How Long is the Recovery from a Breast Reduction?
Breast development typically begins in adolescence, possibly leading to increased back pain, headaches, shoulder grooving from bra straps, chronic skin rashes, lower self-esteem, and difficulty finding clothes.
Dr. Rankin at NorCal Plastic Surgery helps patients restore their confidence and comfort through breast reduction surgery. We proudly serve the San Francisco Bay Area and Marin County.
What is a Breast Reduction?
Breast reduction, medically known as a reduction mammaplasty, helps women improve their self-image and comfort by reducing the size of their breasts. In 3-4 hours, Dr. Rankin removes fat, excess skin, and glandular tissue in the breasts through well-placed incisions. There are two types of incisions used in breast reduction.
The most common is vertical breast reduction, an incision around the areola and straight down to the breast crease. It is best suitable for smaller to moderate-sized breasts.
The wise pattern, or anchor technique, is similar to the vertical breast reduction, except it extends into a traditional anchor shape along the breast crease. While it leaves more scarring, the wise pattern breast reduction is best for those with severely oversized breasts.
How Long is Recovery from a Breast Reduction?
Most patients can return to non-physical activities after three days, making Friday the perfect day to receive a breast reduction to return to work on Monday. Total recovery typically takes 8-12 weeks.
Request a Consultation
We’d love to help you get all the information you need in order to make the best choice for your eyes. Request a consultation today! Our staff is available and happy to answer your every question.
Immediately After Surgery
You may be drowsy from the anesthetic and need someone to drive you home. Dr. Rankin uses long-lasting anesthetic to make you feel comfortable and reduce reliance on other pain medication.
You must wear a surgical dress and compression garment to protect your breasts during recovery. While we do not recommend exercising, short walks and light activity will help your body during recovery.
First Few Days
You may experience light bleeding or discharge from the surgical site for the first few days. While the anesthesia and pain medication can help manage the pain, you may experience tenderness, swelling, and bruising at the surgical site.
However, you will be able to return to work as soon as you feel comfortable doing so, but we recommend taking it easy.
2-3 Weeks
We recommend sleeping on your back to prevent any complications to your surgical site. After three weeks, most bruising and swelling should subside. Incisions may look pink or brown, and you can discuss with Dr. Rankin about starting other activities. Most patients can return to sexual activities after three weeks.
One Month
Most patients feel confident in their new breast size and start getting measured for new bras. At NorCal Plastic Surgery, we do not recommend wearing underwire bras until after Dr. Rankin clears you to do so. The underwire can irritate the skin and delay healing.
More intense activities may need to wait up to six weeks. Final results settle about a year after surgery.
Next Steps
If you are interested in breast reduction, please reach out to our qualified staff to schedule a consultation at one of our convenient locations in Walnut Creek and Greenbrae. Schedule your consultation with NorCal Plastic Surgery by calling our East Bay location at (925) 856-4800 or our North Bay location at 415-727-9666, or by filling out the consultation request form below. Helping you achieve your cosmetic goals is an honor and a privilege at NorCal Plastic Surgery, proudly serving the East Bay, Marin County, and the greater San Francisco Bay Area. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
