Device implant preparation

SECTION 4

Incision care and recovery

Your recovery instructions depend on whether your device was implanted in the chest or through a vein in the groin.

After a chest implant

Some soreness, mild swelling, and bruising around the incision are common. These should gradually improve.

Your incision is covered with surgical glue, which forms a protective barrier to help keep it clean and reduce the risk of infection.

Do not pick, peel, or remove the glue. It will fall off naturally over the next few weeks. Do not apply creams, ointments, or powders over it.

You may shower 24 hours after surgery. Gently wash the area without scrubbing the incision, then pat it dry.

Avoid bathtubs, swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas for four weeks.

Protect the implant area for four weeks

Do not lift more than 10 pounds with the arm on the implant side. Avoid golf, pickleball, strenuous exercise, and forceful pushing or pulling with that arm for four weeks.

Gentle walking and light daily activities are encouraged. Move your arm gently within your care team’s instructions; you do not need to keep it completely still.

After a leadless pacemaker

Recovery focuses on the groin access site. Some bruising and mild tenderness may occur.

For the first seven days, avoid exercise, sports, heavy lifting, and straining. You may stand, sit, and take gentle walks.

You may shower 24 hours after the procedure. Gently wash the area and pat it dry.

You may swim or use a bathtub, hot tub, or spa seven days after the procedure, provided the groin site is closed and healing well, with no drainage.

Pain control

Most patients have mild soreness and should not need strong prescription painkillers. Ask your doctor whether you can take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen for discomfort. Your doctor will recommend the safest option based on your medicines and health conditions.

Medicines and driving

Take your medicines as prescribed.

For both chest implants and leadless pacemakers, do not drive for 48 hours after the procedure. You may resume driving after 48 hours if you feel well and are not taking medicines that impair alertness.

If you have had fainting, a dangerous heart rhythm, or an ICD shock, your doctor may give you a longer driving restriction.

Watch for changes

Contact your care team promptly for increasing redness, warmth, drainage, fever, worsening pain, an opening incision, or increasing swelling around the device.

Rapidly enlarging swelling or bleeding that does not stop needs urgent assessment. Call 911 for heavy bleeding, fainting, severe chest pain, or sudden shortness of breath.