After The Surgery
After the surgery, you will use a sports bra over the dressings. Usually, a small silicone tube (drain) can be attached to both breasts to drain the blood and tissue fluid that may accumulate inside during 1 day postoperatively.
Usually, our patients state that their pain significantly diminishes in 2-3 days and they do not need any painkillers. However, you may feel mild pain for several days. In particular, this pain may be more when you walk and cough in a 2-3 day period. In order to reduce your pain, your surgeon will offer you 2 different groups of painkillers.
Bandages are removed a few days after the surgery but you should continue to wear the sports bra for 4-6 weeks until the swelling regresses. Your tapes can be removed after a week or two. There is no need to remove stitches since there are no stitches. We usually allow our patients to take a shower after 3 days after the surgery.
After the surgery, if your breast skin becomes dry, you can apply moisturizer several times a day but pay attention to keep the taped area dry.
The period of menstruation following the surgery may cause swelling in your breasts and pain more than usual. You may feel pain in the form of tingling for several months. You may experience some loss of sensation in your nipples and breast skin due to swelling after the surgery. This usually disappears in about six weeks and all your senses usually return to normal.
Recovery
Even if you return to normal life within a day, you should avoid lifting and pushing heavy things for three or four weeks.
Your surgeon will give you detailed instructions to follow in your daily activities. The majority of women can return to work (unless it is hard and tiring) and social activities within 7-10 days. You will have less strength for a week or two and you should limit your exercises to stretching, bending and swimming until your energy level is restored. You will need a sports bra for support.
It may be good to stay away from sexual activity for two to three weeks as sexual activity may cause the swelling of the incision sites. However, you will need to avoid anything other than gentle contact with your breasts for six weeks.
A small amount of leakage or crusting of the surgical site is normal. If you have unusual symptoms such as rare and sudden pain and swelling, call your doctor without waiting.
Anaesthesia Type
Breast reduction is almost always performed under general anaesthesia. You will be asleep during the whole surgery. Your pain is easily controlled with appropriate painkillers after the surgery.
Your New Appearance
Although most of the swelling and bruising disappears in the first weeks, it may take six months to one year for your breasts to get into their new shape. Even after that, it may vary according to hormonal changes, weight changes and as a reaction to pregnancy.
Your surgeon will apply special treatments for making surgical incisions less noticeable. It should be noted that there may be redness in the incision regions for several months but at the end of the healing period, it turns into thin white lines.
Among all plastic surgery methods, breast reduction procedure provides the fastest change of the body outlines. The balance between the upper and lower half of the body improves and the harmony and aesthetics of the body become better. You will get rid of the inconvenience of large breasts and your body will look more proportional and your clothes will fit better.
However, as much as you desire these changes, you and others around you will need time to adapt to your new image. Be patient with yourself and to all of these changes.