Week-by-week breast reduction recovery

Throughout the breast reduction recovery process, your surgeon will expect you to follow detailed aftercare instructions and avoid activities that may interfere with healing. Each stage of recovery brings changes in the shape, sensitivity and overall appearance of your breasts. Adhering to medical advice during this time supports a smooth recovery and helps achieve the intended surgical outcome.

Week 1

In the first week after surgery, your surgeon will likely advise you to avoid heavy lifting and any strenuous activity. Gentle walking may be encouraged to support circulation, but you should follow the specific guidance provided during your post-operative care. This includes instructions on using pain relief, taking prescribed medication and caring for your wounds during the recovery period.

Bruising and swelling are common during this stage, and your incision sites may still be at risk of infection. Your surgeon should have explained how to keep these areas clean and protected. You’ll also be advised to wear a surgical bra, which helps provide compression and supports the healing process.

To reduce swelling and promote recovery, you’ll likely be told to sleep on your back with your upper body slightly elevated.

Week 2

By the second week, tenderness and swelling may have started to ease, although some discomfort is likely to remain. Bruising is usually less noticeable at this stage, but you may still see signs of discolouration around the treated area.

You’ll likely still need to wear your surgical bra, as it continues to support healing and reduce movement. Most breast surgeries use dissolvable stitches, but if removable stitches were used instead, your surgeon will typically arrange for these to be taken out during this week.

If your job is not physically demanding, your surgeon may say it’s appropriate to return to work. You can usually continue a light exercise routine, such as walking, but should avoid anything that could put pressure on the healing area or disturb your stitches. Always follow the aftercare advice provided by your surgical team.

Weeks 3-4

During weeks three to four, it’s still advised that you avoid any heavy lifting or strenuous exercise, especially movements that involve the chest or upper body. Overexerting yourself too soon can interfere with your recovery and may affect your final results. At this stage, your body is still healing internally, even if you feel more mobile and comfortable.

You should continue to wear your surgical bra as recommended by your surgeon. In most cases, this will be required until the end of week four. The surgical bra helps to support your breasts, reduce movement and encourage proper positioning of the implants while your body heals.

Most of the noticeable swelling will likely have reduced by now, but some low-level swelling can persist for several weeks or even up to three months. This is a normal part of the healing process and should gradually settle without intervention. If you notice any swelling that worsens or becomes painful, you should speak to your surgeon or medical team.

Week 6

By week 6 post-surgery, most breast reduction patients will have made substantial progress in their recovery. At this stage, your body should be mostly healed, with only a small amount of residual swelling remaining. This final swelling often resolves gradually over the following weeks or months, depending on how your body heals.

The full results of your breast reduction surgery should now be visible, including changes in breast size, shape and overall positioning. Many patients report a noticeable improvement in physical comfort by this point, including relief from previous symptoms such as back, neck or shoulder pain.

Your incisions should also be fully closed and healed. However, breast reduction scars will now be apparent. These scars may appear red or raised at first, which is normal during the early stages of scar maturation. With time, they usually begin to fade and flatten, although this process can take several months to over a year.

Signs of complications during the breast reduction recovery process

While some discomfort and swelling are expected during recovery after a breast reduction procedure, certain issues may point to complications - especially if they are not identified or treated properly by your surgeon. These include:

• Infection that isn’t treated appropriately: if signs of infection such as redness, heat, discharge or a strong odour are missed during follow-up appointments or not acted on, this may suggest a failure in your aftercare.
• Unexpected scarring: if the scarring is more extensive or located differently than what was explained before surgery, this may indicate that you were not properly informed or that the surgical technique was inadequate.
• Asymmetry: visible differences in the size, shape or position of the breasts may be a sign of poor surgical planning or execution.
• Nipple necrosis: this refers to the death of nipple tissue due to poor blood supply, which may result from improper surgical technique or a failure to monitor healing effectively after the operation.

If you experience any of these complications, seek medical attention immediately.

The standards your surgeon expected to fulfil

Your surgeon has a duty of care to meet professional standards at every stage of your breast reduction journey. If this duty is not upheld and you experience harm as a result, this may be classed as negligence.

Their responsibilities include:

• Before surgery:
  • Assessing your suitability for the procedure, taking into account your medical history and physical health.
  • Explaining all potential risks, including scarring, asymmetry, infection and changes in sensation.
  • Providing a realistic idea of the expected outcome, including what level of scarring you may have.
  • Discussing any appropriate alternatives to surgery so you can make a fully informed decision.
• During surgery:
  • Performing the procedure using safe and accepted techniques.
  • Maintaining high standards of hygiene throughout the operation.
  • Taking care to reduce the risk of complications and achieve a result that suits your body and preferences.
• After surgery:
  • Monitoring your recovery through follow-up appointments.
  • Checking for signs of complications such as infection, wound breakdown or asymmetry.
• Giving you clear instructions on:
  • How to care for your wounds.
  • Which pain medication to take and how to take it safely.
  • How long to wear your surgical bra.
  • What symptoms to look out for and when to seek medical advice.
  • When you can safely return to normal activities.
  • Advising on post-surgery lifestyle habits such as maintaining a similar weight and healthy diet.
  • Responding appropriately to any concerns or issues that arise during the healing process.

Failure to meet any of these obligations could result in avoidable harm and may give grounds for a compensation claim. Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors specialise in helping individuals who have experienced unexpected outcomes following breast reduction surgery that have impacted their quality of life. We support patients in seeking compensation where negligence has occurred and the surgeon’s duty of care was not met.

How Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors can help with breast reduction claims

If you’ve experienced avoidable harm after breast reduction surgery due to a surgeon’s negligence, Cosmetic Surgery Solicitors can help you take the next steps with confidence. With years of experience in cosmetic surgery negligence claims, we understand the emotional and physical impact that a poor surgical outcome can have.

We’ll start by listening to your experience and helping you gather the medical evidence needed to show where your surgeon failed in their duty of care. We’ll clearly explain your legal rights and advise how much compensation you may be owed based on the harm you’ve suffered.

Our team will handle all communication with the other side, using our expertise to negotiate a fair settlement. If your case needs to go to court, we will represent you and make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

You don’t have to face this alone - we’re here to help you secure the compensation you deserve and move forward.

Get in touch today by calling 0808 189 7724 or using our online contact form.