Breast Reduction Recovery Swelling

After breast reduction surgery, you will likely have a lot of swelling. This is completely normal and doctors recommend following a specific course of action to help reduce it. Learn more about the different types of swelling, what causes it and what to do about it! You can also read about underarm swelling after breast reduction and lymphatic swelling after breast reduction.

When the muscle and tissue repair, postoperative swelling will reach its peak in the first week following surgery. Although though swelling will start to go down by the end of the first week, it could take up to a year before you fully recover from your breast reduction operation.

Breast Reduction Recovery Swelling

HOW TO REDUCE SWELLING AFTER BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY

It can take up to 4 weeks to recover from a mammoplasty – or breast reduction – and postoperative swelling is perfectly normal as the tissue and muscle heals from the surgery.

Typically, any swelling will be at its worst a week after surgery, beginning to decrease after this point. It can take between 6 and 9 months to see full results from breast reduction surgery, so you may still experience some swelling during this time.

Swelling in other areas of the body such as the ribcage and even in your legs is also no cause for concern after mammoplasty, as gravity can cause swelling to move down your body.

You can reduce swelling after breast reduction surgery by:

DRINKING PLENTY OF FLUIDS

Hydration is essential following a breast reduction. Aim to drink a minimum of 2 litres of water per day to stay fully hydrated. You may find that using a measured bottle can help you to keep track of how much water you are drinking.

You may think that drinking more fluid will make any postoperative swelling worse, but it can help to reduce swelling by flushing out your system.

EATING A HEALTHY, VARIED DIET

Your body needs nutrients to heal. Good nutrition can help reduce postoperative swelling and bruising and boost tissue repair following a mammoplasty.

Ensure you eat a balanced diet which is rich in:

• Protein
• Fibre
• Complex carbohydrates
• Vitamins and minerals
• Iron

This will help repair damaged muscle and skin and also help to maintain an optimum fluid balance.

KEEPING ACTIVE

While you should avoid any strenuous activity after a breast reduction, you should aim to move your body each day after surgery, as this can help to reduce postoperative swelling, plus decrease the risk of developing blood clots.

Aim to take a gentle walk each day, then ask your surgeon for some recommended exercise following your procedure.

After a breast reduction you should completely avoid:

• Reaching above your head
• Lifting anything heavy

REDUCING THE SALT IN YOUR DIET

Salt causes your body to retain water, which can worsen swelling. Aim to keep your salt intake low by avoiding pre-prepared and processed food such as tinned soup and sauces, plus crisps and other savoury snacks.

Do not exclude salt from your diet completely, as this can lead you to develop a dangerous condition called hyponatremia.

MANAGING YOUR MEDICATION

Medication is essential to manage any pain or discomfort after surgery. The appropriate medication will be prescribed by your surgeon before you leave the clinic following your breast reduction.

Whilst taking pain medication, you must avoid taking any supplements which can interfere with the fluid balance in your body, including:

• Diuretics
• Garlic supplements
• Caffeine pills

It is perfectly normal to feel alarmed following a breast reduction, as any swelling may appear highly visible.

If you are concerned about the level of swelling you are experiencing after surgery, contact us at the clinic immediately. We will be more than happy to discuss your symptoms and provide additional aftercare tips and advice.

HOW TO REDUCE SWELLING AFTER BREAST REDUCTION

After your breast reduction surgery and for the first phase of healing, you will wear a padded surgical bra that provides a slight healthy compression and sufficient breast support. You will also be prescribed oral pain medication, effectively reducing or eliminating pain altogether. Within a few days of surgery, you will be able to resume light activity and within 2 weeks you will be able to resume all activities with a few caveats: take it slowly and gradually, don’t lift over your head, and refrain from strenuous activity. Full recovery typically requires 4 weeks.

SWELLING AFTER BREAST REDUCTION

Postoperative swelling will be at its peak in the first week after surgery as the tissue and muscle heals. Swelling will begin to subside toward the end of week 1, but it will likely be from 6 to 12 months before you see the full and final results of your breast reduction surgery. However, don’t take this to mean that throughout that time you will be severely limited in your activities and adventures: the majority of swelling will disappear in 7 to 10 days after surgery, and you will have returned to work in as few as 3 to 5 days and settled back into a normal routine within 2 to 4 weeks. In the first week of recovery, a handful of patients may experience swelling in their ribcage or legs, as gravity causes it to move downward. This, however, isn’t a danger and will clear up with time.

HOW TO REDUCE SWELLING AFTER BREAST REDUCTION

The rate of recovery and disappearance of swelling will vary from patient to patient. But for all patients, there are things she can do to reduce swelling and dramatically speed the healing process. They are:

•  Stay well hydrated after surgery. Drink 2 liters of water or more daily to help flush out your system.
• Stick to a healthy and varied diet. Nutrients from a healthy and well-balanced diet will help you reduce postoperative swelling and bruising. A diet rich in protein, fiber, and complex carbohydrates will go a long way toward giving your body the nutrients it needs to heal faster.
• Supplement with vitamins, minerals, and iron. Adding vitamins, minerals, and iron through supplements will help your body heal and reduce swelling even faster. While some swelling is the result of accumulated fluids, inflammation is also a natural physical response to injury, as free radicals work to neutralize foreign bodies. These free radicals play a key role in the body’s initial response to trauma but carried on too long they are a cause of inflammation. Supplements and antioxidants curb that overreaction.
• Aim for Antioxidants. Antioxidant-rich foods and vitamins give you what your body needs to heal faster. These include:
  • Fruits: Raspberries, Goji Berries, Strawberries, Blueberries, Purple or Red Grapes, and Dates
  • Vegetables: Artichoke, Kale, Red Cabbage, Beets, Spinach, Carrots, and Sweet Potatoes.
  • Nuts: Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds, and Pine Nuts
• Stay safely active. After surgery, plenty of rest will be necessary and welcome. When you feel comfortable with it, within about 48 hours of surgery, move frequently each new day with light exercises that you can tolerate without reaching above your head or doing any heavy lifting. A light walk is perfect and should be done at least once daily to stimulate healthy blood circulation. 
• Don’t reach or lift above your head. While exercising lightly and going about your daily routines, don’t lift anything heavy and don’t reach or stretch your arms above your head. These are things you should initially avoid altogether and will ease into as recovery progresses

Underarm Swelling After Breast Reduction

When the muscle and tissue repair, postoperative swelling will reach its peak in the first week following surgery. Although though swelling will start to go down by the end of the first week, it could take up to a year before you fully recover from your breast reduction operation. However, don’t interpret this to mean that you will be severely constrained in your activities and adventures during that time; the majority of the swelling will go down in 7 to 10 days following surgery, you’ll be back at work in as little as 3 to 5 days, and you’ll be back to your normal routine in 2 to 4 weeks. A small number of patients may suffer swelling in their legs or ribs during the first week of recovery because gravity forces the swelling to go downward. But this isn’t dangerous and it will go away eventually.

Lymphatic Swelling After Breast Reduction

Secondary lymphedema may develop in patients who have had a mastectomy, lumpectomy, modified radical mastectomy, or radiation therapy to an area with lymph nodes.

If the procedure is carried out improperly, the problem is also prone to develop after breast augmentation or reduction surgery. It could appear right away following surgery or years later. If you notice any little swelling in the first few weeks after surgery, don’t be frightened. This is typical.