When planning for breast reduction surgery, there are a few things you should be aware of to help facilitate easy recovery. Following these tips can expedite healing and enable you to get back to living life more quickly.
When recovering from surgery, it’s essential to rest and avoid strenuous activities. Furthermore, follow your plastic surgeon‘s guidance regarding when you can resume certain activities.
1. Rest
Rest is an integral component of a speedy recovery from breast reduction surgery. Not only does it promote better healing in your body, but it also makes the post-op experience less stressful and comfortable.
After your surgery, you may feel tired and sore for the first week. Your best Plastic Surgeon will provide instructions to follow for comfort and pain relief during this period.
While you recover from your surgery, it’s beneficial to take extra rest and remain off your feet as much as possible. Doing this will promote faster healing of the body and prevent blood clots.
After your breast reduction surgery, it is recommended that you refrain from strenuous activity and heavy lifting for at least four weeks. This will give your body time to fully recover and prepare for future surgeries.
2. Avoid Strenuous Activities
Most breast reduction surgery necessitates that patients refrain from strenuous activities such as swimming and running. Doing so can increase the risk of bleeding, swelling, and implant displacement (a common issue with sub-muscular implants).
Patients should refrain from any weight lifting or chest exercises for six weeks after surgery to ensure the incisions have healed completely and the added strain on the upper body is minimized.
Once a month after surgery, light exercise can be resumed with low-impact cardio exercises like walking or riding a stationary bike.
3. Avoid Smoking
Smoking can impede healing and increase the risk of complications like infections, tissue death or nipple loss. As such, your surgeon would prefer that you abstain from smoking during the peri-operative period.
Furthermore, nicotine inhibits blood flow which inhibits healing and leads to wound dehiscence. When a surgical wound has poor circulation and cannot heal properly due to nicotine exposure, dehiscence may occur.
Smoking causes extensive scarring and long-term cosmetic damage, so it is an essential eligibility criterion for anyone undergoing any surgical procedure. Smoking should be avoided at all costs!
4. Drink Plenty of Water
Water is essential for a speedy recovery after breast reduction surgery. Not only does it flush out toxins from your system, but it also promotes lymphatic circulation and speeds up healing in the body.
Doctors recommend drinking at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily. Hydrating helps your body heal faster, reduces swelling and bruising, and helps you feel hydrated.
It is also essential to avoid alcoholic drinks, which could impede your recovery process. Alcohol dehydrates the body and may lead to unnecessary bleeding or infection.
5. Avoid Alcohol
Consuming alcohol not only harms your body, but it can also make you sick. Alcohol suppresses your immune system, decreasing the production of white blood cells that fight infections.
Alcohol may prolong recovery times for injuries by speeding up bleeding and swelling in the injured area.
Making steps to abstain from alcohol will facilitate a speedy and successful recovery. Committing to one or two days each week when you will abstain from drinking will help make the transition easier.
