The 'Rapid Recovery' method refers to the use of several techniques during surgery in order to help the patient recover as quickly as possible from her procedure, and to help her return to her pre-op activities as early as possible. Dr Dowden has been using the techniques of Rapid Recovery since 1993, and the results have been most gratifying for patients. The maneuvers involved are basically avoiding or minimizing steps or actions that increase pain or slow down recovery. Such maneuvers include avoiding tension on the incisions, controlling any bleeding in the pockets around the implants, avoiding trauma to the ribs behind the breast, and minimizing any trauma to the breasts. Just as has been seen with advances in surgery for most areas of the body, the use of endoscopic techniques have greatly reduced recovery time, healing time and convalescence, and our endoscopic breast augmentation techniques have done the same. Although individual patients vary in their rate of recovery, these steps give each patient the best opportunity for the fastest recovery of which her body is capable.
It should be noted that the 'Rapid Recovery' techniques are not nearly as effective for women who are habitual users of addictive painkillers such as OxyContin, Methadone, or Morphine. These women generally have heightened pain perception, and will likely experience significant pain from any type of procedure.
Another important part of 'Rapid Recovery' has been encouraging the patient herself to be an active participant in making her recovery smooth and rapid. We encourage patients to begin full range of arm movements the evening following surgery, and to walk around as much as possible. Also, a variety of steps are taken to try to prevent any postoperative nausea. The morning after operation, the patient is permitted to wear a bra if she finds it more comfortable, or not to if that is her preference. The majority of patients do not require the use of drain tubes. Patients are advised to take at least extra-strength Tylenol on a regular basis for the first few days, but because people vary in their tolerance for pain, stronger medications are prescribed for use if needed, especially to assist sleeping.
A patient is capable of driving a car very soon after her operation, and yet I do not recommend driving for several days. The reason is not because of pain, nor that they could damage their breasts; rather I worry that they might have slightly slower reflexes for the first few days, and if a child were to dart out into the street the patient might react a little less quickly than usual. Even over-the-counter cold medicine labels tell you not to drive or handle machinery after taking, because of slower reflexes. You would not want to get behind the wheel knowing that.
Resting for a few days after surgery allows your body time to begin the healing process. Not permitting your body time to do this may actually make full recovery take longer. Sometimes a little extra rest early on will help you get your full energy back that much sooner.
We prefer that our patients plan ahead to take it easy for about a week. When there is minimal postoperative pain, many women have a tendency to over-exert themselves and tire more easily. Although it is unlikely that they would cause themselves any harm by doing too much, I believe that convalescence after any surgery is better with rest. I have had patients who definitely did more in terms of activity than I would have recommended, but they did no harm by doing so. Examples that come to mind are several women who walked over a mile the morning after operation, several who painted rooms in their homes or did extensive gardening, and even one who played a full game of softball two days after her operation in 1993 (she was proud to report that she got two hits!). Again, I do not recommend women practice that level of exertion so soon, as I am a great believer in rest during the postoperative period, but the very fact that they were able to do so illustrates what is meant by 'Rapid Recovery'.
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