Urinary Catheter for breast augmentation- is it standard?

We use a urinate catheter in long cases we perform. Breast augmentation takes about an hour and a catheter should not be necessary. Oral intake should be discussed with your surgeon whom I’m sure has a standard protocol fir this.

We make all of our patients NPO after midnight because the surgery schedule is not set in stone.  If I get 2 hours ahead of schedule I might call the last breast augmentation of the day and ask them to come in early so I don't have to change 6 patient times.  If that patient was NPO for 4 hours for her planned procedure time she would not be able to move.  A catheter is not necessary for this procedure unless you have had problems voiding at previous surgeries.  Urinating is one of the discharge criteria. A laryngeal mask airway can be used instead of an endotracheal tube, so really all you need is noninvasive monitoring and an IV

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. 
Typically, urinary catheters are reserved to surgical procedure that extend beyond 4 hours. It will be dependent on the surgeon's preferences along with his/her anesthesiologist. Most patients will be NPO for 8 hours prior to surgery. 
Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss their particular protocol. I hope this helps. Best of luck!

Hello and thank you for your question.  I try not to insert urinary catheters when I'm placing breast implants (with or without a breast lift) because they increase the risk of infection.  All my patients are NPO for 8 hours but can have sips of water as needed, with morning medications for example.  When you consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery, be sure your surgeon addresses all your concerns and discusses the surgery details including the position and size of the incision used, the type of breast implants available, the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative course.  Also, be sure to see plenty of before-and-after pictures in women who have a similar breast appearance to yours, and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc) to more accurately predict your own surgical outcome. 
And lastly, I think the most important component of the consultation is to establish a good connection with your plastic surgeon.  It’s the connection that allows you to clearly define your desired breast outcome goals, the first step of this whole process. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you.  

For more information on breast augmentation, please refer to my link below.

Good luck.  

Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH, FACS

Harvard-trained Board Certified Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question. Generally, catheters not needed for breast augmentation procedure as these are typically a couple hours in length. For longer operations, it is helpful/comfortable for the patient to have and so the surgeon/anesthesiologist don't get wet.

Hello! A Urinary catheter for a breast augmentation and lift is not required. I do not use this for my surgical patients as the surgery length is not long enough to benefit or warrant a catheter. Every surgeon has their own pre and post operative protocols it is extremely important to follow yours surgeons instructions. NPO 12 hours before surgery time is pretty standard. The NPO policy is important because patients who have full stomachs are at risk for getting food or liquid in their lungs during anesthesia or sedation. This could cause pneumonia or other serious health problems. Best of luck in your journey. 

Hello and thank you for your question. Breast augmentation alone is a short surgery and therefore no catheter is needed. Breast lift combined with implants is relatively longer and can last up to 3 hours. I don't place urinary catheters for this procedure, but if your surgeon thinks it would take him/her more than 3 hours to perform a breast lift combined with implants, they will likely use a catheter, which is fine. You should discuss these concerns with your surgeon. Best,

Pejman Aflaki, M.D.

Johns Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

Thank you for your question. You do not need a urinary catheter for a breast augmentation. Pre- operative instructions may vary from surgeon to surgeon. Be sure to check with your board certified plastic surgeon and follow all of their instructions.

Dear anchor611,
every plastic surgeon has his own preoperative protocol, which he recommends to his patients. The use of catheter and NPO should be discussed with your plastic surgeon and anesthesiologist. Generally speaking, if the surgery is expected to last for several hours, catheter should be used. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for sharing your question.  Catheter use depends on the surgeon and the anesthesiologist working your case.  Depending on the situation catheters are often recommended for cases exceeding 3-4 hours.  Most patients are NPO for at least 8 hours prior to surgery and this includes water, but again this will vary by facility and type of procedure.  Hope this helps.