What does having an intravenous line (IV) feel like?
You will most likely have an intravenous (IV) line started before your breast implant surgery. This will give you surgeon a means of administering drugs if needed. The line will usually be hooked up to a bag of saline (sterile salt water), which will keep you hydrated. Having an IV line started is very much like having blood drawn. It stings for a few seconds and usually does not hurt after that. After the needle is in the vein, it is withdrawn and a thin plastic tube called a catheter is left in the vein. The catheter is then taped down to your arm so that it can’t be knocked out accidentally. The most common site to insert an IV line is the inside of your elbow. Occasionally, the line is inserted into a vein in the back of your hand. Where the line is inserted depends on where you have the best veins. You may have a bruise at the site of the IV. Usually, the site does not hurt while you have the IV in. If you feel a lot of pain, tell the surgeon or staff.
