When you take the plunge and finally decide to go ahead with breast reduction surgery, it’s understandable that you want to get back to normal life as quickly as possible and enjoy your results. Hopefully, you’ll be able to wear the clothes you have always longed to and take part in activities that were previously uncomfortable due to the size of your chest.
Whilst it’s exciting to prepare for the ‘new you’ it’s important to take a medium-term approach to your recovery. A quick recovery is possible, but it does depend on you having patience and taking your time in the initial period after surgery.
Leaving hospital
When you leave hospital, your breasts will be supported with adhesive tape and a small tube will be placed in each breast to drain off blood and fluids for the first day or two. You’ll have stitches but these will be absorbed so won’t need to be removed.
Of course, your breasts will be sore for at least a couple of weeks, especially when you move or cough, though the pain can be controlled with medication that we will prescribe for you before you leave hospital.
We know that you’ll want to bathe as quickly as possible, but you’ll need to wait three or four days just to let the skin settle. The tapes will be removed after one week and you’ll be able to wear a soft bra. We usually recommend wearing the bra round-the-clock for several weeks until the swelling and bruising subside. You may be advised to avoid sex for a week or more and to avoid anything but gentle contact with your breasts for about six weeks.
Everyone recovers at a different pace of course but expect it to take anything from six months to one year before your breasts settle into their new shape (which can fluctuate in response to hormones, weight changes and pregnancy). Note that your first period following surgery may cause swelling and pain in your breasts and you may experience random, shooting pains for a few months, but this subsides in time.