Supportive Family or Friends:

It is important to have a family member with you or a close friend during this process. Not only will you need the help physically after your surgery, but you will want their emotional support throughout it. You may be very ready to get this done and over with, but it still takes an emotional toll on you. You will have a new body, and a new body takes getting used to emotionally and physically. Make sure that whomever it is will stand by you and be 100% understanding of your situation, and the emotional/physical changes that come along with it. And finally, love them and thank them for being such wonderful friends to you!

Medication/Vitamins: (Important!)

It is VERY important that you follow the guidelines that your doctor gives you on what you can and can't take before and after this procedure! Products that contain aspirin, salicylates, and/or salicylamides can effect your surgery negatively. Certain common medications like: Advil, Bayer-Aspirin, Midol, Ibuprofen, etc. can thin the blood and cause excessive bleeding during or after your surgery which, of course, you DON'T want to happen. Even simple things like Alka-seltzer, or cold medicine can effect your surgery, and/or recovery. Herbal medications include: St. John's Wort, Ginko, Ginseng, Garlic, Ginger, Kava, Lobelia, DIET PILLS (no, no), or other herbal medications. These all are only a very small portion of the list I was provided. Just to be safe, ask your doctor about ANY medications you use on a regular basis, even if it is not on the list, and before you take anything new that may not be on the list, call your doctor. Don't worry about bugging him/her, because it is their job and your life!

Preparing for your surgery:

This is taken verbatim from a brochure I got from my doctor's office: " Your surgeon may require you to have a mammogram (breast x-ray) before surgery. You'll also get specific instructions on how to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating, smoking, and (as I mentioned above) the taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.....Breast Reduction doesn't usually require a blood transfusion. However, if a large amount of breast tissue will be removed, your physician may advise you to have a unit of blood drawn ahead of time. That way, if a transfusion should be needed, your own blood can be used."

After Care Tips:

Vitamins after your scars have closed, may aid in your healing. Typically you can take vitamin C before and after and Vitamin E afterward. Doctors don't recommend you take more than the recommended dose on the bottle.

This is a copy of a copy of vitamins that may aid in your recovery (You can find this on Renea's Site, as well. Check links.):

• Vitamin E 400 IU per day maximum can be helpful in reducing breast tenderness.
  
• Vitamin B6  100 mg per day maximum (larger doses sometimes cause serious side effects).  Some nutritionists think that vitamin B6 is best absorbed when taken with other B vitamins; one can accomplish this by taking B-complex which includes all the B vitamins. Vitamin B6 can take the edge off irritability and reduce fatigue and depression
  
• Calcium 1000 mg per day of elemental calcium (all forms of calcium should be labeled with amount of  elemental calcium), Can help reduce depression bloating and  body aches.
  
• Magnesium 400 mg per day can reduce pain, water retention and negative mood
  

Ask your doctor about different types of ointments or other that can be used to assist in the healing of the scars. Don't use these until your scars have closed.