Yes and not just because of anesthesia. You can’t lift anything for a long time and will need a pillow between the seat belt (passenger side) and yourself. You will be sore and stiff in the upper body in the sense that it will be hard for you to turn or get up into and out of the car. Absolute must to have help!

Yes, you will need to arrange for someone to give you a ride home from the hospital. If you are having a mastectomy, with or without reconstructive surgery, you won't be able to drive safely for at least 2-3 weeks, perhaps longer if you have a more detailed reconstruction surgery such as DIEP surgery. I'm not sure how long you are supposed to wait after a lumpectomy until it is safe for you to drive without doing any damage to the surgical site(s).

All hospitals and surgical centers require patients to have a ride home after surgery if the patient has been put under any sort of general or IV anesthesia for their surgery. This includes if you stay in the hospital for any length of time after your surgery before you are discharged. If you are only having a minor procedure done, like a biopsy, using a local numbing agent like lidocaine you are typically allowed to drive yourself home.

Lumpectomy surgery was out-patient and off only 3 days from work. Double mastectomy had me in the hospital 2 1/2 days and 2 1/2 months recovery before I started chemotherapy.