Like all surgical procedures, breast reduction surgery is one that you need to take your time on making a decision on. From the pre-surgery questions to the post-surgery aftercare, knowledge of what you’re going to go through is key to ensuring that you end up with the best possible results.
Whilst it’s not commonly talked about, at least in comparison to breast enlargement surgery, over 40,000 women make the decision to undergo breast reduction surgery every year. The decision itself can be made for a variety of reasons, including (but not limited to) health problems, pain and purely cosmetic reasons. The surgery itself is purpose designed to reduce the size of the breasts, which in turn has a number of physical benefits such as reducing back and shoulder pain and mental benefits such as being generally happier in your own body.
But, as we mentioned earlier, when it comes to making a lifechanging decision like undergoing surgery, it’s incredibly important to have all the right information in a way that you can read and absorb it. Instead of focusing on what to know before surgery, we’re going to focus on the recovery and what comes next.
What should I expect after the breast reduction procedure?
The recovery period for breast reduction takes some time, but knowing what is going to happen and when to expect it is half of the battle. Depending on exactly what is required, the surgery is likely to last anywhere up to around six hours and most patients will be able to go home on the same day.
What happens in the first few days?
For the first few days after surgery, you’re going to be feeling some pain, discomfort and tenderness in your breasts. You’re also likely to notice that your breasts and the area around them may also be bruised and swollen because the tissues and muscles have been stretched and altered during surgery. If the pain is a bit too much, then you’re able to take pain relief medication to manage the pain during this period. It’s also possible that drainage tubes may be required to help reduce the swelling in the breasts which are often removed a couple of days after surgery.
It’s heavily advised that women recovering from breast reduction surgery wear surgical bras to support the breasts and surrounding tissue during this initial period as it will help the tissue to heal well. It’s also incredibly important to avoid any strenuous activity such as heavy lifting or exercises during this period as this can cause unnecessary stress and damage to the area.
What happens in the first few weeks?
Over the next few weeks following surgery, the majority of the bruising and swelling that was happening for the first few days is likely to have subsided. It’s possible that it’s still going to be uncomfortable and painful, although this is rare and it should be much less painful than it was.
At this point, the surgical stitches are generally removed as the tissue continues through the healing process. Any dressings and gauze should have also been removed by now, but it’s still recommended that the surgical bra is still used to provide support to the area while it is still healing.
Depending on your lifestyle and where you work, it’s also possible that you’ll be able to start returning to a more normal way of life. For example, if you work in an office based setting where you spend most of your time sat behind a desk then you’re likely to be completely safe to return to work, but if you work as a personal trainer and your job is more physically demanding then it’s possible that you’re going to need to spend more time recovering from the breast reduction surgery.
What happens in the month after breast reduction surgery?
Over the first month or so, the majority of women that undergo breast reduction surgery experience an almost complete recovery. Having said that, it’s still heavily advised that a lot of care is taken with the breasts as it is still very possible that they could be damaged or suffer from an infection.
After a month or two, the breasts should start to feel more natural and softer again, but the swelling on the breasts can continue for up to year post surgery.
Is breast reduction surgery going to leave me with scars?
This is probably the biggest concern that women have when it comes to undergoing surgery and it’s completely understandable, nobody wants to look at their own body and see scars.
Even after your body has fully recovered, any scarring associated with the surgery is going to remain and will be permanent. The good news is that the way they look right after surgery when they’re red and swollen isn’t how they will stay, and over time they will gradually fade into faint lines that will be much less noticeable.
They’re also likely to be hidden away as well wherever possible as breast reduction surgeons tend to carefully position the incisions so that they are in less visible areas of the breast (like the natural creases underneath) so that it is still possible for the patient to wear things like swimsuits or dresses that are a little more revealing.
Can I reduce the recovery time of breast reduction surgery?
It’s difficult to tell someone to just sit down and relax nowadays with most women leading very busy lives, so it’s second nature to want to know if there’s a way to speed up the recovery period and get back on your feet again. It’s very important to give yourself the right amount of time you need to recover from breast reduction surgery, but there are a number of steps you can take to make the recovery go quicker which include;
- Don’t smoke
- Don’t drink alcohol, especially in the first few days following surgery
- Stay as hydrated as possible
- Use extra pillows to keep yourself as upright as you can when sleeping
- Avoid any strenuous or physical exercise
As long as you make sure you give yourself enough time and space to recover and follow the recommendations above, you’ll be able to reduce the time you need to recover and improve the probability of undergoing a completely safe recovery.
To find out more about breast reduction surgery or to book a completely free, no obligation consultation, contact us today on 0800 772 0039 or simply just click here to find out more.