Breast reduction surgery is designed to remove excess tissue and skin from the breasts so they can be smaller, lighter and more natural looking. The degree of breast reduction done depends on how much tissue needs to be removed and how large the breasts were to begin with. You should be able to take off the surgical tape around your breasts and nipples right after the surgery. This will help with drainage and can help reduce swelling. After the first 24 hours, you can expect some bleeding or discharge from your incision. This is normal and usually lasts 1-2 days. If you have any questions about removing your gauze or surgical tape, please ask your doctor or nurse
In this guide, we find out When To Remove Surgical Tape After Breast Reduction, leaking fluid after breast reduction, how long do i have to wear gauze after breast reduction, and how long do bandages stay on after breast reduction.
When To Remove Surgical Tape After Breast Reduction
Surgical tape, also known as surgical dressing or wound dressing, is a medical adhesive that helps to keep your wounds closed and prevent them from getting infected. Surgical tape is worn during surgery and can be used on both open incisions and skin grafts. The surgical tape usually stays in place for five days but can sometimes remain on the body longer than this—providing its use was prescribed by a medical professional. As such, it’s recommended that you don’t remove surgical tape unless instructed to do so by one of these professionals (unless you’ve noticed an abnormality).
Surgical tape is usually worn for about five days but can sometimes stay on for up to two weeks after surgery.
Surgical tape is used to hold your incisions closed after surgery. It’s usually removed after five days, but can sometimes stay on for up to two weeks after surgery.
If the tape hurts or causes irritation, you should have it removed as soon as possible. This can happen if the tape sticks to hair or gets wet while showering, which could cause an infection.
If the surgical site doesn’t seem infected and there’s no pain or redness developing under a bandage that was previously taped, then it may be okay to leave it alone until time for your next checkup with your doctor.
Do not remove surgical tape unless you are instructed to do so by a medical professional.
You should not remove tape from your incisions unless instructed to do so by a medical professional. If you remove the tape, it can cause damage to the incision, increasing scarring and possibly making it more painful to heal.
The purpose of surgical tape is to protect the incision from infection and reduce scarring by holding the edges together.
leaking fluid after breast reduction
You had cosmetic breast surgery to change the size or shape of your breasts. You may have had a breast lift, breast reduction, or breast augmentation.
Follow your doctor’s instructions on self-care at home. Use the information below as a reminder.
When You’re in the Hospital
You were probably under general anesthesia (asleep and pain-free). Or you had local anesthesia (awake and pain-free). Your surgery took at least 1 or more hours, depending on the type of procedure you had.
You woke up with a gauze dressing or surgical bra around your breast and chest area. You may also have drainage tubes coming from your incision areas. Some pain and swelling is normal after the anesthesia wears off. You may also feel tired. Rest and gentle activity will help you recover. Your nurse will help you begin to move around.
Depending on the type of surgery you had, you may have gone home the same day or you spent 1 to 2 days in the hospital.
What to Expect at Home
It is normal to have pain, bruising, and swelling of the breast or incisions after you get home. Within a few days or weeks, these symptoms will go away. You may have a loss of sensation in your breast skin and nipples after surgery. The sensation may return over time.
You may need help with your everyday activities for a few days until your pain and swelling decrease.
Activity
While you are healing, limit your physical activities so that you do not stretch your incisions. Try taking short walks as soon as possible to promote blood flow and healing. You may be able to do some activity 1 to 2 days after surgery.
Your health care provider may show you special exercises and breast-massaging techniques. Do these at home if your provider has recommended them.
Ask your provider when you can go back to work or start other activities. You may need to wait 7 to 14 days or even longer.
Do not do any heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, or overstretching your arms for 3 to 6 weeks. Exertion can increase blood pressure, and lead to bleeding.
Do not drive for at least 2 weeks. Do not drive if you are taking narcotic pain medicines. You should have full range of motion in your arms before you start driving again. Ease into driving slowly, since turning the wheel and shifting gears may be difficult.
Wound Care
You’ll need to return to your doctor in a few days to have the drainage tubes removed. Any stitches will be removed within 2 weeks after surgery. If your incisions are covered with surgical glue it doesn’t need to be removed and will wear off.
Keep the dressings or adhesive strips on your incisions for as long as your doctor told you to. Make sure you have extra bandages in case you need them. You will need to change them daily.
Keep the incision areas clean, dry, and covered. Check daily for signs of infection (redness, pain, or drainage).
Once you no longer need dressings, wear a soft, wireless, supportive bra night and day for 2 to 4 weeks.
You may shower after 2 days (if your drainage tubes have been removed). Do not take baths, soak in a hot tub, or go swimming until stitches and drains are removed and your doctor says it is OK.
Incision scars may take several months to more than a year to fade. Follow your provider’s instructions on how to care for the scars to help reduce their appearance. Protect your scars with a strong sunblock (SPF 30 or higher) whenever you are out in the sun.
Other Self-care
Make sure you eat healthy foods, including lots of fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of fluids. A healthy diet and plenty of fluids promote bowel movements and prevent infection.
Your pain should go away over several weeks. Take any pain medicines as your provider told you to. Take them with food and plenty of water. Do not apply ice or heat to your breasts unless your doctor tells you that it is OK.
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking pain medicines. Do not take aspirin, aspirin-containing drugs, or ibuprofen without your doctor’s approval. Ask your doctor which vitamins, supplements, and other medicines are safe to take.
how long do i have to wear gauze after breast reduction
Incision care
- If your doctor gave you specific instructions on how to care for your incision, follow those instructions.
- You may be wearing a special bra that holds your bandages in place after the surgery. Your doctor will tell you when you can stop wearing the bra. Your doctor may want you to wear the bra at night as well as during the day for several weeks. Do not wear an underwire bra for 1 month or until your doctor says it’s okay to do so.
- If you have strips of tape on your incision, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off. Or follow your doctor’s instructions for removing the tape.
- Wash the area daily with warm water, and pat it dry. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
- You may cover the area with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day. Consider having someone help you with this.
how long do bandages stay on after breast reduction
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.