The Breast Reduction Recovery Week by Week Overview

If you experience discomfort, pain, or insecurity due to the size of your breasts, you may want to consider breast reduction surgery. Breast reduction surgery may help you to feel more comfortable in your body and reduce the pain and discomfort that your breasts are causing you. The results of the surgery will leave you with firmer, smaller breasts improving both your confidence and your appearance.  Some women put off having a surgery due to being afraid of the recovery which is why we chose to feature the entire breast reduction recovery week by week for you here.

While breast reduction surgery is a great option for anyone that would benefit from smaller breasts, some people considering the operation may be hesitant to go forward with the operation. Breast reduction surgery, like any surgery, requires time for recovery.

Before going into your breast reduction surgery, and while still in recovery, it may benefit you to read up on a typical breast reduction recovery timeline. In this article, breast reduction recovery week by week, we will detail what you can expect each week including tips and an overall description of what your breast reduction recovery is likely to feel like.

Breast Reduction Recovery: Timeline, Tips, & What To Expect

A breast reduction operation involves removing and lifting breast tissue to achieve a youthful and natural appearance. The procedure is performed using anesthesia. The recovery process after breast removal differs from person to person depending on various variables. Your genetics, pain tolerance, lifestyle, health, as well as surgery techniques, will determine the speed and extent of your recovery. The following article includes some typical breast reduction surgical recovery. The sooner your healing will be at home, the better your recovery will be.

Day One

The day of your surgery is also the first day of your recovery. Immediately after surgery, doctors will come to check on you and ensure that the surgery went well and that the postoperative healing process will go smoothly.

Then, you will return home wearing a surgical bra and sterile dressings to protect the incisions and stitches from opening up or getting infected.

You will likely feel swelling, discomfort, moderate pain, and fatigue due to the general anesthetic and surgery. Movement will also be difficult, so make sure you have someone at home to help care for you. You should closely follow the postoperative instructions that were given to you to ensure healthy recovery.

Days 2 to 3

On days 2 to 3 you will likely continue to feel swelling, moderate pain, and discomfort, and you are advised to wait to shower until at least 48 hours after your surgery.

You should continue to follow your postoperative instructions, as this period of time is crucial to your healing process. You will have antibiotics to prevent infection, and prescription pain medication, along with instructions on how to properly care for your incisions.

Movement will continue to be difficult so keep that friend or family member around to help you bathe and change your bandages.

Weeks One to Two

Weeks one to two of recovery is still a crucial phase of your breast reduction recovery. Your body is still working hard to heal so you have to give yourself plenty of time to rest. You may continue to feel tired at this time, especially if you are taking narcotic pain medications. Also, you may notice that swelling has begun to recede during this phase, although there may still be bruising. During the first week of recovery, you will likely continue to feel some pain, although it should be mild to moderate.

In the second week of recovery, your wounds will start to dry as they continue to heal. This may result in a desire to scratch at the wound, but this should be avoided. Your dressing may be removed during the second week and will be replaced with a compression bra. During the second week of recovery, you can begin to resume some of your daily activities.

In addition, during the second week the doctor may recommend that you begin using gel treatments or silicone sheeting to help your scar heal and reduce in size.

Work

If you’d like to get back to your work during the second week of recovery, this may be an option for you. Speak with your doctor and depending on how well your recovery is going and the nature of your job, you may be able to resume work.

Walking

Try walking small distances several times a day to keep your body moving. It may be difficult at first but you can start small and try to work your way up to periods of 30 minutes of gentle walking. Walking promotes blood flow which helps your tissue to heal and helps to prevent any blood clots.

Avoid Heavy Lifting and Strenuous Activity

Although frequent light walking will help you during your recovery, heavy lifting and any strenuous activities should be avoided completely for at least the first two weeks of recovery. You may be tempted to start resuming your normal house chores like grocery shopping, vacuum cleaning, etc., but you should continue to rely on your friends or family for these activities. To keep you on the right track during your recovery avoid lifting any of the following things:

• Grocery bags
• Milk and juice jugs
• Cat litter bags
• Dog food bags
• Heavy purses or bags
• Children
• If you’re not sure, it’s better to avoid it!

During this time keep your arms in a comfortable position and avoid reaching them over your head to prevent any stretching in the skin around the incisions. Furthermore, you will have to wait to do any stretching or exercises that could compromise your healing process.

Weeks 3 and Four

Around week 3 you should see a significant decrease in swelling and bruising and you should begin to feel more comfortable. You can begin to take on more of your normal daily activities, like driving, but you should avoid any activities that cause you discomfort.

You should continue to wear your compression bra during weeks 3 and 4.

One Month

At one month your daily life should closely resemble your preoperative routine, most of your daily tasks you will be able to do by yourself. Also, most exercises are alright to do, except for weight lifting. If you are a side sleeper, good news! You should be able to sleep on your side again without discomfort.

After one month you should begin to notice that your neck pain and back pain has lessened. Normal movement should start to return and as your swelling continues to decrease, it should be easier to fit into your clothes without discomfort.

Two Months

Most patients will find that most of the swelling should be gone two months after the operation. You can reincorporate all of your normal activities back into your life like weight lifting and swimming. If you do go swimming, wear a supportive bra and avoid sun exposure. Avoiding sun exposure will help the scar heal and reduce in size more easily.

Breast Recovery Surgery FAQs

How can I reduce swelling after breast reduction?

The best way to reduce swelling after breast reduction is to follow your doctor’s postoperative instructions and make sure that you are healing properly.

Wearing your surgical bra or compression bra will help to reduce the swelling after your surgery.

What bra should I wear after breast reduction surgery?

You will wear dressings for the incision for about the first week of surgery, afterwards, you will wear a compression bra up to around week 6 to week 8. After this period, you should wear a supportive bra and avoid any wired bras until you are completely healed.

What kind of pain can I expect after surgery for breast reduction?

The pain from the surgery will be highest during the first few days after surgery. However, you will most likely be on pain medications so the pain should be moderate at worst. During week one the pain will reduce and should be mild to moderate.

How soon can I exercise after breast reduction surgery?

Around one month you can begin to exercise again. However, start slow and avoid any

activities that cause you discomfort. Also, swimming and weight lifting should be avoided

until two months after the surgery.

How can I speed up the recovery time and healing process?

Although a recovery period of two months can’t be eliminated, there are some steps you can take to speed up your recovery and help your body to heal faster.

• Wear comfortable clothing and avoid any tight clothing
• Avoid strenuous activity that could harm your incision
• Eat healthy, protein-rich foods
• Stay hydrated
• Get plenty of rest and sleep
• Elevate your head while you sleep
• Ask for help from a friend or family member so you can avoid household chores
• Use a compression bra or surgical bra and avoid wearing a bra with an underwire

How can I reduce scarring?

Scarring is a concern no matter the type of surgery you are getting. If there is going to be an incision, you are going to be left with a scar. However, most breast reduction surgeries are performed with minimal incisions in places that are difficult to see. Furthermore, if you care properly for your wound and scars, they should fade significantly. Follow these steps to better facilitate your scar tissue healing and fading, post-operation:

• Listen to your doctor and follow the postoperative steps to rest and care for your incisions.
• Keep your dressings on until your doctor says you can remove them and wear your compression or a surgical bra for at least six weeks after the surgery.
• Although you won’t be exercising much, avoid weight gain. Gaining weight can stretch the skin and widen scar tissue.
• Rest and relax! Added stress can interfere with your body’s ability to heal.
• Avoid tobacco products.
• Avoid UV rays and sunlight, they can cause the scar tissue to darken.

Search the Surgeon Network Directory to Find a Specialist for Breast Reduction Surgery

If you are looking to get a breast reduction surgery, or would even like to speak to a professional about getting a breast reduction operation, use the Surgeon Network Directory to find a high-quality specialist near you.

When searching for a breast reduction surgeon, you will want to make sure that you are getting the best care possible. A high-quality specialist will not only ensure that your surgery goes smoothly without any complications, but will also minimize incisions to ensure that your recovery is fast and that you are left with minimal scarring. Furthermore, experienced and qualified specialists can walk you through the process making you feel more confident during the pre-op phase and throughout the recovery phase.

At Surgeon Network, we provide all the information you need to access the most qualified and reputable plastic surgeons near you. Our 5 STAR Surgeon Network Approval Rating™ requires surgeons to maintain specific details like board certification, minimum work experience, and a flawless record.

We ensure that patients and skilled surgeons are matched adequately to provide exemplary service. We maintain a plastic surgeon directory to assist you in locating skilled surgeons quickly. You can also review the detailed profiles of the surgeons together with their backgrounds, office locations, before and after photos, work experience, surgeons’ awards, and certifications to make an informed decision.

You can use our research navigation bar to know more about the specific cosmetic procedures, surgeon’s fee, and recovery time and use the Surgeon Directory to find a qualified breast reduction surgeon.

The Surgeon Network is your primary resource center for information about plastic surgery and locating top plastic surgeons near you. You can contact us for further queries or any additional information.