Consumer's Guide to Breast Reduction: Post Surgery Recovery FAQs

Breast Reduction Assessment of Value and Outcomes (BRAVO) Study

1. How should I prepare for my return home?

This is a list of things that others have found to be helpful in the recovery process:

Recliner or "sitting support" pillow

Cordless Phone

2 or 3 house robes/housedresses with snaps and large pockets

Pkg. of flex-neck straws

Gentle laxative

Body pillow

Few small "tuck behind" pillows

Thermometer

Few good movies or books

Few boxes of Kleenex®

Variety of easy-cook or pre-cook meals

Cloth headband for long hair

Slip on shoes for trip home

Pillow/cover for seat belt

Clothes pin to "stop" seatbelt retractor

Button/snap blouse for trip home

Slip on pants or sweatpants for trip home

Pre-made Jell-O®

Non-stick "Tefla™" pads 4 x 4 or 2 x 2

Micropore tape

4 x 4 gauze pads

Fill your prescriptions before your surgery date

Lots of Vitamin C and K foods

Lots of protein foods (meat or vegetable proteins)

Wash hair and shave before going to hospital (It'll be a while)

Soft sponge for bathing before showering is allowed

Move all your "daily use" items within arms reach (straight out)

Small containers for drinks (a gallon of milk will weigh a TON)

Listing of Drs and hospital phone #s for caregivers/helpers

"Over-the-counter" pain relievers

Anti-bacterial soap

Temporary care for house pets (that may jump on you!)

2. What is recovery like and how long will it take?

Many breast reductions are done as outpatient surgeries. This means you will go home after you wake up from the anesthesia. In some cases, you may stay for a short period (one or two days) in the hospital after surgery. You will be wrapped in elastic bandages or a surgical bra over gauze. A small tube may be inserted in each breast to allow blood and fluids to drain for the first few days.

After surgery, pain medications and (sometimes) antibiotics are given. You will still wear the surgical bra for several weeks until swelling and bruising decrease. Follow-up visits are required after surgery. This is so the stitches can be removed and the incisions can be checked. They may be scheduled at 1 week and at 1, 3, and 6 months after surgery.

After surgery you will experience some pain. There may be initial sensation loss while breasts are swollen. In some cases, this loss of sensation may be permanent. (See above) For the first few months after surgery you may also experience shooting pains throughout your breasts. These will eventually fade away.

Recovery varies for each patient, but bed rest may only be needed for a day or two after the procedure. Even in the first 24-48 hours after surgery, it is important for patients to be out of bed and walking every two hours during the day and early evening. Continuous bed rest following surgery may increase your risks for pneumonia and blood clots following surgery.

3. How much pain will I have after surgery?

Following breast reduction, patients vary considerably in the amounts of pain they experience. However, the vast majority of women find their discomfort to be easily controlled on pain medications by mouth (pain pills). You likely will receive a prescription pain medicine after your surgery. Most patients find this medication helpful for the first few days following surgery.

Others rely on over-the-counter pain relievers such as Extra Strength Tylenol. We recommend that women avoid medicine containing aspirin or Motrin-type drugs (Ibuprofen) for two weeks before and one week after their breast reductions, due to the increased risk of post-operative bleeding associated with these medicines.

4. What are my restrictions after surgery?

Although post-operative instructions vary by surgeon, your provider likely will restrict your driving and other physical activities for two to four weeks following the operation. Generally, women should avoid physical work and heavy lifting (over five pounds) for the first three weeks after breast reduction.

Depending on their particular occupations, women usually can return to work about two to four weeks after the procedure, but if the job requires heavy exertion, the return time to work may be longer. For about one month after the procedure, underwire bras should be avoided. Make sure you thoroughly discuss post-operative physical limitations with your doctor.

5. When will I be able to return to work?

Most people are back to work within two to four weeks. Some women (office workers, for example) can return to work in about two weeks, while others may take as long as four to six weeks depending on the nature of their job. However, complete healing requires up to one year after surgery. After breast reduction, the appearance of your breasts will change with time. Three months or longer may be needed to achieve a natural "look and feel" for your breasts.

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