This week has been a big one for you, as you’ve made the leap from the waiting room to recovery. Your breast reduction surgery is complete, and you’re on your way to having a new body image. While you may still be a little tired and sore, most of your discomfort is due to your drains (or scar-tissue removal) and should fade after a few days or weeks. Here are a few things to know and watch out for as you move through this time. In this exposition, we’ll also examine breast reduction after one month and breast reduction one week post op.
You will typically experience some soreness in your breasts and across the sides of your chest for the first week following surgery. Some folks only experience pain. The drugs your doctor ordered should be able to easily manage this pain, and it should get a bit better each day.
Breast Reduction Photos After One Week
Breast Reduction Recovery
Personalized details about how to navigate your breast reduction recovery will be discussed with you in detail prior to your surgery. During the recovery process, your breast reduction surgeon will be in close contact with you to ensure you remain comfortable and are healing well. Dr. Neil Zemmel and Dr. Karishma Reddy put a high value on this communication, as it allows patients to rest easy and focus on their recovery. Learn what you can expect during the recovery period after breast reduction surgery by visiting the sections below. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Breast Reduction Recovery Week by Week
How Long Does It Take to Recover from Breast Reduction?
The recovery after breast reduction can take about two to six weeks, depending on the details of your surgery. This process occurs over multiple stages, as you gradually feel more like yourself and can resume your normal activities.
What Is the Recovery Timeline from Breast Reduction Surgery?
Dr. Zemmel and Dr. Reddy are very thorough in helping patients understand what to expect during the recovery from reduction surgery, and they are available to answer any questions that may arise throughout the healing process.
1 to 3 Days After Surgery
Immediately after your breast reduction procedure, you will mostly likely be admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay, so our nurses and doctor can maintain close observation over your recovery. Any post-operative pain is typically well-tolerated with intravenous medicines, and should you need it, additional medication can be provided to help with nausea. The following morning, members of the surgical team will meet with you to change your bandages. Once you are ready, you will be discharged to go home.
Though resting is essential throughout the course of your recovery from breast reduction, you will also need to frequently move around to facilitate healing. After about two or three days post-surgery, you can begin to perform light daily activities, including showering.
1 to 2 Weeks After Surgery
During your first week after surgery, you will have more post-operative care instructions to follow, such as getting more rest and avoiding driving. You can expect your breasts to feel tight and swollen for about one week – many women compare this feeling to when their bodies start producing milk for breastfeeding. Throughout this time, you should not have too many issues moving around.
After this first week, patients tend to have less discomfort and should incorporate more activity into their day, though strenuous activities should still be avoided. By the second week, you should feel even more like yourself, and soreness should begin to resolve. The majority of patients take anywhere from 10-14 days off from work so they can relax and focus on recovery.
3 to 4 Weeks After Surgery
Most activities can be resumed by this point. As the swelling continues to go down and your body heals, you can begin to notice your beautiful breast reduction results taking shape.
By the three- to four-week mark, your swelling should be significantly reduced, and most activities can typically be resumed. At this point, your final breast reduction results should become more apparent.
4 to 6 Weeks After Surgery
After your fourth week of recovery, you will most likely be able to resume all exercise. While most of the breast reduction recovery happens over these first four to six weeks, keep in mind that residual swelling can last for about three to four months. Your breast reduction scars can take about six months to a year to fully heal, during which time they will gradually lighten in color and flatten.
Breast Reduction Recovery Tips
As you recover from your breast reduction, it is important that you follow your surgeon’s post-operative care instructions as closely as possible. This not only ensures you obtain optimal results, but also reduces the risk for potential complications as your body heals. In addition, by following the tips below, you can expect a smoother, more comfortable recovery.
- Rest as needed, but don’t be afraid to move around. Try to walk around and resume lighter activities after the first few days. This helps encourage your body to heal.
- Get help from a friend or family member for the first two to three days. You will most likely be sore at this point in your recovery, and additional help can make relaxing much easier.
- Take pain medications if you need them. Some discomfort is normal as your body begins to heal, but don’t suffer if you don’t need to.
- Don’t drive yourself for the first week or two if possible. It may take some time for your anesthesia to completely wear off. In the following days, the act of driving, as well as the seatbelt across your chest area, may cause discomfort.
- Refrain from smoking and other tobacco products, as these are known to complicate the body’s ability to heal.
Common Problems After Breast Reduction Surgery
How Do I Clean My Breast Reduction Wounds?
Keeping your incisions clean after breast reduction surgery is important for your healing and final results. You will be instructed to gently clean your incisions with mild soap and keep the area dry. No lotions or creams should be used, as this can cause inflammation. To help reduce your risk of infection, you may be prescribed antibiotics.
How Do I Shower After Breast Reduction Surgery?
Patients can typically resume showering after two to three days. Before this period, you can take a sponge bath but should avoid washing your incisions, as well as washing your hair since this can put stress on your incisions as the skin is pulled. When you are ready to shower, your surgical bra can be removed, but it should be worn the rest of the time. When you shower, you can gently wash your breasts and incision sites, unless you are instructed otherwise by Dr. Zemmel or Dr. Reddy.
During your first few showers, you may feel slightly lightheaded, so it can be helpful to have someone help you or to have a shower stool available for sitting. When drying off after your shower, make sure not to rub your incisions, but to instead pat dry and let them air dry the rest of the way. You should avoid soaking in baths, hot tubs, and pools for at least two weeks, as these can expose your wounds to bacteria and increase your risk of infection.
What Bra Should I Wear After Breast Reduction Surgery?
After your breast reduction surgery, you will need to wear a surgical bra or compression garment for approximately six weeks. As noted above, this can be removed while showering, but it should be worn the rest of the day and night. Once this six-week period is over, you can wear regular bras again, as long as they do not have an underwire. Underwire bras can be worn after about three months. This is because the skin under your breast can be irritated by the underwire as you are in your initial recovery.
How Should I Sleep After Breast Reduction Surgery?
You should keep your torso elevated when you sleep after breast reduction surgery to reduce the amount of pressure around the breasts. This position can be uncomfortable, though, so Dr. Zemmel or Dr. Reddy may prescribe medication to help you sleep. To ensure you stay in this position throughout the night, it can help to put a cushion under your knees and by your sides.
How Can I Reduce Swelling After My Breast Reduction?
Swelling is a normal part of the recovery after breast reduction surgery, which is an inflammatory reaction from your body due to injury. To help control the swelling that occurs, you should wear compression garments at the beginning of your recovery, which help support your breasts. Light activity and elevating your upper body while you sleep can also help facilitate healing. You should stay hydrated and follow a low-sodium diet, as well. Most swelling subsides within three to four weeks after surgery, but minor swelling can last up four months. Should you have severe swelling, please contact your surgeon as this may indicate a problem has occurred, such as infection.
When Can I Drive After Breast Reduction Surgery?
Most patients feel comfortable enough to drive after about one week from their breast reduction procedure. At this point the act of driving a vehicle and wearing a seatbelt across the chest is more comfortable. That said, you should avoid driving altogether until you have finished taking prescription pain medications.
How Soon Can I Exercise After Breast Reduction Surgery?
Rigorous exercise that engages the pectoral muscles should be avoided for at least four weeks. Walking, doing lower body exercises, and performing light non-impact aerobics may all be safe for you to do, but you should avoid using heavy weights and doing vigorous cardio for four to six weeks. By exercising too hard too fast, you can cause your incisions to separate or bleed, which can increase the risk of scarring. Once you are cleared to exercise, you should wear a quality sports bra.
How Much Time Will I Need off Work for My Breast Reduction?
Most patients with an office-based job take 10-14 days off from work to recover from their breast reduction surgery. This allows them enough time to focus on relaxing, managing any discomfort, and reducing post-operative swelling. After these first couple weeks, you should be able to drive yourself to work and feel more comfortable completing day-to-day tasks. If your job requires more strenuous activities, such as lifting heavy objects, you may need to take additional time off to allow for adequate healing time.
How Soon After Breast Reduction Surgery Can I Get Pregnant?
Although it is typically recommended for patients to wait to get cosmetic breast surgery until after completing their family, Dr. Zemmel and Dr. Reddy understand that procedures like breast reduction surgery can significantly improve a woman’s quality of life before they consider having children. Should you wish to conceive after reduction surgery, they recommend waiting at least three months post-surgery before trying to get pregnant. This allows internal and external sutures to properly heal and reduces the risk of potential complications.
If you are considering future pregnancies around the time of your breast reduction consultation, you should explain this to your plastic surgeon, so they can provide you with realistic expectations of how this may affect your long-term breast reduction results. This initial communication also ensures they can customize your surgical plan to minimize any contact with the nerves and milk ducts.
Breast Reduction After One Month
While everyone’s breast reduction recovery time is different, most women report that their breasts feel more natural and supple within a month or two following surgery. This indicates that your body is repairing properly and responding to the alterations brought about by the operation. Over time, patients may find that their breasts feel less bloated and more comfortable.
Edema, however, might persist for up to a year following breast reduction. Swelling brought on by an accumulation of fluid in the tissues of the body is known medically as edema. The operation puts stress on the breast tissue, which might lead to edema after breast reduction surgery. Although the majority of patients will see their swelling go down within a few months after surgery, a small percentage may deal with persistent edema for much longer.
Patients undergoing breast reduction surgery should carefully follow their surgeon’s post-operative care recommendations to minimize swelling and speed the healing process. Possible remedies for edema include the use of a compression garment, the administration of prescribed medicine, and the avoidance of physically demanding activities. In addition, having gentle massage treatments and scheduling frequent follow-up appointments with the surgeon can assist in tracking the healing process and addressing any issues that may come up.
The goal of lymphatic drainage treatment is to improve lymphatic circulation and decrease edema in certain patient populations. After breast reduction surgery, this specific massage method can aid in pain management and general recovery. During recovery, patients should be forthright with their doctors about any issues they’re having.
Be patient and let the body recover completely; even if the breasts could look soft and natural a month or two after surgery, you must be patient. After breast reduction surgery, patients may anticipate a speedy recovery and the best possible results if they follow all post-operative care instructions to the letter and stay in close communication with their doctor.
Breast Reduction One Week Post Op
Anxiety and discomfort are frequent for the first two to three weeks after surgery. This is a natural result of your body’s healing after the shock of surgery. In addition, you may be experiencing tugging or straining of the skin around your breasts right now. As you recover, this will go away because of changes in the internal tissues.
Remember that getting healthy takes time, and it’s normal to feel some discomfort while you wait. You may need pain medication for the first two weeks, but you should gradually feel stronger and healthier. Following your surgeon’s postoperative recommendations to the letter will result in a quick recovery.
In addition to weariness and weakness, frequent post-operative side effects include localized bruising, edema, and numbness at the surgery site. These symptoms will not linger forever, and they will most likely subside as your body recovers. Do not push yourself too hard until you have fully healed; instead, allow yourself time to rest and recuperate.
It’s vital to be kind with yourself and listen to your body when you’re healing. You may heal quickly and easily after surgery if you take care of yourself and follow your therapist’s advice. Remember that feeling uncomfortable is normal and will pass. You can expect to feel better and stronger as you recover from the appropriate treatment.
