Breast Reduction Recovery: Common Problems After Surgery & How To Avoid Them

What are the common problems after breast reduction surgery?

During your consultation with a GMC-licensed and fully qualified breast surgeon, they will explain some of the more common problems that occur. According to a study, the risk of complications after breast reduction surgery is just 6%, with the majority of those being minor and easy to resolve.

The following are the most common problems you could experience after breast reduction surgery.

Delayed wound healing

The incisions take time to heal, and everyone heals at a different speed. After a breast reduction procedure, it will typically take two weeks for the incisions to close, and most of the healing will take place in the first four to six weeks. Although the swelling will gradually die down, you can expect it to last three or four months; scars will take six months to a year to lighten in colour, flatten and fully heal.  

However, for some people, the process takes longer due to poor blood circulation to the area or pre-existing health conditions like diabetes. That can increase the risk of noticeable scarring and infection. 

To speed up the healing process, stop smoking at least four weeks before the surgery, get plenty of rest, and avoid physical exertion. As part of our patient aftercare, we keep your incisions dry and clean, perform regular dressing changes, and teach you techniques such as massage to enhance your healing. A well-balanced and healthy diet also aids healing following breast reduction surgery. This is an important part of recovery, as poor nutrition can significantly impact the body’s healing ability. 

Hematoma

A hematoma occurs when blood pools under the skin following surgery. It looks like a bad bruise and can potentially lead to pain and swelling. 

Hematomas usually resolve themselves over time. However, you should contact your surgeon immediately if your chest becomes tight, bulging or unusually painful. They may have to perform a procedure to stop the bleeding and release the build-up of blood. 

Loss of nipple sensation

Losing some feeling in one or both nipples is a relatively common problem after breast reduction surgery, with one study finding that 19% of patients experienced decreased sensation. This results from damage to the nerves when removing breast tissue or repositioning the nipple. 

Usually, the loss of sensation is only temporary, and things return to normal after a couple of months. However, in some patients, it can be lasting. That’s something to consider when deciding whether to have the procedure. 

Nipple and breast asymmetry

Even experienced surgeons cannot guarantee that your breasts will be perfectly symmetrical after the procedure. During breast reduction surgery, each breast is classed as its own separate procedure.  However, although you should expect a certain degree of asymmetry, there should not be significant differences between the breasts. 

If there are, the surgeon may have removed unequal amounts of breast tissue or the nipples may be uneven. If you find yourself in this position or are unhappy with the results of your surgery for any other reason, you should go back to your surgeon.    

Fat or nipple necrosis

Nipple or fat necrosis occurs when the blood supply isn’t properly reattached to the nipple, leaving it unable to heal. The nipple or breast tissue will either be very pale due to a lack of blood supply or a deep purple colour due to a blood blockage. In either case, the blood is not flowing properly, and the skin is dying. 

If you notice a change in the nipple or breast tissue colour inconsistent with the rest of the chest area, contact your surgeon immediately. If you do have necrosis, they can reattach the blood supply to the nipple or reattach the nipple as a graft. 

Infection

Infection is a possible complication after any surgery. The warning signs typically appear five to seven days after surgery and include:

• Redness around the incision
• Skin that’s hot to the touch
• Extreme pain or discomfort around the wound
• Fever 
• Chills 
• Nausea

If you see any of these warning signs, contact your surgeon or a healthcare professional immediately. As part of our patient aftercare, we will teach you how to treat your wounds to reduce the risk of infection. 

What to Expect After Breast Reduction Surgery?

After the surgery, you will feel weak and sore for the first two to three weeks and you may need to take painkillers for the first week or two. You may also feel a pulling or stretching in your chest area. That will gradually improve and you’ll start to feel stronger every day. 

Initially, you may find that your breasts are quite firm and round, but as the swelling dies down, they will soften and develop into a more natural shape. The swelling will usually last around three to four months and your scars will take six months to a year to fully heal, flatten and lighten in colour. 

Breast reduction recovery

In terms of what your breast reduction recovery will look like, everyone heals at different speeds. However, as a guide, you can expect the following:

Weeks one to two

Breast reduction surgery requires an overnight stay in the hospital/clinic. We’ll monitor you once you wake up after surgery, and if you’re progressing well, you can be driven home. 

You’ll wear a post-operative bra to protect your bandages and give you extra support. You may feel some nausea and dizziness on the first night, and the first two or three days will be the most uncomfortable. We’ll give you some pain medication to ease the discomfort. 

A week to 10 days after the op, you’ll have your first follow-up appointment where we’ll remove the stitches, replace the bandages and check for any signs of infection. You may be ready to return to work if you have a desk job, particularly if you work from home.   

Weeks two to four

At this point, you are still likely to be sore and fatigued as your energy is fuelling the healing process. However, you should have no problems walking around, driving or doing light household chores, although you should still avoid strenuous activities or lifting your arms above your head.

As you reach week three, most of the bruising will have gone and some of the swelling will have subsided. Your incisions should be healing nicely and are likely to be a pink or brown colour, but they may still be tender and firm to the touch. 

After the first month

Most of the residual swelling will now have gone, so you’ll have a better idea of the final result. Depending on your progress, you may be ready to remove the post-operative bra and get yourself measured for new bras. It usually takes 6 -12 weeks before you can return to wearing a normal bra in your new size. Your surgeon may recommend switching to a sports bra before returning to underwire bra styles. 

You should now be ready for more strenuous activities, although you should build back up slowly with lower-impact activities such as walking or cycling before jogging or lifting weights.

During this time, you may experience numbness around your nipples and along the sides of your chest, but it should get better over the next couple of months. The swelling should have disappeared in three to four months, but the scars can take up to one year to soften and fade completely.

Breast reduction scarring timeline

Breast reduction surgery scars are unavoidable. At Enhance Medical, your surgeon will hide the incision lines and use a technique that minimises the appearance of scarring as much as possible. They will also give you tips to speed up and aid the healing process.  

Breast reduction surgery scars are thin lines that vary in shape and size but are a lighter or darker shade than your natural skin tone. They heal over time until they reach a point where they are barely noticeable.

This is what a typical breast reduction scarring timeline looks like:

After three weeks

For the first few weeks, the incision sites will be covered by bandages, so you won’t see them. You should follow your surgeon’s recommendations to keep the incisions clean and not do anything that could strain them. 

After six weeks

The incisions will likely have a red or purple tone and be slightly elevated from the skin around them. When you remove your bandages, you should keep the incisions out of direct sunlight. 

After six months

The scars will have matured, and the skin will have healed over the incision site, but it may still be darker than your natural skin tone. The scar could still be slightly elevated or flat against your skin. 

After one year

Your scar should now blend in with your natural skin tone and be faint and less noticeable. It may have a slightly lighter or darker tone, but it can continue to improve beyond the first year.

Read more: How to reduce scars after breast surgery

Safe and affordable breast reduction surgery with Enhance Medical 

At Enhance Medical, our experienced and specialist cosmetic surgeons deliver the highest standard of treatment, complemented by proper aftercare, to minimise the problems of any issues occurring. 

Find out more about breast surgery, including breast reduction, by calling our advisors on 0800 060 8651 or booking a free consultation with our team.