Breast reduction procedures can be life-changing for many patients who suffer from medical issues such as chronic pain, rashes, or infections due to their breast size. This is why the surgery has a 97% worth it rating on RealSelf as the procedure can resolve a variety of these health issues as well as increase many women’s self-esteem and ability to exercise. This blog provides an in-depth guide to a Dallas breast reduction recovery, including recovering from the various types of surgical reductions and provides aftercare tips for potential breast reduction patients.
Guide
- Breast Reduction Recovery
- Breast Reduction Recovery- Time Off Work
- Breast Reduction Recovery Week By Week
- Breast Reduction Recovery Tips
- Recovering From Liposuction Breast Reduction
- Breast Reduction And Tummy Tuck Recovery
- Conclusion
- Disclaimer
Breast Reduction Recovery
A breast reduction surgery is undertaken by women who have either aesthetic or health concerns related to the size of their breasts. A breast reduction is performed by creating a surgical incision into the breasts so that excess skin and breast tissue can be removed to reduce the size of the patient’s breasts.
The recovery period from the procedure tends to last around four to six weeks. Although patients will have mostly recovered and be able to return to many activities before this time, it tends to take at least a month to be able to return to normal.
Breast Reduction Recovery- Time Off Work
Immediately after the procedure patients will have gauze over their breasts to protect them after the surgery. It is necessary that an adult drives you home and stays with you for the first few days of your recovery to help you while you are healing. The first few days will be the most painful for patients and usually, when they will need to take the pain medication prescribed, and spend time resting and recovering.
Most breast reduction recovery patients require at least two weeks off work to recover from the procedure. During this time patients will be unable to perform most activities including housework and childcare. For the first few days up to a week after the procedure patients will need an adult to stay with them to help look after them while they are recovering.
Some patients may need to take longer than two weeks off work depending on the type of work they do. For example, if their job is physically intensive then it is recommended that patients take longer off to allow their body to recover before undergoing any strenuous activity. You can discuss your job with your surgeon during your consultation and see how long they would advise you to take off to recover from your procedure.
Breast Reduction Recovery Week By Week
Week 1– During the first week of recovery side effects from undergoing the surgery will be the most significant. For example, there is likely to be significant swelling in the first week of recovery and the pain from the surgery will be at its highest during this period. Patients should make sure to take the prescribed pain medication and ensure they get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Week 2– During the second week of your recovery the swelling should start to subside and the pain will begin to lessen. The gauze or coverings over the patient’s breasts will be removed and replaced with some form of breast garment to protect and support your breasts. Patients should ensure they are walking frequently and keeping their incision sites clean.
Week 3– At this time many patients are able to return to many activities such as housework as well as work. It is still important to wear breast garments and to ensure the incision sites are kept clean to prevent infection. Additionally, some swelling and pain may still be present so using cold compresses and taking over-the-counter pain medications when necessary is advised.
Week 4– After a month of recovery, many patients will be able to return to exercise as well as many other activities. Patients will be informed that they should not lift anything over their head for at least three to four weeks. Additionally, patients should be able to take a bath and wear a supportive sports bra rather than breast garments.
Week 6– Up until this time, most patients will be unable to sleep on their side and will need to sleep on their back and have their head raised to help with swelling. After around six weeks many patients finally feel comfortable sleeping on their side or in other positions as their breasts have recovered.
Week 8– Two months after the procedure most patients will have returned to normal and will be able to perform a range of motions and activities including those that use chest muscles. Although it can take months for the final swelling to subside no swelling or other side effects will be particularly visible at this point. Furthermore, the incision scars will have begun to fade and patients can use scar reduction oils and creams to help their scars fade.
Breast Reduction Recovery Tips
It is essential to follow all the aftercare instructions given to you by your surgeon to ensure a safe and successful recovery. In addition to these instructions, there are many aftercare tips including:
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat healthy foods
- Get plenty of rest
- Avoid eating too much salt
- Use a cold compress to help with any swelling
- Should sit and sleep upright to help with swelling
- Patients should wear a sports bra for months after the surgery
Recovering From Liposuction Breast Reduction
Liposuction can be used to perform a breast reduction procedure. The procedure creates a small incision site so that a cannula can be inserted into the breasts and suction out fat deposits from each breast. Patients will only be suitable for this type of procedure if they have a high enough ratio of fat in their breasts. Some patients will not be suitable as they have a high proportion of breast tissue compared to fat deposits and so will require breast tissue to be removed for a sufficient reduction.
Recovering from a liposuction breast reduction procedure does vary to recovering from a surgical reduction as the recovery period tends to be shorter and taking less time off work may be suitable. The incision sites will be much smaller since no incision lines are made, but it is still necessary to keep these sites clean to prevent infection. Swelling will occur as well as bruising and so patients will need to wear a compression garment after surgery. Many surgeons will recommend wearing this garment for months after the procedure to help with the excess fluid that builds up after the procedure. For more information on recovering from this procedure, you can view our blog ‘12 FAQs About Liposuction Aftercare’.
Breast Reduction And Tummy Tuck Recovery
Recovering from a tummy tuck procedure tends to be more extensive than recovering from many other cosmetic procedures. The surgery is performed to remove excess skin from the stomach and tighten the abdominal muscles to create a more contoured and flatter abdomen. Large incision lines are necessary across the bottom of a patient’s abdomen, running from hip to hip. Some patients will have drains placed in their abdomen to help with excess fluid build-up after the surgery. These drains will need to be emptied and the fluid may need to be measured before they are removed by your surgeon around a week after the procedure. Not all patients will require drains but it will be necessary that patients wear a compression garment on their stomach to help with the swelling. Generally, patients require at least two weeks of work and it can take up to eight weeks for patients to be able to return to all their normal activities. For more information on recovering from this procedure, you can view our blog, ‘A Patient’s Guide To Tummy Tuck Recovery In Dallas’.
Conclusion
Being aware of the aftercare instructions and information for any cosmetic procedure is necessary for potential patients. However, it is also important that patients make sure to research all aspects of the surgery including the cost of the procedure, any potential risks of undergoing surgery as well as the surgical techniques.
For information regarding the average cost of the procedure as well as information on potential financing options, you can read our blog, ‘Breast Reduction Cost Dallas, Texas.’ Or, to see real before and after pictures, you can view our breast reduction gallery.
Contact us to book a consultation with Dr Liland, a board-certified plastic surgeon with significant expertise in performing breast surgery.
Disclaimer
Please note: All materials on the Site, such as text, treatments, outcomes, photographs and images and any other material provided on the Site are for information purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding treatments. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Site.
Though the content of this blog has been carefully prepared, the author of this content is not a medical doctor and the content has not been reviewed by a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.
Unless specifically stated, patients referred to in this blog have not received a breast reduction procedure from Dr. Liland. This blog does not endorse the work of any doctors or surgeons mentioned. Stories relating to patients’ personal experiences of breast reduction procedures should be treated as anecdotal only.
Any application of the material provided is at the reader’s discretion and his, her, or their responsibility.