Hi, I’m [name].

I’m a nurse and mother of three. I have been overweight my entire life and have been struggling with it for more than 20 years.

I’ve always known that losing weight would be the key to living a healthier lifestyle and being able to keep up with my kids, but I also knew that it would be hard work.

I started by tracking my food consumption, counting calories, and weighing myself every day. It was just too much work!

I tried many other diets and exercise regimens over the years, but nothing worked for me long term.

My doctor recommended breast reduction surgery after many years of fighting off infections in my chest from having large breasts (a result of carrying around so much weight).

When I saw how well this surgery changed my health and confidence levels, I decided to become an advocate for breast reduction surgery as one way people can start down the path of achieving better health and happiness through weight loss rather than dieting alone

1 week post breast reduction

NIGHT AFTER SURGERY

Temporary bruising, swelling and numbness are common the first night after surgery.  You may need to go to the bathroom frequently during the night because of the IV fluids you were given during your surgery. Drink a lot of fluids in order to keep up with this fluid loss. As your body begins to balance itself out, it will rid itself of this extra “water weight and everything will return back to normal. You should leave all of your bandages intact overnight including your Bra and elastic ACE wrap.

ONE DAY AFTER SURGERY

The next morning following your surgery, you will return to Dr Motykie’s office for your first post-operative visit. You should leave all bandages and dressings intact overnight and until you reach the office the following morning.  Upon arrival to the office you will be escorted to a private examination room where your dressings will be changed and your operative sites will be evaluated. After your examination, you will be placed back into your surgical brassiere and ACE compression wrap and you will be allowed to return back to your home. All of your questions will be answered and you will be given instructions for the following week that will include the following:

You may feel tired and sore for several days following the surgery.  Your breasts will be swollen and tender. You may also experience a feeling of “tightness” in the chest area. The sensation/feeling in the areolas/nipples may also be diminished the immediate post-operative period and may take several months to return to normal. Specific instructions regarding exercise, bras, compression bandages/garments will also be provided. Strenuous activity, particularly utilizing the chest and arms, will be restricted for the first few weeks after surgery. You will most likely be able to return to work within a few days depending on your job. Patients may shower the next day after surgery with care taken to not soak the sticky tapes over the incisions. Aerobic and impact cardio exercise should be avoided for one to two weeks post-operatively. Weight lifting should be avoided for 3-4 weeks post-operatively and chest exercise should not begin until 4 weeks post-operatively. The resumption of and amount of physical /athletic activity should be guided by the level of patient discomfort with “pain” being the ultimate guide. Any excessive inflammation can lead to an increased risk of scar tissue formation and eventual capsular contracture that can be fraught with numerous chronic problems.

ONE WEEK AFTER SURGERY

The results of your surgery will typically be obscured by swelling and bruising at one week after surgery. In fact, you may even notice during the first week or two after your surgery that your breast appear slightly “too large”. Do not be alarmed, this is completely normal and is due to swelling from the surgery. If the breasts were the perfect size immediately after surgery, they would most likely end up being too small after the swelling resolves.  Some people can return to work after a few days and some after one week. Most patients can drive their vehicles within a few days after surgery, but plan on having someone drive you to your first few post-operative visits anyway. In regards to an exercise program, use common sense and use pain as your guide; if it hurts, simply don’t do it!  The majority of patients are allowed to return to light, low impact cardiovascular exercise after the first week of recovery.

During this time period, there may be some moderate pain, but it can typically be treated with your prescription pain medications. You may want to wear an athletic or support bra until the swelling has subsided (Bra information). You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort during this time, but such feelings are normal. Heavy lifting or straining should be avoided after surgery because this can cause the breasts to swell and increase pressure. You can typically return to work within a week and to full activity within a few weeks. Sensation in your nipples may be reduced temporarily, but should return to normal or become hypersensitive as your breasts heal. After breast reduction surgery, it is often possible to return to work within just a couple of weeks, depending on your job. In many instances, you can resume most of your normal activities, including some form of mild exercise, after several weeks. You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort during this time, but such feelings are normal.

ONE MONTH AFTER SURGERY

If you are still feeling a bit tired during this time don’t worry because it will take you a few weeks or months to feel completely like yourself again. Depending on the amount of physical exertion required to perform your expected duties, you should already be back into your normal rhythm at work. Exercise and workout routines may begin at this point in your recovery process with pain as your ultimate guide. Any activity that causes discomfort and/or pain needs to be avoided until further along in your recovery process. When you return to the activity, start at half speed and increase to your normal routine as long as you do not feel any pain during and/or the day after your workout.  Although exercising will not adversely affect your end result, it may temporarily cause more swelling immediately after the exercise that will subside over the next few hours. The majority of my breast augmentation patients are back to their regular workout routine within a couple of 4-6 weeks after their surgery.

During this period, sensory changes of the nipples and breast are normal and only temporary. Typically, normal sensitivity will return slowly over time. Lastly, as sensation begins to return some patients experience a hypersentivity in the nipples and/or areolas. This is also completely normal and temporary, and is a sign that normal sensation is beginning to return to the breasts. Over the next several months many of the benefits of your breast augmentation surgery will begin to materialize and you will begin to enjoy the transformation you have received form your breast surgery.

Women who have mild to moderate ptosis (breast sagging) often times as a result of multiple pregnancies and weight loss are ideal candidates for this procedure. There is no more down town than with a regular lift – patients can usually can go back to exercising within 4-6 weeks.

There is virtually no scaring (no anchor scarring)

• Surgical Bra: At this point in time you are no longer required to be wearing any surgical compression garment. However, many patients choose to continue some sort of light compression clothing during this time period including spanks or similar spandex type clothing.
• Healing Process: There are some procedures/ treatment modalities available that can support and/or may accelerate your healing process such as Endermologie, Ultrasound and/or Radiofrequency treatments.

LONG TERM RESULTS

All patients vary in their ability and speed to recovery after surgery but most commonly you can expect the final result from surgery to be evident at six months after surgery. During this time period, the breasts become naturally soft and non-tender. By this point in time, your breasts should be close to their final shape and size and it is therefore the proper time to begin shopping for additional bras and swimwear.  Lastly, this is the time period when scars typically begin to fade away to thin white lines.

how long after breast reduction will i know my size

How Long After Breast Reduction Will I Know my Size?

Thousands of women with large breasts undergo breast reduction surgery every year in the United States. Extremely large breasts create chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain and impact psychological and emotional health.

If you’re thinking of undergoing this surgery, you may be wondering how long it will be until you know your size post-surgery.

Well, every patients’ recovery is unique. Your healing can be influenced by your current health and lifestyle and how well you follow the pre- and post-operative instructions.

Breast reduction surgery is major surgery, and post-operative swelling is a normal side effect of the tissue injury. So, remember that your breasts need to recuperate from the surgical trauma. There will be a period of healing before your results become visible.

Keep reading to find out more about the general timeline of healing and when you can expect to see the final results.

What To Expect In The Months After Surgery

After the breast reduction surgery, you will feel and see an immediate difference in your breasts. You may be concerned to find that your breasts are more prominent than you expected them to be. However, swelling will typically be at its worst a week after surgery.

During a mammaplasty, there is a significant amount of breast tissue manipulation. Swelling is a normal inflammatory reaction to tissue injury. It’s just part of the healing process.

Towards the end of the first week, you will notice that the swelling begins to subside. Although, bruising may still be noticeable.

By week four, swelling should be noticeably reduced. While much of the breast reduction recovery happens by six weeks, residual swelling can last four months or more. It can take as long as nine months to see complete results for some patients.

Remember that breasts may heal at different rates. As such, they may look asymmetrical in the initial few months of recovery.

By six months, you should be able to invest in some fancy new lingerie! Beware of doing so before then. Not only might the bra be uncomfortable on the scarring, but swelling might not have resolved entirely, and you will end up with the wrong bra size.

What Cup Size Will I Have After A Breast Reduction?

A question that will be near the top of your list is ‘what cup size will I be after breast reduction?’

It is challenging to predict post-surgery for several reasons.

Breast volume has historically been hard to measure due to shape and size breast diversity. This lack of standardized breast measurements makes it difficult to assess postoperative results.

There is no standardization of bra cup sizes among bra manufacturers. So, a D cup from one company could be a C cup in another.

Additionally, many large-breasted women wear incorrect bra sizes before surgery, supporting or concealing their breasts in bras that are too small.

Surgeons consider measurements in inches, which provide an accurate look at how much tissue to remove to get the best results for the patient.

Choosing the final size is a combination of the patients’ goals and the existing shape and size of their breasts.

How To Achieve The Results Quickly And Completely

Breast reduction can mean a new lease on life for many women. Of course, patients are curious and often impatient to see the aesthetic and physical improvements brought about by their surgery.

While full recovery and the result can be a lengthy process, you can do certain things to speed up the recovery and reach your goal more quickly.

Here are a few top tips to follow.

1. Surgical bras. These are designed to speed up the healing process by applying even, gentle pressure to the breast and surgical area. This reduces the swelling, increases blood flow, and helps maintain the contour of the breast while new tissue forms. Make sure you keep your compression garment in place for as long as your surgeon recommends.
2. Stay hydrated. It is essential to drink enough water for several weeks after your breast reduction surgery. Adequate hydration helps clear the anesthetic from our system as well as assists in reducing fluid retention and swelling, thereby supporting healing.
3. Take care when reclining. Although swelling is a natural part of your recovery, keeping your chest elevated when sleeping may help to minimize it.
4. Walk. Start with gentle walking as soon after surgery as possible. Walking several times a day will improve blood circulation and promote healing.

Conclusion

While it may be months before you see the final results of your breast reduction, you must follow your surgeon’s instructions meticulously. Doing so will help you reap the best results possible from your surgery.