How Long After Breast Reduction Can I Drive
It’s important to know how long after breast reduction surgery you can drive. This is because there are many factors that influence your ability to safely operate a vehicle after the surgery, including your pain levels and mental acuity.
The general rule of thumb is that you should wait until you’re able to walk without pain and have no dizziness or nausea before driving again. The exact length of time this takes varies according to the type of surgery you’ve had, but it’s generally around four weeks post-op before you’re ready to get behind the wheel.
One thing that frustrates many patients after any type of surgery, whether cosmetic or not, is the limited number of things that they can do in the immediate days and/or weeks during recovery. It’s natural for people to yearn for a return to day-to-day activities as soon as possible.
Being able to hop in the car at any given time and drive to work, to the store, or to visit family and friends is something that we take for granted.
Once a patient has undergone breast surgery, it’s important that they allow their body time to heal, so that can mean avoiding certain chores and activities for a little while – including driving.
If you’re planning on having breast reduction surgery, it’s important for you to understand how long after breast reduction can i drive so that you can make arrangements for transportation in advance!
Driving after breast reduction: how long?
For the vast majority of patients, they generally feel as though they can begin to drive again around one or two weeks after their breast surgery procedure, though some patients may feel as though they need to wait several weeks – or would even prefer to wait several weeks.
With that said, only your cosmetic surgeon and healthcare team can provide you with a reasonably accurate timeframe. It may also be worth checking your car insurance in case there is clause that restricts you from being adequately insured for a certain amount of time following invasive surgery.
Some patients even feel ready to drive again within 5 to 7 days, but you really should discuss things with your surgeon before doing so.
More strenuous activities like exercise tend to require much more recovery time following any type of breast surgery before they are attempted, so in that regard a return to driving typically happens a lot sooner than other things.
Aside from the obvious discomfort patients experience during the immediate days and possibly weeks following the procedure, patients will also likely require pain medication.
This pain medication can cause drowsiness, so until the pain medication is no longer required, driving should most certainly be avoided for the safety of the patients and other road users.
Furthermore, during the early recovery period the body will have reduced movement due to the pain, swelling, and stitches around the breast area. Just putting the seatbelt on would prove awkward and comfortable until the pain has subsided, and some mobility has returned.
It goes without saying that trying to drive without full ease of movement is incredibly dangerous and will severely restrict a driver from being able to adapt to any road situation without being distracted by the pain and discomfort.
How long will I be on pain medication after breast surgery?
Most women only need to be prescribed pain medication for the first few days after their breast surgery. In certain cases, some women experience pain and discomfort for a little while longer, so in these instances the patient may be prescribed pain medication for a few extra days.
This means that some breast surgery patients feel physically ready to return to driving within a week or so, while others may feel they need to wait two weeks or more.
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.
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?
After a breast reduction procedure, patients are typically admitted to the hospital for an overnight stay to monitor their recovery. Post-operative pain is typically managed with intravenous medicines, and additional medication may be provided for nausea. After a few days, patients can begin performing light daily activities, including showering.
The first week after surgery involves more post-operative care instructions, such as getting more rest and avoiding driving. Breasts may feel tight and swollen for about one week, similar to breastfeeding. Patients should avoid strenuous activities and feel more like themselves by the second week. Most patients take 10-14 days off from work to relax and focus on recovery.
3 to 4 weeks after surgery, most activities can resume, and the swelling should decrease and the body heals. By the three to four week mark, swelling should be significantly reduced, and most activities can resume. The final breast reduction results should become more apparent.
After the fourth week of recovery, most patients can resume all exercise. However, residual swelling can last for three to four months, and breast reduction scars may take six months to a year to fully heal.
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.
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.
A breast reduction can improve your self-image and provide the lifestyle you want. For instance, you may finally exercise without worrying about breast pain or wear a bathing suit without feeling self-conscious. To support your recovery, we at My Cosmetic Clinic in New Castle, Crows Nest, Erina, Newcastle, Nowra, Sydney, Rosebery, and Wollongong will recommend a series of steps to follow at home – including the need to sleep on your back.
Sleeping on your side or stomach too soon after breast surgery – including breast reduction – can strain fresh incisions and force scars still in the process of healing to bleed or stretch. The excess pressure may also cause swelling and discomfort that can interfere with sleep. It’s important you get the rest you need after surgery as this is when your body recovers.
Simply put, sleeping on your back keeps your breasts in an optimal position for healing. We therefore recommend you keep this position for eight to 12 weeks post-surgery. Some online sources suggest four to six weeks are enough, but you will continue healing beyond this short window of time. To keep pace with that process, you should continue sleeping on your back for no less than eight weeks.
Create a Nighttime Routine To Support Back-Sleeping Comfort
Changing your sleep position directly impacts how your muscles, organs, and bones are situated at night. With this in mind, you might want to engage in a few gentle stretches before bedtime. Loosening tight hips and hamstrings can reduce back pain. Yoga can likewise help you relax and fall into a quick slumber as soon as you lie down.
A short stack of pillows under bent knees may make back sleeping more comfortable. Also, avoid eating a large meal right before bed. This is a great habit to establish anyway, but sleeping with heavy food in your stomach can increase nighttime indigestion and heartburn.
Choose the Right Mattress and Pillows
A firm or medium-firm mattress offers more support for back sleeping than a softer mattress. Firmer mattresses distribute weight more evenly to prevent pressure points on parts like the shoulders and hips. A mattress topper can help firm your current bed if you’re not ready to invest in a new mattress.
Having the right pillow is just as important as the right mattress. You need one that supports your head and neck while lying on your back. A shaped pillow may keep shoulders relaxed and supported. Another option is an adjustable fill pillow that allows you to dial into your exact comfort level.
Build a Throne of Pillows
Many patients fall asleep on their backs only to wake on their sides or bellies. Creating a thrown of pillows can prevent you from rolling over in the middle of the night. Plan on needing around five pillows:
- One under your knees
- Two under your head and shoulders
- One on either side of your body
This is simply a starting point. If you find you need more pillows than this, feel free to use them. And practice sleeping on this new throne for at least a week before your breast reduction surgery. Learning to lie on your back won’t happen overnight. Starting this new habit now will ensure your post-surgery recovery goes as smoothly as possible.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Your pillow throne should help you stay on your back throughout the night. But if you keep trying this method to no avail, you might want to put tennis balls inside your pyjama bottom pockets. This will create discomfort when you roll onto your side, prompting you to return to your back. Or, as mentioned earlier, use more pillows to further surround your body.