Sometimes you may feel a lot of pressure on the chest area, as I did. This is due to the augmentation. Deep breathing may help.

·         It’s normal to feel burning, sharp shooting pain and soreness during the recovery.·         I was told that I will be swollen for a few months.which may affect the abdominal area and the legs. I am told that It’s normal for this to happen, it takes days for the swelling to go away, says Dr. Angeles.

DURING DRESSING TIME

·         Skin Irritation may result from the hypersensitivity of the skin after surgery especially when the anesthesia has worn off.

·         Dried wound tissues that attached to the gauze may cause pain. I used hydrogen peroxide to prevent unnecessary detachment of dried skin.

WOUND CARE PARAPHERNALIA

·         Hydrogen peroxide- facilitates changing of gauze

·         Lactcyd blue- used to wash the skin

·         Micropore tape- keeps the gauze in place

·         Fucidin antibacterial ointment-applied before the gauze is taped over the wound to prevent infection

·         Gauze protects the wound

CALL DR. ANGELES  IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING DEVELOPS

·         Allergic Reaction

·         Pain that is not relieved by medications


·         Continuous bleeding

·         Dizziness

·         Feeling light headed

·         Abnormal temperature

·         Fever and chills

Before-and-after pics of another pec implant patient

ANY OF THESE MANIFESTATIONS MAY INDICATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPLICATIONS

MANEUVERS THAT HELP DECREASE PAIN WHEN GETTING IN AND OUT OF BED

1.   Ensure that your care provider is there to assist you.

2.   Ask your care provider to place one hand at your back and the other hand will be for you to hold onto as you try to sit up.

3.   Flex one of  your legs

4.   At the count of 3, or any agreed signal,  push and step on your flexed leg as you hold onto your care providers’ arm and hold your upper body up.

5.   Sit and dangle your legs for a while before you stand up. This will help you stabilize your circulation first before you move as the anesthesia may cause your blood vessels to dilate that may cause dizziness when you abruptly change your position.

DO’S AND DONT’S DURING RECOVERY

DO’s

·         Sleep in an upright reclined position for 1-2 weeks. Elevate the head and shoulder on 2-3 pillows. This will help decrease the swelling.

·         Please take the medications as directed.  Never on an empty stomach and always space out the medications as instructed.

·          Start taking something to help prevent constipation 2-3 days post surgery.


DONT’s


·         Driving for 2-3 weeks post surgery or until off narcotic pain medication completely.

·         Reaching out or above  your head for at least 3-4 weeks.

·         Taking showers for 2-3 weeks post surgery or until drains are removed. No swimming for 12 weeks post surgery or until the incisions are fully healed.

·         Upper body exercising for 8-12 weeks post surgery.

·         Tanning or sun exposure to the incision until the incision has healed completely.·         Scar creams or ointments on the incision immediately after surgery, you may irritate the area or cause an allergic reaction.

·         Applying deodorant at the axillary area for at least 2 weeks or if the area looks red or is in the healing process.

AFTER EVERYTHING

·         Now, I’m enjoying my new chest

·         Wearing shirts is never the same. Shirts always shows my muscular cleavage now.

·         Flexing my pecs enhances the form

·         The feel and movements are all so natural

·         I show off my chest topless at pools and gym with confidence

·         More than anything else, this was a good decision and worth every spent.  I never could have had this chest doing gym exercises with my busy schedule.