Following breast reduction surgery, patients generally report mild to moderate discomfort, which is easily controlled with medication. Varying degrees of swelling, bruising, and firmness subside over several weeks to months. The periareolar-vertical and periareolar breast reduction techniques often result in varying degrees of “pleats” or folds around the incisions, which will resolve over weeks to months. Sutures (stitches) are removed after seven days. Patients can generally return to work after several days to one week. Light exercise may begin after four to six weeks. A support bra is generally worn for two to three months following the surgery and is encouraged as much as possible thereafter to maintain the contour. Recovery and healing will vary from patient to patient and depend on the extent of the surgery. It must also be remembered that complete healing takes time and patience, taking up to one year or longer before realizing the final results of breast reduction surgery. It can take this amount of time for scars to soften, lighten and fade and for the breast tissue to soften, relax ad remodel itself. The breasts will get slightly smaller and descend to a certain extent as swelling subsides and the effects of gravity and tissue relaxation act on the newly tightened skin envelope. Most patients find this beneficial in that the breasts look more natural over time. The ability to breast-feed after breast reduction is generally preserved, but cannot be guaranteed.

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Content provided by Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Sam Gershenbaum. Dr. Gershenbaum is a plastic surgeon in Miami Florida