Hi Sally, @gingerninja and welcome. I did have a single skin and nipple sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction using a silicon implant. I was in hospital for a total of 6 days with two drains. I was showering the day following surgery and walking down the stairs to the cafeteria for a cappuccino also the day following surgery. I was on targin for 3 days and then after that I asked to not have anything other than panadol which I had every 6 hours. There was a feeling of tightness across my chest due to the pec muscle having the implant underneath it but I did not associate that tightness with pain. I did have sentinel node biopsy as well and that had been done through the surgical incision under my breast and I found that that area was my most painful out of the whole thing. My wonderful breast care nurse had given me some extra dressings that I could pop under my mastectomy bra to act as a buffer and that was a most welcome relief. Overall I was totally surprised at how little pain I experienced. I was sent home on the Monday and had my first drain removed on the friday. My second drain decided to hang around a lot longer (would not reach prescribed drainage levels). My surgeon would not have the drain removed until it had reached 20 mls for two consecutive days and this was so that I did not develop a seroma (fluid filled area that needs to be drained by needle) she did not want to have to drain it as it is that much harder to do when there is an implant to worry about avoiding. During this time the site where the drain exited my chest became quite tender and I found that adding additional micropore tape (from the chemist) to stop the drain from swinging around was brilliant in reducing pain levels there. I used a U pillow from Kmart to help prop me up in bed and this pillow as well as the smaller zonta pillow (from breast care nurse or from the zonta organisation) assist in keeping you comfortable. I am currently at 10 months post surgery and my implant and surgery site are far better than I could have hoped for. I now have a super boob!!! and I will be looking to have surgery to match my remaining breast to my super boob as soon as my surgeon says its okay. You will do wonderfully, just remember to follow your exercises to ensure that your arm movement is not compromised. Wishing you all the best. Xx Cath
