Breast reduction surgery can be a very beneficial procedure to individuals who are either experiencing pain or just want smaller breasts. However, you may be put off due to the fact that you will need to undergo an invasive surgical procedure.
Fortunately, breast reduction surgery is nothing to be afraid of, and the vast majority of our patients recover from surgery with minimal issues. Read our guide to benefits of breast reduction to know more.
If you are wondering what the recovery process looks like once you have had your operation, then we will outline the recovery period and what to expect in regards to healing, swelling, and scarring.
For a visual representation of how breasts can look after surgery, take a look at some of our breast reduction surgery pictures.
We want to begin with a note that recovery periods differ from person to person. This is a general outline to the standard healing process that is accurate for most people if they follow their surgeon’s instructions, yet your recovery may not align with this timeline completely.
Breast Reduction Recovery After Surgery
You will be in surgery for between two and four hours, during which you will be under general anaesthesia. After surgery is finished you will be monitored for recovery (usually overnight) and when your surgeon is happy you will be allowed to leave to recover at home.
After surgery is when you will feel the most tender, the soreness will continue for several weeks but will steadily ease over time. You will need plenty of rest to encourage healing as early as possible.
You may need to wear tape around your breasts for up to six weeks which will need to be replaced regularly to keep your breasts clean and ensure that they heal correctly.
To enable you to heal as efficiently as possible, you will be advised not to smoke for six weeks after your operation, and not to drink alcohol for two weeks after your operation. You will also be prescribed medications by your surgeon and you should continue to take all medications for the prescribed period.
Breast Reduction Recovery Week by Week
The First Few Days of Breast Reduction Recovery
When you return home, the next few days will be all about getting as much rest as possible. You should sleep on your back in a slightly elevated position to allow for optimal healing and the best chance at reducing swelling. Ice packs can also be used to help reduce swelling if you are comfortable doing that.
You will be able to take a gentle walk, but nothing more strenuous than that. This includes no lifting, no driving, and no raising of your arms.
Showering is permitted 24 hours out of surgery, but you should not bathe or immerse yourself in water.
For the days following surgery, pay close attention to nipple appearance. One possible side effect of breast surgery is nipple necrosis; it is rare but also easily identifiable. If your nipple darkens and becomes cold for an extended duration, get back in touch with us as soon as possible.
How to Ensure Smooth Breast Reduction Recovery
In the first few weeks after your breast reduction, you should take some further measures to ensure a smooth recovery. It is important that you remember to wear a compression bra both day and night, as this will help to reduce swelling and encourage healing.
It is also important that you keep movement limited, as this will ensure that you are not affecting the stitches or tearing any progress.
Breast Reduction Recovery After a Week
When you get to a week post-surgery, your pain and tenderness will likely have subsided a little but will still be present.Breast massage after your reduction may help to ease tenderness.
From two weeks until six weeks post-surgery, a firm support bra should be used to assist in healing. Tape may still be worn around the breasts at the discretion of your surgeon.
You may have to return to the clinic to get some of your stitches removed. It may be best to remove some stitches at this stage and then remove more stitches at two weeks post-surgery.
You can begin sleeping on your side after a week if this is comfortable for you, but do not sleep on your front.
When viewing your breasts, do not be alarmed if the skin on the breasts is rippled or they are not how you would like them to appear. It can take around six weeks for them to begin smoothing out and looking ‘normal’ externally, and it can take up to a year for optimal internal results.
Breast Reduction Recovery After Two Weeks
After two-weeks post-surgery, you will be able to return to most daily activities. Please be careful when making any movement that can strain your body, and build up to activities gradually over multiple days rather than jumping right in.
Lastly, some patients return to work after a week while others wait until after two weeks instead. This is dependent on your own surgical recovery, pain experience, and your job.
Recovery After a Month
After four-six weeks, your breasts should look great and you should feel almost back to normal. Still take care when performing physical activities and remember that it can take up to a year until your body sees optimal internal results.
You should begin to feel the benefits of your breast reduction operation and feel lighter, as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
However, you may still be experiencing some swelling. Particularly if you received liposuction in areas of your body such as under the armpits. In some instances, this swelling can last up to around six months.
Improving Breast Reduction Recovery After a Month
By this point, the majority of your swelling will start to reduce. You should be able to resume more strenuous activities by this point; you just need to build up to them.
You will no longer need to wear your post-operative bra, but it is recommended that you get your bra size remeasured to find a firm and supportive bra that will help you stay comfortable.
At this point, it is recommended that you regularly moisturise your scars, as this can help the tissue heal and reduce the look of future scars.
Post Breast Reduction Surgery Scars
Depending on how your breast reduction is performed, you could have either a number of scars on your breast and nipple.
The standard scars that you are likely to have form an anchor shape that extends from the nipple to below the breast fold. This is made up of a circular areola scar around the nipple, a vertical connecting scar from the areola to the breast fold, and a breast fold scar running along the horizontal breast fold.
If keyhole surgery is used, then you may have a keyhole scar on your breast.
Breast Reduction Recovery Time
Scars will take longer to fully heal than your breasts themselves and will depend on the individual and how well they heal over time. Fortunately, their locations make them very easy to conceal for everyone, regardless of how they have recovered.
After surgery, they will likely be bright red or pink, but after 6 months, the bold colour of the breast reduction scars will have subsided, and the scar tissue will become softer, smoother, and closer to the skin’s surface.
Reducing The Look of Surgery Scars
Massage can help reduce the appearance of scarring by increasing collagen in the scar tissue, and should be implemented for the long-term following surgery if you want the best chance at minimal breast reduction scars one year later.
Contact New Birkdale Clinic for a Consultation
We hope that by being frank about the recovery process and informing you what you can expect after breast reduction in Liverpool, we have eased any worries that you might have.
If you think that you are a good candidate for breast reduction or want to enquire whether surgery will be beneficial for you, please contact one of our experienced breast surgeons at our New Birkdale Clinic.
FAQs
How to reduce swelling after breast reduction?
Once the breasts are no longer tender to the touch, massage and ice packs can help reduce swelling.
Lymphatic massage may also be especially useful, ask your surgeon for their advice on this procedure.
When can you lift your arms after breast reduction?
You should not raise your arms above shoulder height until at least two weeks after surgery.
Why am I still sore 4 weeks after breast reduction?
It is normal to experience pain and discomfort in the months following your breast surgery. Four weeks is well within the recovery timeframe, so you should still expect swelling and healing.
Is a boob reduction painful?
Anesthesia will be given during the procedure, so the procedure should be relatively pain-free, though you can experience pain for a couple of weeks after that.
Should I expect to feel better within six weeks?
You may be sore for up to six weeks after your operation. If the pain is hard to manage and is not lessening, then get back in touch with your surgeon.
Is driving after breast reduction allowed?
You can continue driving around one week after surgery if you are comfortable. However, if you are still experiencing pain or are taking pain relief medication, then you should not drive until you are pain-free and no longer require medication.
What are the red flags after breast reduction?
Following a breast reduction, be alert for infection signs such as redness, swelling, warmth, fever, or pus, as well as complications like severe pain, bleeding, or blood clots. Reach out to your surgeon right away if you notice any worrisome symptoms.
