Simply put, sleeping on your back keeps your breasts in an optimal position for healing. We therefore recommend you keep this position for eight to 12 weeks post-surgery. Some online sources suggest four to six weeks are enough, but you will continue healing beyond this short window of time.
Do not try to exercise, diet or do anything more than rest and recover. You will need to sleep on your back for at least 2-3 weeks. If you are a stomach sleeper or side sleeper, this can be the most difficult part of your recovery, so consider purchasing a body pillow or sleeping in a recliner.
Whether you've had breast augmentation or a mommy makeover, you'll need to sleep with your upper body elevated. This helps minimize fluid buildup and swelling around the surgical site, a side effect that could occur during the first two weeks of recovery.
Generally, you can go back to working out two to three weeks after breast lift or breast reduction surgery. This depends on how you feel. Do not lift anything that weighs more than five pounds for three weeks. Avoid contact sports for six weeks.
You can typically start to do a little bit of housework a few weeks after the surgery. By this time, most patients are also able to go back to work (provided that your job is not physically intensive). You can start walking almost immediately after the surgery.
Please avoid strenuous upper arm/ chest muscle exercises for 6 weeks after surgery. Please limit lifting to no greater than 20 lbs.
Many patients find themselves feeling fatigued after breast surgery as their bodies are working hard to heal. Getting enough sleep — and sleeping in the right position — is an integral part of your recovery process.
Wear a soft supportive bra like the one your nurse gave you for 6 weeks after your surgery, even while Caring for Yourself After Breast Reduction Surgery 5/7 Page 6 sleeping. You can remove your bra when you shower. Don't wear a bra that has an underwire while your incisions are healing.
Instead, most plastic surgeons recommend that patients who have had breast surgery sleep exclusively on their backs until they are fully healed. Sleeping on your back means that gravity cannot affect your chest muscles and reduces the risk of painful stretching and pulling that can damage your new breasts.
There is risk of infection in every surgical procedure, but breast reduction patients run the risk of losing feeling in their nipples, bruising, and developing scars in particular. I still have feeling in my nipples, but it's important to know that losing it is a possibility.
The amount of weight you'll lose depends on how much tissue you remove with surgery. However, you shouldn't expect your operation to tip the scales. Even the largest breasts only weigh only a few pounds per breast.
Ask for Help Around the House. For the first few weeks while you are recovering either hire someone to help you with things around the house or ask a family member to lend a hand. Things like too much bending over or heavy lifting may break open your incision and cause bleeding.
You should avoid going braless before the six-week mark after your surgery. Dr. Howland requires patients to wear their compression bra for several weeks at all times except when bathing to aid the healing process.
During the first three weeks after breast reduction, your tissues are vulnerable and painful. Also, the swelling is at its maximum level, and there is still the risk of developing a seroma. You should wear a compression bra day and night at this stage, but you can take them off when showering.
Is the breast reduction procedure painful? Anesthesia will be given during the procedure, but you should expect to feel sore for two to three days after surgery. You will be prescribed pain medication, and your surgeon may advise placing wrapped ice packs gently over sore areas to help with pain and swelling.
Wash with warm water and gentle, fragrance-free soap. Gently clean your upper incisions and drain sites, and rinse well. Don't aim the shower stream directly at your breast. Aim it at your upper back or your arm.
Breast Reduction Recovery: Day One at Home
Gauze bandages will be covering the incisions and you will be wearing a padded surgical bra that provides a slight healthy compression and plenty of breast support. To help the healing process, your job is to rest for the time being.
In gynecomastia surgeries or explant surgeries, not wearing compression garments as advised may result in excess skin being left over and associated sagging of skin around your breasts.
Myth: Breast Reduction Surgery Is Very Painful
In general, breast reduction surgery is significantly less painful than breast augmentation surgery.
You should be able to move around soon after having breast enlargement surgery. It can take a few weeks to fully recover from surgery, so you should take a week or 2 off work. You should not drive for at least 1 week.
Swelling occurs in the body as the lymphatics have been surgically disrupted. However, it is important to remember that swelling is an important part of the recovery process and is essential for healing! The swollen areas actually contain white blood cells and proteins that are needed to heal the surgical area.
For about 2 to 3 weeks after surgery, or until your doctor says it's okay, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or a child.
However, your stretches will be limited for several weeks after your surgery. Too much strain — such as an overhead stretch — could damage the breast muscles and make another surgery necessary.