How does it feel to get a mastectomy?

You will probably feel a mixture of numbness and pain around the breast incision and the chest wall (and the armpit incision, if you had axillary dissection). If you feel the need, take pain medication according to your doctors instructions. Learn more about managing chest pain, armpit discomfort, and general pain.

What happens before a mastectomy?

All types of mastectomy use general anaesthetic and involve making a cut (incision) either diagonally or horizontally across your breast so that the breast tissue can be removed. Before the operation, you may need to have chemotherapy or hormone therapy to reduce the size of any tumours.

How long after mastectomy do you feel better?

You will probably feel sore for a few days and should be given painkillers in hospital. If they dont work, tell the nursing staff before you leave so you can try something else. Most people find their wounds take around 2 to 3 weeks to heal, but it may be several months before your chest and arm area fully recover.

Do they put you to sleep for a mastectomy?

Lumpectomy – The Procedure. Lumpectomy (also called breast-conserving surgery, partial mastectomy or wide excision) is often done under general anesthesia. This means you are asleep during the surgery. In some cases, local anesthesia with sedation, or regional anesthesia may be used.

Will I get feeling back after mastectomy?

“For many women — especially young women or women undergoing prophylactic mastectomies — restoring sensation after mastectomy is life-changing.” However, she says regaining sensation is gradual, because nerves grow a millimeter a day.

When does pain stop after mastectomy?

Reports indicate that 40 to 60 percent of patients who undergo mastectomy suffer from chronic pain — pain lasting longer than three months.

How do you sleep with a mastectomy drain?

For some time after surgery, it may be difficult to pull clothing over your head, so keep this in mind when you shop. When you go to sleep at night, pay attention to the location of your drains. If you are an active sleeper, you may need to sleep on your back or in a recliner to prevent dislodging them.

When can you lay flat after mastectomy?

You can begin to sleep on your side again two weeks after breast reconstruction surgery. However, stomach sleeping is still not permitted at the two-week mark. You must wait four weeks before you can sleep on your stomach. At this time, you are fine to sleep in any normal positions that you find comfortable.

Can mastectomy cause weight gain?

Contrary to our hypothesis, there was no significant gain in weight in this specific population (women having undergone mastectomy with reconstruction), only a 1.4% mean increase in BMI, a clinically insignificant change.

How long before you can sleep on your side after a mastectomy?

You can begin to sleep on your side again two weeks after breast reconstruction surgery. However, stomach sleeping is still not permitted at the two-week mark. You must wait four weeks before you can sleep on your stomach.

When can you sleep on your side after mastectomy?

You can begin to sleep on your side again two weeks after breast reconstruction surgery. However, stomach sleeping is still not permitted at the two-week mark. You must wait four weeks before you can sleep on your stomach.

How can I sleep comfortably after a mastectomy?

Our board-certified plastic surgeons advise breast reconstruction patients to sleep on their backs for the first two weeks after surgery. Many women choose to sleep in a recliner during this time. A recliner will support your upper body and help you maintain the ideal sleeping position.

How do you get rid of fluid after mastectomy?

Fine needle aspiration is the approach of choice to remove fluid from a seroma that is painful or persistent. In this procedure, the skin is numbed with a local anesthetic, and then a doctor inserts a long, thin needle through the skin and into the seroma to drain the fluid.