After your operation you will wake up in the recovery room and may see other people in the area with you. This is a period of time that you may, or may not, remember until the effects of the anaesthetic begin to wear off.

The aim of the recovery period is to ensure that you are closely monitored and stable before being taken back to the ward; this can take up to 2 hours.

Immediate Post Surgical Care

 When you are taken back to the ward you will be greeted by a nurse who will care for you for the duration of that shift. Your wound drains, blood pressure and pulse will be monitored on a regular basis (a normal procedure for anyone who has had an operation). If your breast reconstruction was carried out using a skin and muscle flap, the blood supply to your flap will also be monitored on a regular basis for a few days. Keeping warm can improve the blood supply to the flap area. Occasionally an extra heater will be brought into your room or you may be warmed with a heating blanket.

You may have a urine catheter and an intravenous drip to ensure constant input and output of fluids. You may have an oxygen mask together with morphine PCA, which allows you to self-administer your pain control as required. At all times nursing staff will assess your pain levels.

You may have one or two tubes coming from your wound area(s); these are drains that allow excess blood to flow out of the wound and into a bottle which is attached. The drain(s) is removed when your surgeon decides that the levels of drainage are low enough. This may take several days. Depending on your condition, you may be allowed home with the drains in place and be monitored closely in the Plastics Dressings Clinic. If this is the case you will be given instructions on how to manage the drains at home. Over time dressings may be removed.

Movement may be restricted and you may be unable to move as you would like; our aim is to return you to your normal independence as soon as possible. An electric bed may be provided for your ease and comfort. Sometimes it may be necessary to ask the physiotherapists to help you with gentle exercise if you experience problems breathing or coughing.

You will normally be encouraged to get out of bed the day after your operation for activities such as eating, brushing your teeth and walking short distances.

For a while you will feel very sleepy and if you feel slightly sick medication will be administered to counteract this. It is recommended that you restrict visitors for the first 24/48 hours as you will be tired ...enjoy the rest and heal.