Phases In Recovery From Breast Reduction

Recovery from breast reduction, like most other surgeries, requires time to heal. While the actual healing time will differ from person to person, you need to be aware of the recovery process. This will ensure there are no unpleasant surprises and you do not feel that you are undergoing something unnatural. To help you understand the recovery process clearly, a stage-by-stage description is narrated below.

Initial Stage (First Few Days):

In the first few days after a breast reduction surgery, it is natural to notice some swelling around the areas in which an incision had been made. Doctors advise patients to either wear a bandage or a special bra to ensure that the operated area is not exposed to germs and is covered with medication. Extra care must be taken to ensure there is no unusual stress on or around the breast area.

Medium Stage (Next few weeks):

In the weeks following a liposuction, there are a number of restrictions you need to adopt to make quicker recovery from breast reduction. Firstly, heavy physical activity like lifting or pulling is advised to be avoided. Secondly, post-surgery, patients are advised against engaging in sexual activity since it might cause stress around the operated area leading to swelling or even infection. Thirdly, any itchiness or swelling observed during this period is quite natural; hence it is nothing to get upset about. You may try and soothe the area around the operated region by applying a moisturizer.

Final Stage (Subsequent Weeks):

In the weeks following the medium stage of recovery from breast reduction, you must be sensitive to the changes that occur owing to the breast reduction by liposuction. For one, women tend to experience pain in the breasts especially during menstruation. Additionally, as per breast reduction recovery stories, some women might experience a numb sensation around the breasts while others might feel their breasts to have become more sensitive than before. It is important to adhere to the routine the surgeon prescribes to avoid complicating the situation. Finally, with all the right precautions, it is but a question of time before you experience complete healing.

It is worthwhile to mention here that the results of a breast reduction surgery may not be apparent on day one, and it is easy to get depressed with all the swelling and bruising on the breasts. Although the healing is a slow process, it might take up to a few months to recover completely and experience the benefits of the surgery. The scars from the surgery may initially make the breast look reddish and lumpy. However, over time, the scars tend to fade away and disappear into the skin.

Since this surgery is by nature delicate, it is important to take the doctor’s advice on all the precautions you need to take. For those of you who smoke, it is absolutely essential to stop smoking before and even after the operation, since the nicotine and other harmful chemicals from cigarettes tend to interfere with the healing process.

Patients are also advised to take special care of the areas that underwent incision. At the first signs of any breast reduction complications, such as - infection arising in the operated area, you should report to your surgeon so that any complications in the making can be nipped, there and then.

Remember, any delay can stretch your recovery from breast reduction considerably. It is but a small price to pay for the enormous benefits that accrue from a breast reduction surgery.