Preparing for surgery involves many details, and packing is one that you can complete well in advance. A clear checklist reduces the number of decisions you need to make in the days before your procedure. It also gives you more time to rest, to ask your care team questions, and to arrange help at home.
This guide is written for people planning breast or chest surgery, including mastectomy, lumpectomy, reconstruction, augmentation, reduction, lift, and explant procedures. It covers what to bring to the hospital or surgery center, what to wear home, and what to set up at your residence before you return. Each section can be used as its own checklist, and the final section combines everything into one list for the night before surgery.
Your surgeon and care team provide the instructions that apply to your specific procedure. Use this guide to organize your preparation, and confirm any item you are unsure about with your care team before surgery day.
When to Start Preparing
Starting early divides preparation into smaller groups of tasks, so each day has a manageable number of items. A simple timeline can help you decide what to do and when.
Two weeks before surgery
- Confirm your surgery date, arrival time, and location.
- Ask your care team for written pre-operative instructions, including guidance on eating, drinking, and medications.
- Arrange a driver for surgery day and a support person for the first few days at home.
- Request time off work and arrange childcare or pet care if needed.
- Order or purchase recovery clothing and sleep support, so they arrive before you need them. Wash new garments according to their care labels, so they are clean and ready to wear when you return.
One week before surgery
- Complete any pre-operative appointments, lab work, or imaging.
- Wash and put away clean laundry, including the clothing you plan to wear after surgery.
- Stock your kitchen with simple foods and plenty of fluids that are easy to prepare.
- Set up the area where you will rest at home.
Two to three days before surgery
- Pack your hospital bag.
- Charge your phone and any other devices, and pack the chargers.
- Fill any prescriptions your care team sent in advance.
- Confirm your ride and your arrival time.
The night before surgery
- Shower using the products your care team recommended.
- Lay out the clothing you will wear to the facility.
- Set an alarm for the morning and confirm the time you plan to leave.
- Place your bag, documents, and keys by the door.
Documents, Medications, and Logistics to Bring
Administrative items are easy to overlook, and they are often the first things the admitting staff request. Keep these in one folder or one section of your bag.
Documents and identification
- Government-issued photo identification
- Insurance card and any pharmacy benefit card
- A written list of your current medications, including doses and supplements
- A list of known allergies
- Contact information for your support person and your surgeon's office
- Any forms your care team asked you to complete before arrival
- A copy of advance directives, if you have them
Medications and instructions
- Bring only the medications your care team tells you to bring. Many facilities provide medications during your stay, and some ask that you leave personal supplies at home.
- Bring written discharge or recovery instructions you received before surgery, so you can compare them with the paperwork you receive afterward.
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Write down your questions in advance. Questions about activity limits, driving, showering, drain care, and follow-up appointments are common.
Logistics
- Confirm who is driving you home. Most facilities require a responsible adult to accompany you after anesthesia.
- Confirm where your support person should park and where they can wait.
- Print or save the facility's directions, parking information, and phone number.
- Leave jewelry, valuables, and large amounts of cash at home. Remove piercings and nail polish if your facility requests it.
What to Wear: Clothing for Surgery Day and the Ride Home
Clothing is the part of packing that affects your comfort most during the first days of recovery. After breast or chest surgery, raising your arms above your shoulders, reaching behind your back, and pulling garments over your head can be difficult or restricted. Choose items that you can put on and remove with minimal arm movement.
For the trip to the facility
- A loose, button-front or zip-front top
- Soft pants with an elastic or drawstring waistband
- Slip-on shoes that do not require bending or tying
- A light jacket or blanket, since many facilities are cool
For the ride home
- A top that opens down the front and is one size larger than usual, so it fits over bandages and dressings
- A seat belt pillow to place between your chest and the seat belt, if your care team approves
- A recovery bra, if your surgeon has recommended one
What to look for in a post-surgical recovery bra
A recovery bra is a garment designed to support healing tissue and manage swelling. It differs from a regular bra in several ways that matter after surgery. Whichever brand you choose, review these features:
- Front closure. A front closure allows you to put the bra on and take it off without reaching behind your back, which is often restricted after surgery. It also allows you to dress while sitting or lying down.
- No underwire. Rigid structures can press on incisions and healing tissue. A recovery bra with no underwire avoids this pressure and allows the garment to conform to a changing chest.
- Fabric blend. A blend such as 95% nylon and 5% spandex provides stretch for comfort and holds its shape through repeated wear and washing.
- Breathable, moisture-wicking fabric. Fabric that moves moisture away from the skin helps keep the area dry during long periods of wear, including overnight.
- Wide, adjustable straps. Wide straps spread pressure across the shoulders, and adjustability allows you to change the fit as your body changes.
- Seams and edges. Soft seams and smooth edges reduce rubbing against incisions and sensitive skin.
heart&core designs its recovery bras around these features
Our bras use a 95% nylon and 5% spandex blend, a breathable and moisture-wicking fabric, a front closure, wide adjustable straps, and no underwire. These construction choices are intended to keep the garment comfortable during the extended periods of wear that are often part of recovery.
Before surgery, review the sizing guidance and compare it with your current measurements. Ask your surgeon which style and compression level suit your procedure, and try the garment on before surgery day if the return policy allows, so you can confirm the fit before swelling begins.
What to pack as a second change of clothes
- A second loose top that opens at the front
- Soft, wide-waisted underwear or pants that do not press on the abdomen
- Warm socks with grip soles for walking in the hallway
Planning for Drain Management at Home
Some breast and chest procedures use surgical drains, which are small tubes that collect fluid from the surgical site into a bulb or container. Your care team will tell you whether you should expect drains and for how long. If you do, plan for them before surgery.
Items that help with drains
- A soft lanyard or a drain belt to hold the bulbs against your body while you walk or sleep
- Safety pins, if your care team approves them, for attaching drain bulbs to clothing
- A small notebook and pen for recording the amount of fluid each time you empty the drain, as your care team instructs
- Gloves or hand sanitizer, if your care team recommends them
- A measuring cup provided by your care team
- The Larissa Bra, made specifically for drain management during breast surgery recovery
Some recovery bras include features for drain management. The Larissa Bra from heart&core has drain tabs built around the Prody Drainage Bulb Holder, which hold drain bulbs in place without pulling on the tubes. It uses the same 95% nylon and 5% spandex blend and a wide, flat band for comfort during extended wear, and it includes internal pockets.
SHOP LARISSA
After drains are removed, the Serena Bra from heart&core is designed for the later stage of recovery, with the same fabric and closure construction as the Larissa Bra. Your care team will advise you on when to change garments. Both garments are intended for extended wear, including overnight, and both pair with the loose, front-opening clothing described earlier in this guide, since neither requires pulling anything over your head.
Mobility considerations
- Place frequently used items between waist and shoulder height, so you avoid reaching overhead or bending low.
- Prepare a clear walking path from your bed to the bathroom, with good lighting and no loose rugs.
- Ask about activity limits, including lifting, driving, and arm movement.
- Plan for assistance with showering, dressing, and meals during the first days.
Short, regular walks are often encouraged during recovery to support circulation, and your care team will tell you how much activity is appropriate for your procedure.
SHOP SERENA
Planning for Swelling and Changes in Size
Swelling is an expected part of recovery, and it changes from day to day. Many people notice that their chest feels fuller, tighter, or more sensitive in the first days after surgery, and that the sensation shifts over the following weeks. Swelling can also change throughout a single day and is often most noticeable in the evening.
Because of this, the bra that fits well on surgery day may fit differently a week later. Planning for this variation before surgery helps you avoid buying a replacement during recovery.
Practical ways to plan for size changes
- Choose clothing and garments with adjustable features, not fixed sizing.
- Ask your care team how much swelling to expect and for how long.
- Check the sizing guide, and use the measurements your surgeon recommends.
- Record your band, bust, and weight measurements before surgery, so you can compare them as swelling changes.
- Avoid garments that leave deep marks, cause numbness, or make breathing uncomfortable, and report these signs promptly.
Some people also experience changes in body weight around the time of surgery, including those who have lost or gained weight recently or who are using medications that affect weight. Size changes of this kind can affect how a garment fits throughout recovery. The Shirl Bra from heart&core uses a double-zipper closure, which allows you to adjust the fit from the top and from the bottom as your size changes. This design accommodates both short-term swelling and gradual weight-related changes, so one garment can remain comfortable across a wider range of sizes.
The Shirl Bra also has a front closure, so you can put it on and remove it without raising your arms overhead. Together with wide adjustable straps, the double-zipper closure allows you to fine-tune the fit at the chest and at the lower band while you are seated or lying down, which is helpful when movement is limited.
Choosing one garment that adjusts in several ways can reduce the number of replacement purchases during recovery. It uses the same 95% nylon and 5% spandex blend, with a breathable, moisture-wicking finish and no underwire, so the fit can change without changing the comfort of the fabric against healing skin.
SHOP SHIRL
Comfort Items and Home Recovery Setup
A recovery space prepared before surgery allows you to rest without needing to rearrange items or ask for help each time you need something.
Sleeping and resting
- A post-surgical pillow to keep your upper body slightly raised, if your care team recommends sleeping on your back
- A soft blanket and a lightweight throw for changes in temperature
- A bedside table within easy reach
Skin and hygiene
- Fragrance-free soap and moisturizer approved by your care team
- Soft, clean towels
- A handheld shower head or a shower chair, if standing for long periods is difficult
- Dry shampoo or a wipes pack for days when showering is restricted
- Clean washcloths for sponge bathing, if showering is restricted
Recovery garment care
- Wash recovery garments by hand or on a gentle cycle in a lingerie bag, using mild, fragrance-free soap.
- Skip fabric softener, which can coat elastic fibers and reduce their stretch.
- Air dry garments flat or hanging, since high dryer heat can damage elastic fabric.
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Keep the care label from each garment in a place you can find easily.
Food and hydration
- A nutritional surgery supplement designed specifically to support tissue healing after surgery
- Water bottles with straws, which are easier to use when lifting your arms is limited
- Simple, nutritious foods that you can prepare or heat with one hand
- Fiber-rich foods and plenty of fluids, since pain medications can cause constipation
Entertainment and organization
- A long phone charging cable that reaches your bed or chair
- Books, audiobooks, shows, or podcasts that you can enjoy with limited energy
- A written medication schedule and a timer or phone alarms for dose times
- A list of phone numbers for your care team and your support person
Support at home
- Arrange for someone to stay with you for the first day or two, or longer if your care team recommends it.
- Ask a friend or family member to coordinate meals.
- Prepare a short list of tasks for visitors who offer to help.
Paying for Recovery Items: FSA and HSA Eligibility
Recovery items can represent a significant cost before and after surgery, and many people prefer to use pre-tax health funds for qualifying purchases. A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) may cover certain medical garments and supplies.
Questions to ask your plan administrator
- Which items qualify for reimbursement under your plan?
- Does a garment require a prescription or a letter of medical necessity?
- What documentation is needed for submitting a claim?
- Is there a deadline for using remaining funds in your plan year?
Because FSA and HSA rules vary by plan, confirm eligibility with your administrator before purchasing, and keep your receipts.
heart&core's recovery bras, including the Shirl, Larissa, and Serena, are FSA and HSA eligible, which means you may be able to use those funds for the garment you purchase before surgery.
The bras are certified as eligible through the IIAS system, which many plan administrators use to identify qualifying purchases. Keep your order confirmation, itemized receipt, and any prescription or letter of medical necessity with your other claim documents.
If your surgery date falls near the end of the plan year, review your account balance in advance. Funds from an FSA may expire at the end of the year, and surgery-related expenses can be planned around that date.
The Complete Night-Before Checklist
Use this list for a final review. Check each item as you place it in your bag or complete it.
Bag contents
- Photo identification, insurance card, and pharmacy card
- Medication list and allergy list
- Pre-operative instructions and your list of questions
- Loose, front-opening top and soft pants
- Slip-on shoes and warm socks
- Recovery bra with a front closure, wide adjustable straps, and no underwire, if your surgeon has recommended one
- Seat belt pillow for the car ride
- Phone, long charging cable, and portable battery
- Lip balm and a hair tie
- Glasses, dentures case, or hearing aid case, if needed
- Notebook and pen
Tasks to complete
- Follow your fasting instructions
- Shower as directed
- Remove jewelry, nail polish, and contact lenses, as requested by your facility
- Confirm your ride and arrival time
- Prepare your recovery space at home
- Rest
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I pack for surgery at a hospital or surgery center?
Pack your identification, insurance information, medication and allergy lists, loose clothing that opens at the front, slip-on shoes, a phone charger, and any written instructions from your care team. If you are staying overnight, add toiletries, warm socks, and a second change of clothing. Ask your facility whether it provides items such as gowns and slippers.
When should I start packing?
Begin two weeks before surgery by gathering documents and ordering supplies. Pack your bag two to three days before the procedure, and complete the final checklist the night before.
What should I wear home after breast or chest surgery?
Wear a loose top that fits over dressings and does not require lifting your arms. Pair it with soft pants and slip-on shoes. If your surgeon has recommended a recovery bra, wear it as directed.
Should I buy a recovery bra before surgery?
Many people purchase one before surgery so it is ready when they return home. Your surgeon can advise which style, closure, and compression level are appropriate for your procedure, and the manufacturer's return policy will tell you whether you can exchange it.
How many recovery bras do I need?
Most people find that two work well, so one can be worn while the other is washed. Your surgeon may recommend a different number based on your procedure.
What is the difference between the Shirl, Larissa, and Serena bras from heart&core?
All three use a 95% nylon and 5% spandex blend and have a front closure and no underwire. The Shirl Bra has a double-zipper closure for changes in size. The Larissa Bra has drain tabs built around the Prody Drainage Bulb Holder. The Serena Bra is designed for recovery after drains are removed.
Are recovery bras eligible for FSA or HSA funds?
Eligibility depends on the garment and on your plan. heart&core's recovery bras are FSA and HSA eligible, and your plan administrator can confirm what documentation your plan requires.
What if my size changes during recovery?
Swelling and weight changes can affect fit. Choose garments with adjustable straps and closures, and contact your care team if a garment becomes uncomfortable or leaves deep marks.
What should I leave at home?
Leave jewelry, large amounts of cash, and valuables at home. Bring only the medications your care team instructs you to bring.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always follow the instructions provided by your surgeon and care team regarding preparation, fasting, medications, garments, and recovery for your specific procedure.
Individual recovery experiences and needs vary. The items and recommendations in this guide are general suggestions, and product or garment choices should be made in consultation with your healthcare providers. Confirm FSA and HSA eligibility, documentation requirements, and deadlines with your plan administrator before making a purchase.
