Questions for your explant doctor

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PREPARING FOR EXPLANT SURGERY Finding the right surgeon: Questions to ask Ask if s(he) is familiar with 'the en bloc procedure' for removing implants. Ask how many procedures of this nature s(he) has performed, and when the last one was performed. Have the plastic surgeon explain, step-by-step, how the procedure will take place. Begin with how you will be "prepped." for surgery. Ask if it would be possible for you to view some "before and after" photos of explantation surgeries s(he) has performed. If the plastic surgeon did not mention drains in the explanation of how the procedure will be done, ask if s(he) will use drains to prevent accumulation of fluid and infection. Ask how long the surgery will take. Ask how long initial recovery will take. Ask the length of time it will be until you are able to function independently at home. Find out how long you will need someone to stay with you after surgery. It is advisable that someone stay with you for the first 24 hours, and possibly a little longer. depending upon your recovery progress. Ask how long it will be before you can resume normal activity. Everybody recovers at different rates, but most women are 'out-of-commission' for about two weeks, and cannot raise their arms above their heads for a month or longer. Find out how long you are not to lift anything heavier than three pounds, how long you should not drive, and how long should you wait to participate in any strenuous activities such as jogging, sex, exercising.. .etc. . Ask what size (s)he expects you to be after the surgery. Have the plastic surgeon explain what Mastopexy (breast lift) surgery is, how it is performed, and if you would benefit from it. Ask if (s)he will prescribes antibiotics after surgery to prevent the complication of infection. Discuss all post-op medications he will use and what their purposes are. Ask if it would be possible to fill

them the day before surgery to provide the convenience of them being available directly following surgery. Ask if (s)he will film the surgery on video. If so, request a copy for yourself. Ask whether or not you need to supply a blank tape. If this is not possible, ask if you may provide a camera to have the surgery photographed. Ask what type of bandage (s)he will use and how long it is to remain on. Ask when you will need to start wearing the sports bra. Ask for the phone numbers you will need to get in touch with him after-hours. Request that any cysts or other suspicious tissue be sent to the pathologist for examination and report. Tell him that you would like to have any removed suspicious tissue and cysts returned to you with your implants. You may wish to have another pathologist examine them at a later date. Explain that you wish to have your implants returned to you. Ask which pathology service he uses and ask for their contact

information. Ask him the proper procedure to use to ensure that your implants are returned to you. Explain that you would like to request copies of the Operative Report and the Pathology Report from this surgery. Ask about proper procedure to ensure that you receive these copies. Once You Have Selected a Plastic Surgeon and Have Set a Surgery Date, Be Sure to Discuss the Following With Your Doctor: List all Medications that you take, including the strength and frequency that you take them. Inform your doctor of any drug allergies that you may have. Also, let your doctor know if you are allergic to latex or talc. Make a list of all of any symptoms you may have, include dates that they began, and how they have progressed since they began. Include a history of all surgeries you have had. Obtain and bring your original operative/surgical report from having your breast augmentation surgery. The original operative report will contain helpful

information about your implants, such as: the manufacturer, the model number, the lot number, and the will indicate how the implant was positioned. Also, bring any recent MRI, mammogram, xeromamogram, or ultrasound reports. If you have had any recent lab work, bring these results with you, even though, your doctor will probably have them repeated prior to surgery. A comparison of the most recent labwork and the labwork he will do, will be helpful to your doctor.

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