Patients may be asked to donate blood prior to the breast implant procedure in case a transfusion later becomes necessary. It is important for the patient to tell the physician about all medications she may be taking to ensure that none of them will adversely interact with medications used during surgery.

Patients are typically asked to refrain from eating or drinking for eight to 12 hours prior to surgery. The patient should also abstain from smoking, which can delay healing time, and avoid taking certain vitamins or even aspirin for a period of time prior to surgery. The patient´s physician may provide additional instructions prior to the surgery. 

Breast augmentation and reconstruction are often performed on an outpatient basis, meaning that no overnight hospital stay will be required. The surgery is normally performed using general anesthesia (the patient is asleep during the procedure), but in certain cases it can be performed using local anesthesia (which numbs only the breast area). The entire procedure can be performed in an hour or it can take several hours, depending on the patient´s condition, implant choice and any other extenuating circumstances. If the reconstruction is occurring at the time of a patient's mastectomy, the surgery is not typically performed on an outpatient basis and is likely to take considerably longer.