Preparing For Surgery

Even though you might be excited for your top surgery, it can be quite stressful, as there's a lot to think about and prepare for.

On this page you can find a list of things you might want to take care of before surgery, including a list of useful aids and items you may want to purchase to make recovery a little easier.

Everyone has different needs, so you may not need everything on these lists. But I hope this guide helps take some of the guess work off your hands.

Things to do BEFORE surgery

• Be sure to arrange time off of work and inform people that you won't be able to drive for at least 3 weeks. Not everyone can take the full 6 weeks off work, but at least try to give yourself 2-3 weeks.


• Arrange transport to and from the hospital for your surgery.


• Arrange accommodation close to the hospital for the first 24 hours after surgery - Some clinics let you out the same day but require you to stay close by for the first 24 hours after surgery, just in case of an emergency.


• Arrange to stay with someone or have someone come and stay with you - I know this isn't always possible but even if it's only for the first 2-3 weeks, it would be very helpful for the most vital stages of your recovery.


• Have a good shower and scrub EVERYTHING. Because you won't be able to have a proper shower for a little while.


• Use body hair trimmer to shorten armpit hair for easier hygiene while you can't move (don't get rid of it entirely, surgeon will do that with a sterile razor if they deem necessary).


• Trim your fingernails and toenails. It will be difficult to bend and do this after surgery.


• Have a haircut. As you may not be able to get it cut for a little while.


• Test sleeping on back for a few days and adjust pillows until it's comfortable. (My surgeon said I don't need to sleep sitting up, just on a bit of an incline to encourage drainage).


• Arrange living space so it's easy to navigate and live in while recovering.


• Put items most used at shoulder height so you don't have to reach so much.


• Prepare meals in advance and freeze portions OR find some microwave meals that you don't mind eating for the first couple of weeks on days when you have limited energy/appetite. (Take-out is an option though possibly not as nutritionally balanced.)


• Have crackers and yoghurt in the fridge for taking painkillers as for the first couple of days you may feel nauseous from anaesthesia. Not everyone gets nauseous but it's good to be prepared. Bananas are also good for nausea.


• Stock up on painkillers (Ibuprofen, Paracetamol/Tylenol). You can take both of these painkillers regularly. Be sure to read the instructions on dosage and timing as this may vary by country.
  It is advised not to take Aspirin.


• If you are able to, you may want to purchase a second compression vest/binder as the first one you will have to wear continuously between 2-6 weeks (maybe longer depending on your level of swelling and surgeons advice.)


• Ask the hospital for a second pair of compression socks before you are discharged, or buy extras, so they can be washed (I was given compression level 18-22mmhg for reference.)


• Make sure you have plenty of easy to wear clothes. A couple of button-up shirts, some zip up hoodies, easy to pull on sweatpants.


• Button-up PJs are a good purchase. I read somewhere that satin/silk PJ's and/or bedsheets make it easier to slide in and out of bed, as you'll need to avoid using your chest muscles as much as possible, particularly in the first 2-3 weeks. I wish I'd read this sooner!


• You need a dressing gown and slippers for hospital, so pack a grab bag on the day of surgery. Further down the page is a quick tick list for packing a hospital grab bag.


• Stock up on laxatives/stool softeners just in case. You may be advised to take codeine for at least the first 2-3 days after surgery. A very common side effect of codeine (and indeed any opioid) is constipation. Some people advise that you start taking the stool softeners a couple of days before surgery. You can find more advice on this in Toileting.


• Good foods for keeping you regular while taking codeine: kiwi fruit and popcorn. Kiwi fruit is soluble fibre and popcorn is both soluble and insoluble. 2 kiwis a day is the best digestive medicine!


• Put together a list of things you'd like to watch, play, do etc. while you have to sit on your butt for a few weeks.


• Change bed sheets before you leave for surgery, so they are nice and fresh when you return. Don't use your best ones as you may stain them. I didn’t have an issue with this, but I’ve heard some hospitals use very strong iodine that leaves a very particular smell on everything.

List of things to buy

• Wedge pillow (for sleeping)


• U-shaped pillow (to stop you from rolling over onto your side at night)


• Travel Bidet / Washlet (Some people can find it difficult to reach and wipe after surgery. This is basically a squeezy bottle to keep you clean and use less toilet paper/flushable wipes. )


• Home enema kit. I’d only really recommend this if you have a history of chronic constipation (Though anaesthetic can slow digestion down for a couple of days after). However, you could try to combat the need for this by taking stool softeners for a couple of days before surgery.


• Flushable toilet wipes


• Water wipes (these are not flushable but they are very useful for the first 1-2 weeks when you are unable to bathe properly. Good for your body and face. Refreshing and hypoallergenic because they just have water a aloe in them.)


• New sponges/flannels for bathing. (You will be covered in blood/body fluid and iodine so you may not want to use wash cloths you are attached to.)


• An electric toothbrush (really helpful for when you aren't supposed to lift or use your arms very much. Particularly useful in the first 1-2 weeks.)


• Reusable straws - metal, silicone, doesn’t matter (though if you are drinking hot drinks, maybe silicone is better). They definitely come in handy for the first 2 weeks while you have t-rex arms.


• Light water bottle with built in straw - You'll want a spill proof water bottle. Make sure it's as light as possible as it's advised you don't lift anything heavy.


• Collapsable Stool - For help getting in and out of bed (you can sit on the edge of the bed and push against it with your feet to "walk" yourself up the bed and get into a comfortable incline position. Can also be used to reach things.


• Toilet Stool - The collapsable stool can double as a toilet stool. When you sit with your knees elevated it helps relax the pelvic muscles. This in turn helps with pooping.


• Overbed table - These are useful because they have an adjustable height (as the bedside table may be hard to reach), and they can be wheeled to sit over the bed. Perfect for sitting up in bed with somewhere to rest a book, laptop or dinner.


• Extra compression vest (My Surgeon recommended that if you are borderline between sizes when measuring for a surgical binder, always size down. For example, if you are betweem a L and an M, go for the M. This will ensure you still benefit from the compression.)
  • Sometimes your hospital will give you a spare pair if you ask them. I was given 18-22mmHg but levels of compression will vary depending on the type of surgery and your general health. Be sure you talk to your surgeon about any blood circulation issues you have.


• Extra compression socks (Also known as 'TED Anti-Embolism socks'.) I was advised by my surgeon to wear these continuously for 2 whole weeks after surgery. I was allowed to take a break from them for an hour a day if I wished, but they stressed that they were very important in the first two weeks after surgery. I found them very comfortable but they can be uncomfortable for some. Please listen to your surgeons advice! These are important for preventing blood clots and embolisms!


• Glycolic Acid. If you have trouble with body odour and you can't wash properly yet but need to get rid of the odour (and kill the bacteria that makes BO) cotton pads and some Glycolic Acid is the best for the job. You can buy it at any chemist in the skincare section. A skincare expert said it's the best thing between going to the gym and coming home to shower. Kills the germs, kills the smell.


• Vitamins. You may want to buy some vitamins to ensure you're getting enough for healing. I would recommend Zinc, Magnesium, Vitamin B, Vitamin D and Calcium. You may also want to take Vitamin A and E but these should only be taken for a short period of time as the body tends to store these vitamins up. You don't want an excess!
• Vitamin C is another useful one but it might be more advisable to get this in the form of fruit (satsumas and tangerines) as this will help with soluable fibre and digestion too. Orange juice is also a good way to get Vit C, but be sure it doesn't interfere with medication.


• Liquid Iron. I stress LIQUID because iron in tablet form is notorious for causing constipation. Liquid iron on the other hand doesn’t tend to constipate. You can drink it right out of the sachet, or you can mix it in some orange juice. This will not only disguise the flavour, but the Vitamin C from the juice will help your body absorb it better! Another word of advice for iron supplements – they’re best taken every other day, so as to get the best out of them.


• Backscratcher - Some people recommend this, personally I just got my partner to help me lol.


• Item grabber - Finally some use for those silly sticks with the shark head on the end! Only really useful for light objects that you've dropped or that are hard to reach.


• Anti-nausea meds - Travel sickness meds or anti-nausea meds may be useful for the first few days after anaesthetic . If you are worried anaesthetic will make you vomit, you can ask your anaesthetist for an “anti-sickness injection” on the day of your surgery. Some hospitals administer it as standard but it’s best to ask to be sure. However, in the days after surgery, anti-nausea meds bought over the counter may help you feel less nauseous when you eat. NOTE: If you have been given codeine or any kind of pain medication by your surgeon and they are making you vomit, stop taking them and contact your doctor or surgeon directly and report it to them.

For dressing your incisions and nipples after your post-op appointment:

• Micropore tape 2.5cm - This is used along the incision line to protect it. Only changed every 2-4 days or when it gets very dirty.


• Island Dressing / Island Bandages 2.4" x 2.75" (6 x 7 cm) - These are adhesive bandages used to cover the nipples. Your surgeon may advise you to use Aquaphor/Vaseline on your nipples if they scab over. Putting these island bandages on top protects your clothes from the Vaseline and ensures that it stays on the nipple to help soften the scab. (Note: You will also need to let the scabs air dry for a few hours during the day too).


• Disposable Gloves - These can be either Nitrile or Vinyl gloves. You can usually find them in a chemist or pharmacy in the first aid section. These are important particularly in the first couple of weeks after your original dressings have been removed, as your incisions will still be fresh and open in places.


• Adhesive remover pads - These can help get any sticky residue off the skin. They are fast drying and acetone/alcohol free.


• Aquaphor healing ointment - Similar to Vaseline. Thick petroleum-based ointment that protects and moisturises.

For scar care AFTER your Incisions have closed up:

It will take at least 6 weeks for your incisions to fully knit together. Until then you should avoid getting the incisions wet!

• Absolutely necessary:


• A THICK moisturiser. It doesn’t need to be any moisturiser in particular (though my surgeon did mention E-45) but it’s important that you rub it in for long enough. The thicker the moisturiser, the longer it will take to soak in, the longer you will be massaging the scars. Massaging the scars is very important because it promotes good blood flow and helps break down scar tissue (including on the inside!).


• SPF / moisturiser with SPF - Apart from your normal moisturiser, you will also need to apply SPF and/or SPF moisturiser regularly to your scars, for at least the first year after top surgery. EVEN UNDER YOUR SHIRT. All shirts (unless specified) are not UV resistant. This means that even if you have a shirt on and your scars are covered up, UV can still penetrate the fabric. So, it is advised that you regularly apply SPF if you are going outside. (Remember, this is only AFTER your incisions have healed and you are no longer having to wear micropore tape over them.)

• Optional:


• Bio oil / Vitamin E Oil - Bio oil is said to help even out skin tone and reduce signs of aging and dark spots. Vitamin E oil is said to reduce the appearance of scars. I’ve heard mixed reviews on both of these so I would advise you to do a little more research before spending money on these.


• Silicone tape/gel for scars – Again I’ve seen mixed reviews for using silicone tape. You can find several first person reviews for this kind of scar treatment over on r/topsurgery (including this post where someone used silicone tape on one side of their chest and moisturiser on the other to compare the results. As you can see there isn’t that much difference in the two sides.)

Recommended Products

Below is a list of products that I have used and can highly recommend should you need them. You don't need to buy everything on this list. Only purchase what you need personally.

The easiest way to give examples of these products was to link to them on Amazon.

You do not have to buy them from Amazon. In fact I would advise you to shop around and save yourself some money!! Amazon does not need your money.