Your recovery after breast reduction surgery affects how your breasts will look over time. How you take care of your incisions, how you control the pain and when you resume your normal activities including exercising will help you in obtaining the best possible appearance after breast reduction surgery.

Breast reduction or reduction mammoplasty as it is also known, is a surgical procedure that removes glandular tissue, fat and skin from the breasts. It is typically performed under general anesthesia. Breast reduction surgery comes with a significant recovery period.

Here is a timeline of what to expect after a high-end breast reduction surgery in Dubai:

·         Post-Op instructions. You will receive postoperative instructions from your treating Plastic Surgeon to follow after the surgery. It is crucial to follow them carefully as they also play a part in determining the final results. The instructions include the types of garments to wear, medication to apply to the treatment area, oral medications to take to help in healing, reduce discomfort and the risk of infection and also when to follow up with your Plastic Surgeon.

·         What to expect in the first week? When you wake up from the procedure, you will find that you are either wearing an elastic bandage or a surgical bra over the gauze and dressings. You’ll need to be a bit patient when it comes to taking care of yourself immediately after the surgery. It’s always helpful to arrange to have some help for a couple of days after the surgery, you can try talking to a friend or a family member to take care of you as you recover. You need to be very comfortable with the person as you might need assistance with washing and bathing. You may have mild pain when you raise your arms. In general however, Breast reduction surgery is not a very painful procedure and most patients are surprised at how quickly they recover from it.

You will have sutures and possible drainage tubes, which will be in place for a couple of days after the procedure. After the dressings and gauze have been removed, you will be required to wear a surgical bra for the next several weeks. The surgical bra will help in controlling the swelling and hold the breasts in proper alignment, thus allowing the tissue to conform to the desired contour.

·         In the weeks following your surgery. One to two weeks following your surgery, your stitches will be removed. Your breasts will also be tender and there will be some swelling and bruising which will fade gradually. You may experience some dryness and itching as the surgical area heals.

In order to reduce painful swelling, you should increase your water intake and reduce your sodium intake as this helps in flushing the fluid out of the body.

You should be able to return to work after about one two weeks, depending on what your profession is. Keep in mind that you are supposed to avoid lifting heavy objects and strenuous activities for at least six weeks so as to allow the body to heal so you may have to adjust your exercise routine in the period after the surgery and resume exercise only gradually.

·         Long-term recovery. Everyone recovers from surgery differently. Some individuals may experience hypersensitivity of the surgical area, others numbness which may last for up to a year or even longer following the surgery. And there are others who may not have any of these sensations.

Also healing from scars differs because people are different. Although the scars fade over time, in many cases, they will not disappear.

For some women, the breasts can swell and become tender at the first menstrual cycle after the procedure. For others, they may continue to experience sporadic pain, especially during menstruation for a couple of months after the procedure.

Book your appointment for a consultation

Would you like to understand what options are available for Breast reduction in Dubai? Meet one of our experts at Al Shunnar Plastic Surgery for a personal consultation to develop a tailor-made plan for you. Contact us or Book an appointment and our patient care coordinators will identify the most suitable expert for you.