Breast reduction recovery week by week
Breast reduction surgery is one of the aesthetic surgeries that relieves the patient from back pain, overweight appearance, posture disorders; suits her body better, increases her self-confidence, and adds health to her body. With breast reduction surgery, the individual has more natural, young, firm and small breasts.
The shape of the breasts in breast reduction is achieved only when combined with breast lift. In some cases, breast liposuction may be recommended to women who do not want scars on their breasts in traditional breast reduction procedures.
During breast reduction surgery, questions such as how long the recovery period will take, what can be done to minimize your pain, when you can start sports and exercise and when you can return to your normal life will inevitably come to mind.
In this blog post about breast reduction surgery, we answered these questions and compiled what you need to know after breast reduction surgery.
How long does it take to recover from breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery recovery takes time. You will remain under general anesthesia for several hours after the surgery, which will take several hours. You will also be monitored in the recovery area until you are awake and stable enough to go home.
The first improvements after breast reduction surgery are seen within 15 days. It may take longer for the breasts to reach the desired position, remove the edema and take their final shape.
In all breast aesthetic surgeries, it can take 6 months to 1 year to achieve the final surgical results, as in rhinoplasty surgeries.
The first 3 days after breast reduction surgery
Breast reduction surgery is performed with general anesthesia. Due to the effects of anesthesia, the individual may feel tired and sleepy after the surgery.
A special surgical bra is worn by the patient after breast reduction surgery. The surgical bra should be worn for 6-8 weeks.
As part of the healing process, drainage may be applied very rarely to reduce swelling and remove excess fluid and blood.
You will need to arrange for someone to transport you home after surgery and to help you with your daily activities for the first few days after surgery.
Prescribed painkillers can be used to relieve pain for the first 3 days and other prescribed medications should be used, dressings should be done regularly, arms and body should not be strained, and there must be someone to accompany the patient during home care.
1-2 weeks after breast reduction surgery
After breast reduction surgery, generally, towards the end of the first week, the patient is allowed to take a shower, provided that it is not long and not with excessively hot water. If your plastic surgeon has special recommendations for you regarding showering and post-operative care, they should definitely be followed.
In the first and second weeks after surgery, taking short walks without tiring your body will help your body get rid of the edema quickly.
During this period, you may still feel mild discomfort and experience very little breast tension. This is a natural part of the healing process. In the 2nd week after breast reduction surgery, you may notice improvement in the areas where bruising and edema occur. During this period, taking care to eat healthy and consume plenty of fluids will also help reduce the edema and help your body heal quickly.
After breast reduction surgery, dissolvable stitches are usually used on the body. These stitches do not need to be removed; if stitches that need to be removed due to individual differences have been used, they will be removed during the follow-up examination to be held on the date recommended by your plastic surgeon.
It is also very beneficial to use the scar creams prescribed to you correctly to lighten the scars of breast reduction surgery. After breast reduction surgery, lying down on a high place or lifting heavy objects off the ground should be avoided.
2-4 weeks after breast reduction surgery
The vast majority of patients can return to normal activities starting from the 3rd week after breast reduction surgery. Of course, during this period, the patient should move in a way that will not damage the surgical tissues. A non-wired sports bra is also used in the 3rd and 4th weeks.
Edema decreases significantly in the first month after breast reduction surgery. There may be slight itching due to healing in the breast reduction surgery stitch areas.
4-6 weeks after breast reduction surgery
From the 4th week after breast reduction surgery, the days when the patient feels better and has more energy have come. The stitches that can be dissolved in the 4th and 6th weeks will have long since dissolved. Light exercises that do not strain the chest muscles can be started by paying attention to your doctor's recommendations.
After breast reduction surgery, when one and a half months are completedpatients can usually wear a wired bra with the permission of their doctor. From this period onwards, patients generally do not feel any pain or discomfort while lying on their side.
Will there be a scar after breast reduction surgery?
Since there is a surgical intervention after breast reduction surgery, a scar will of course occur. Breast reduction surgery scars can be minimized depending on the technique applied and the patient's proper post-operative care.
In order to reduce the appearance of breast reduction surgery scars, the following should be done:
- You should regularly use the scar creams your surgeon deems appropriate to reduce the breast reduction surgery scar.
- You should support the body's self-renewal by eating healthy and create a protein-rich diet.
- You should stay away from exercises that will cause tension in the stitch area after surgery.
- Cryotherapy treatment is a special treatment method to freeze the scar tissue and reduce it even further.
- Again, laser skin rejuvenation treatments can be preferred in this context to reduce the visibility of scars.
- You can accelerate your recovery by massaging the scar.
- And direct exposure to sunlight and sunbathing (especially in the first year) should be avoided.
What should be considered after breast reduction surgery?
What should be done, what should not be done after breast reduction surgery and what should be considered to shorten the recovery process can be listed as follows:
What should be done after breast reduction surgery:
- The procedure should be applied meticulously during the dressing period.
- A healthy diet should be applied to support the body's recovery.
- Plenty of fluids should be consumed to remove the edema that occurs in the breast after breast reduction surgery.
- Depending on your surgeon's recommendation, you can take a shower towards the end of the first week.
- A sports bra should definitely be worn for the duration recommended by your surgeon.
- Light and short walks in the first weeks after surgery have a positive effect on removing edema. Light exercises can be done starting from the 2nd week without straining the chest muscles and body.
- Recommended medications and creams should be used carefully.
- Try to lie on your back with your breasts up.
- In case of the slightest problem regarding your recovery process, contact our doctor and clinical team.
Do not do these after breast reduction surgery::
- As with all surgical procedures, products that may disrupt the healing process such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes and alcohol should be avoided after breast reduction surgery.
- Sunbathing should be avoided after breast reduction surgery.
- Salty, pickled products that have an edema-retaining effect should not be consumed.
- All behaviors, especially lifting a high product that causes the arms to move or lifting something heavy from the floor, should be avoided for the first 15 days.
- Extremely hot steamy environments such as saunas and Turkish baths should be avoided and swimming should not be avoided for approximately four weeks.
- Lying face down and on the side should be avoided for the first month.
How many days does it take for stitches to heal in breast surgery?
If dissolvable stitches were placed in the body, they usually disappear within 4-6 weeks - after breast reduction surgery. If stitches that need to be removed were applied, the patient usually returns to normal life by the second week, provided that they avoid activities that will strain them, and the stitches are healed.
The individual should be very careful about themselves in the first two weeks. They should stay away from behaviors that require them to move their arms.
How to reduce swelling after breast reduction surgery?
If the breasts start to heal and there is no pain when touched, a cream recommended by your doctor can be massaged to reduce swelling. Also, try to use the bra that should be used after surgery.
When to wear an underwire bra after breast reduction surgery?
A surgical bra should be worn for 6-8 weeks after breast reduction surgery. An underwire bra can be worn after this period with the recommendation of your plastic surgeon.
When to drive after breast reduction surgery?
You can drive short distances from the 10th day.