Breast reduction is a surgical procedure that will remove the mammary, fat and skin tissues that are in excess to reach a more suitable dimension of the breasts and to alleviate the multiple discomforts associated with having overly large breasts.
In many cases, huge breasts can cause physical or emotional issues. The self-esteem of the patient can suffer, as well as the overall development of the woman. For example, teenagers with overly large breasts can develop spine conditions and an abnormal body posture that can affect them for the rest of their lives if the volume of the breasts aren’t be reduced. Moreover, the volume and weight of the excess mammary tissue can affect the patient’s ability to lead a normal and active life. The emotional discomfort associated with overly large breasts can be an issue just as significant as the physical discomfort for some women.
Breast reduction surgery should only be performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon in an accredited medical facility to reduce the risks associated with the procedure. In a vast majority of cases, hospitalization after breast reduction surgery is no longer than 12-24 hours, depending on the amount of tissue to be removed and the post-op healing of the patient. After breast reduction, the surgical incisions are bandaged and a special post-op bra is put on to reduce the post-op edema and to offer support for the breasts after surgery.
Many patients want to know what they can expect during the first two days after breast reduction surgery, and this is indeed an important topic to discuss with the plastic surgeon during the pre-operative consultation.
Generally speaking, the initial phase of the recovery process can include swelling, edema, and discomfort on the incisions and the breasts. The discomfort and pain are common side effects that can occur after any type of surgical intervention and can easily be alleviated with medication prescribed by the plastic surgeon.
Aside from pain medication, the patient will also be prescribed antibiotics which has the purpose of preventing a potential infection that can occur in the days following the surgical procedure.
The first few days after breast reduction surgery, the patient is advised to get plenty of rest, but not to lie or put any pressure on the breasts. This means that in most cases, the first few days after breast reduction surgery will be spent in bed or on the couch. Every few hours, the patient should take short walks around the room or the house to avoid the formation of blood clots. It is important during this time to drink plenty of water not to get dehydrated and to resume eating gradually.
The pain can be more intense during the first two days post-op. This is a normal side effect of the procedure. However, if the pain is too intense or associated with other symptoms of infection, the patient should contact the plastic surgeon immediately.