Immediately after surgery, your reconstructed breast may be covered with dressings that the nursing staff will change regularly. Alternatively, the wound may be held together with sticky, plastic strips, which are left in place until the wound has healed. At first, your new breast will be larger than your other breast. This is usually due to inflammation and swelling after surgery. It should gradually get smaller over a few weeks or months.

Once the dressings are removed, you can gently shower the wound with clean water. Pat the wound area dry with a clean towel – do not rub it. Once the wound has healed you can have baths or shower as normal. Wash with lukewarm water and unperfumed soap, rinsing the wound line well.

Surgeons generally advise that once the wounds have fully healed, women should massage the skin over the reconstructed breast daily with body oil or cream. This keeps the skin supple and in good condition. The massaging action will also reduce the risk of encapsulation (formation of a tough, fibrous coat) around an implant.

Some surgeons advise women to wear a support garment, usually a firm, supportive bra, for several weeks after reconstructive surgery. They may recommend wearing this at night as well as during the day. Other surgeons consider this is unnecessary and suggest wearing a normal bra, or no bra at all. They believe that this encourages a more natural droop of the reconstructed breast and that wearing a bra makes little difference to the cosmetic results of surgery. It may be helpful to discuss this further with your surgeon.

By about six weeks after breast reconstruction you should be able to fully move your arm on the side of the reconstruction with little discomfort. It is important that immediately after surgery a physiotherapist shows you how to do suitable arm exercises. The recommended exercises will be changed as you recover.

Some surgeons recommend specific exercises after reconstructive surgery. Check with your surgeon about what is right for you.

Many women want to know when they can get back to doing everyday things like driving, carrying the shopping or doing the housework and gardening. This will vary, depending upon the type of surgery you have had and upon you as an individual. It is a good idea to discuss this further with your surgeon or breast care nurse.

It is usually fine to start driving again when you feel that you could safely do an emergency stop or move the steering wheel around suddenly, if necessary. Some women find that this is possible within a few weeks of the surgery, and others find that it takes longer. Some insurance companies have specific guidelines about when you can drive again after an operation, so it is helpful to check this with your car insurance company.