Most people having a lumpectomy, surgical biopsy or sentinel node biopsy don't need surgical drains. Most patients need to use surgical drains for about two weeks following surgery, or once there's less than 30 cubic centimeters (cc) of drainage in 24 hours.
There may be some drainage from the incision; this is normal. The drainage should be thin, watery, and slightly pink. It should not be bright red blood. Some swelling and bruising around the incisions is normal and should improve in the days following your surgery.
Drains are usually required following a mastectomy or reconstructive breast surgery. You may have only one drain, or you may have five or more if you have a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. A separate drainage tube is often placed if you have a lymph node dissection.
#1 │ How long will my seroma last? Seromas, or pockets of fluid formed within the surgical cavity, are common after breast surgery and are part of the body's natural healing process. Most seromas go away within 3-4 weeks after surgery.
This fluid is normal and fills the space where breast tissue was removed during surgery. If not drained properly, excess fluid will cause misshapen implants, infections, and other complications.
A Jackson-Pratt (JP) drain is a plastic drain is placed during surgery to remove excess fluid or blood from the surgical site. If the fluid were to stay in the surgical site, it could press on surrounding structures, become infected, and cause other issues.
If you wear a bra, it should be well-fitted and supportive. You should wear it during the night, for 1 week. You will probably be able to go back to work or your normal routine in 1 to 3 weeks after the surgery. This may depend on whether you have more treatment.
Typically, a lumpectomy is followed by four to six weeks of radiation therapy to ensure that there are no more remaining cancer cells, so lumpectomies are not recommended to patients who can't withstand radiation. Some patients who have chemotherapy first may consider it as well.
Applying heat via a heating pad or warm, moist compresses can help encourage the fluid to drain, speed the healing process, and reduce pain. It's also important to keep the skin overlying a seroma clean, especially after fine needle aspiration.
Your breast may look different after a lumpectomy. You may have a small scar or dimpled skin where the tumor was removed. Or the shape of your breast may change. If you're concerned surgery will affect your breast size or symmetry, talk to your doctor before your lumpectomy.
Patients appreciate that drain-free procedures CAN offer:
Not only, less discomfort during recovery (better sleep) But, fewer incisions for the drains/tubes. And, fewer skin disruptions as they heal. As well as, less risk of wound infection.
Having a drain removed usually does not hurt, but it can feel rather odd as the tubing slides out of the body. The incision is then covered with a dressing or left open to the air.
You may shower after you have had the drain in place for 48 hours, after you have removed your outer surgical dressing (if you have one), or if you do not have an outer dressing. – To keep your drain in place in the shower, attach it to a lanyard or shoelace looped loosely around your neck.
Unlike a mastectomy, which involves removal of all or a large portion of the breast tissue, a lumpectomy is not considered major surgery and women who have a lumpectomy often go home the same day of their procedure.
The lumpectomy cavity will fill with seroma and fibrin, and ultimately fibrous tissue, which maintains the normal, rounded contour of the breast.
You may not take a shower until the day after your drain(s) have been removed. You may take a sponge bath or bathe in a shallow tub splashing or dabbing water on your incision(s), but keeping the drain sites dry.
You can shower 24 hours after your surgery. Taking a warm shower is relaxing and can help decrease discomfort. During your shower, use soap to gently wash your incision. After your shower, pat the areas dry with a clean towel.
It is normal for fluid to collect in the breast where the tissue was removed. You may “hear” the fluid. It may sound like a “sloshing” noise. The amount of fluid may reach a peak 2 weeks after surgery.
Staying overnight in the hospital is not usually necessary but may be recommended in some cases. You also may need to stay overnight if you have an oncoplastic lumpectomy that involves a breast reduction or breast lift, which is more extensive surgery.
Radiation therapy is painless. You may feel some discomfort from lying in the required position, but this is generally short-lived. After the session, you're free to go about your regular activities. Take any self-care steps at home that your doctor or nurse recommends, such as taking care of your skin.
DO NOT drive a motor vehicle for 24 hours after surgery as it may be dangerous with all the medications from the anesthetic. DO NOT drive while you are taking your prescription pain medication as the medication may affect your ability to drive safely.
In general, 3-4 cm is considered to be the safe cutoff for lumpectomy in medium to large breasts.
Most women can go home the same day after lumpectomy. For a mastectomy, you may go home the same day or stay for 1 or 2 nights, depending on the type of surgery. If you have immediate reconstruction, you will stay longer.
Traditional lumpectomy
Breast tumor is removed along with a healthy margin of tissue surrounding the tumor. This will leave a small to medium sized scar on your breast, directly over the area where your tumor was.