How to Know How Long the Recovery Time Is After Breast Reduction Surgery

How long is the recovery time after breast reduction surgery? That depends on your age, your habits and lifestyle as well as the exact type of breast reduction surgery performed. All of these factors will determine how long your body will take to fully recover from the surgery.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Your lifestyle and habits influence your recovery time. Smokers as well as those with poor diet and exercise habits will tend to take longer to heal after breast reduction surgery
2. Young people heal better and more quickly than old people. As you get older healing takes more energy and time to accomplish.
3. Side-effects and complications can slow down recovery. Infection or bleeding may lengthen the time you need to fully recover from breast reduction surgery.
4. Take into account the extent of the surgery. If a large amount of mammary tissue was removed you can expect a longer recovery time.
5. Expect to return to work in two to three weeks, unless your job requires heavy physical activity. Pain and sensitivity of the breasts takes longer to fade--about a month. Breast shape takes the longest to recover--about six months.

Tips & Warnings

• In addition to requiring more time to heal, smokers will also tend to suffer more prominent scarring than non-smokers. If you smoke and are planning on breast reduction surgery, you should strongly consider quitting smoking.
• The more factors that work against you, the longer you’re recovery time is going to be. Many surgeons will provide guidelines for diet and activity that enhance your body’s ability to heal after surgery.