Thousands of women with large breasts undergo breast reduction surgery every year in the United States. Extremely large breasts create chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain and impact psychological and emotional health.
If you’re thinking of undergoing this surgery, you may be wondering how long it will be until you know your size post-surgery.
Well, every patients’ recovery is unique. Your healing can be influenced by your current health and lifestyle and how well you follow the pre- and post-operative instructions.
Breast reduction surgery is major surgery, and post-operative swelling is a normal side effect of the tissue injury. So, remember that your breasts need to recuperate from the surgical trauma. There will be a period of healing before your results become visible.
Keep reading to find out more about the general timeline of healing and when you can expect to see the final results.
What To Expect In The Months After Surgery
After the breast reduction surgery, you will feel and see an immediate difference in your breasts. You may be concerned to find that your breasts are more prominent than you expected them to be. However, swelling will typically be at its worst a week after surgery.
During a mammaplasty, there is a significant amount of breast tissue manipulation. Swelling is a normal inflammatory reaction to tissue injury. It’s just part of the healing process.
Towards the end of the first week, you will notice that the swelling begins to subside. Although, bruising may still be noticeable.
By week four, swelling should be noticeably reduced. While much of the breast reduction recovery happens by six weeks, residual swelling can last four months or more. It can take as long as nine months to see complete results for some patients.
Remember that breasts may heal at different rates. As such, they may look asymmetrical in the initial few months of recovery.
By six months, you should be able to invest in some fancy new lingerie! Beware of doing so before then. Not only might the bra be uncomfortable on the scarring, but swelling might not have resolved entirely, and you will end up with the wrong bra size.
What Cup Size Will I Have After A Breast Reduction?
A question that will be near the top of your list is ‘what cup size will I be after breast reduction?’
It is challenging to predict post-surgery for several reasons.
Breast volume has historically been hard to measure due to shape and size breast diversity. This lack of standardized breast measurements makes it difficult to assess postoperative results.
There is no standardization of bra cup sizes among bra manufacturers. So, a D cup from one company could be a C cup in another.
Additionally, many large-breasted women wear incorrect bra sizes before surgery, supporting or concealing their breasts in bras that are too small.
Surgeons consider measurements in inches, which provide an accurate look at how much tissue to remove to get the best results for the patient.
Choosing the final size is a combination of the patients’ goals and the existing shape and size of their breasts.
Read more: 10 Reasons Getting Breast Implants Is Absolutely Worth It
How To Achieve The Results Quickly And Completely
Breast reduction can mean a new lease on life for many women. Of course, patients are curious and often impatient to see the aesthetic and physical improvements brought about by their surgery.
While full recovery and the result can be a lengthy process, you can do certain things to speed up the recovery and reach your goal more quickly.
Here are a few top tips to follow.
- Surgical bras. These are designed to speed up the healing process by applying even, gentle pressure to the breast and surgical area. This reduces the swelling, increases blood flow, and helps maintain the contour of the breast while new tissue forms. Make sure you keep your compression garment in place for as long as your surgeon recommends.
- Stay hydrated. It is essential to drink enough water for several weeks after your breast reduction surgery. Adequate hydration helps clear the anesthetic from our system as well as assists in reducing fluid retention and swelling, thereby supporting healing.
- Take care when reclining. Although swelling is a natural part of your recovery, keeping your chest elevated when sleeping may help to minimize it.
- Walk. Start with gentle walking as soon after surgery as possible. Walking several times a day will improve blood circulation and promote healing.
Conclusion
While it may be months before you see the final results of your breast reduction, you must follow your surgeon’s instructions meticulously. Doing so will help you reap the best results possible from your surgery.
If you’re ready to take the next step and undergo this life-changing surgery, then get in touch with us at Millennial Plastic Surgery, where Dr. David Shokrian can help you achieve the results you want!
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