Breast Reduction Recovery: The Healing Process
At The Landings Surgical Centre, we have helped numerous patients throughout Halifax with their body contouring and sculpting needs. Among these needs is breast reduction surgery, which improves overall figure and body shape and can alleviate back, neck, and shoulder pain associated with disproportionately large breasts.
Below are some basic healing instructions to give you an idea of what to expect as you recover from breast reduction surgery. More detailed post-operative instructions will be provided at the plastic surgery centre during your consultation process.
What to Expect Immediately After Breast Reduction Surgery
After undergoing breast reduction surgery, it is not uncommon to experience some degree of soreness, fatigue, and grogginess. These are all normal responses to the nature of surgery. Patients should return home to rest, and should sleep partially upright with their backs supported by pillows.
Activities to Avoid as You Recover
Recovery from breast reduction surgery means getting ample rest and not overtaxing your body physically so you're given full opportunity to heal. With that in mind, it's important to consider the following until your plastic surgeon has told you otherwise:
- Strenuous physical activities
- Sexual activity
- Heavy lifting
- Reaching for objects above the head
- Bending over at the waist
- Sleeping on your side or stomach
- Vigorous exercise
- Use of tobacco products
- Consumption of alcoholic beverages
What to Expect In the First Days of Recovery
Discomfort, bruising, and swelling are all common side effects following breast reduction surgery. Pain relievers can be taken as instructed in order to improve comfort. A surgical bra or surgical dressings will be worn at this time in order to ensure proper healing. Patients will continue to rest and stay well-hydrated to help promote good healing.
What to Expect by the End of the First Week
By the end of the first week, patients will have returned to practice for a followup visit to monitor the progress of healing and provide added instructions on what to do as recovery continues. Patients should feel free to contact their surgeon/the practice with any concerns that they may have about the healing process at any time. It is always best to have urgent concerns addressed sooner rather than later.
Patients will notice that major bruising and swelling should be on the wane. Though both may still be noticeable, they should be significantly less pronounced. Soreness should also be less serious, and patients will often be able to return to work around this time, though this depends on their job duties.
What to Expect in the Weeks Ahead
In the weeks ahead, swelling and bruising will continue to fade and sensations of soreness will continue to diminish. Patients will be able to slowly return to normal activities. Additional followups will take place as patients heal to continue monitoring recovery and results.
Patients may notice issues with breast and nipple sensitivity while they are healing, which is normal and should become less frequent or troublesome as healing continues over the next few months. Over this extended amount of time, the surgical scars should begin to fade and become less noticeable.
Schedule a Consultation at The Landings Surgical Centre
If you would like more information about breast reduction surgery and how it can help you look your absolute best, be sure to contact our cosmetic plastic surgery centre today. The team at The Landings Surgical Centre looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you achieve all of your aesthetic goals.
