Breast Reduction Frequently Asked Questions

Specific recovery time will vary between clients but, generally, 2 weeks downtime can be expected. Clients can resume driving 1 week after surgery and, in most cases, return to work after 2 – 3 weeks. As with all aspects of your procedure, your Plastic Surgeon will provide you with personalised advice about your recovery timeframes. 

In most cases, gentle walking can resume after the first week. Clients heal at different rates but, typically, normal exercise can be reintroduced around 6 weeks post-surgery. Heavy lifting, strenuous exercise, swimming, and bathing can drastically affect your surgical results. You should not resume these activities until you’ve completely recovered. Your Surgeon will provide you with personalised advice to ensure a safe and optimal recovery.

The levels of pain and discomfort after a Breast Reduction can vary. Everyone has a different pain threshold and may experience it as mild, moderate, or severe. Numbness and a tight feeling across the chest are normal and, like any pain experienced, should resolve within 2 weeks. Your Plastic Surgeon will prescribe medication to manage your symptoms during this time.

No. When too much fat, skin, and glandular tissue is removed during surgery, it results in an inadequate supply of blood to the nipple and surrounding breast tissue. This will cause permanent tissue damage. At CosMediTour, client wellbeing is our number one priority so, when performing Breast Reduction surgery, our Plastic Surgeons will always work within the limits of safety. Your Surgeon will provide personalised advice on what this looks like for you. 

Scarring from a Breast Reduction incision looks like a thin, raised line on your skin. Initially, the line will be pink or red, however, over time it will fade and flatten. Our leading Plastic Surgeons use proven techniques to minimise scarring and will provide advice on how you can further reduce the appearance through post-surgery care.

As a guide, generally, it’s best to wait until 6 months after breastfeeding. This allows enough time for the completion of post-pregnancy changes to your breasts and will enable your Surgeon to accurately determine how much tissue and skin need to be removed. Bear in mind that weight loss can impact the results of your Breast Reduction—it’s worth considering this when making your decision. 

During a Breast Reduction procedure, the nipple is not removed but rather moved upwards whilst still attached to the breast. The remaining breast tissue and skin are removed to create a smaller overall breast.

When performed as a standalone procedure, Breast Reduction surgery takes approximately 2 hours.  When combined with an additional procedure, for example, a Breast Lift, surgery can take up to 5 hours. With every procedure tailored to meet your goals, operating times can vary. The specific timings for your procedure will be advised by your Surgeon.

Generally, you can’t commence wearing an underwire bra until 8-weeks after your Breast Reduction. Instead, you will need to wear a support garment that will aid your recovery. As with all aspects of your journey, your Surgeon will provide you with tailored advice as to when you can safely resume wearing an underwire bra.