How Long After DDD Breast Reduction Can I Lift My Child?

You can lift your child a few weeks after a breast reduction as long as you are not experiencing any pain and your  incisions are healing well. Since a breast reduction does not involve any dissection of your chest muscles, your recovery will be much smoother than a breast augmentation for example.

Consult with your plastic surgeon for more specific recommendations.

Best wishes,

Dr.Bruno

Thank you for your question. You definitely want to follow your own
surgeon's post-op activity instructions. This is a general guide I give
to my patients as to the recoveryWeek 1) Discomfort and tightness
level progressively decreases with each day. Swelling decreases a great
deal after one week. Most people return to work in some capacity.Week
2) Unlikely to need any narcotic support except maybe at night.
Swelling and tightness continues to improve compared to week 1Weeks
3-6) May need tylenol or ibuprofen for intermittent discomfort.
Swelling completely resolved. Tightness may continue as the implants
over an additional few months into their final position. As far as activity, here is a safe guide:1) No heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 6 weeks.2) Resume walking at a leisurely pace right after surgery (e.g. 2 mph)3) At 2 weeks, you can walk 2 miles at 2mph4) At 3 weeks, you can walk 3 miles at 3mph5) At 4 weeks, you can walk 4 miles at 4mph6) At 5 weeks, you can jog 5 miles at 5mph7)
At 6 weeks, you can resume all activities, but listen to your body and
use discomfort or tightness as a guide so you don't over do it. So
as far as the little ones, I would recommend having help for basic
needs like lifting into the car seat. You can cuddle with them while
you are sitting down, but you should avoid the tendency to multitask
with one child in your arms while you are busy doing other tasks.

natasha0220- 

 

Recovery in terms of lifting kids after breast reduction varies, but you should be able to lift your 20 month old that weighs about 28 pounds about 1-3 weeks after surgery.  Small weights, like 5 pounds or less, can be lifted pretty quickly after surgery, typically about 1 week later.  More weight takes time, and everyone is different, but it should take 2-3 weeks after your procedure.  Of course, you should talk to your plastic surgeon about this, since your type of breast reduction, amount of breast tissue removed, your overall strength, and other factors may have a role.

 

Of course, this assumes that your child is not squirming.  I don't have any recommendations for moving, screaming, or hard-to-handle kids!

 

A Father of 3 Squirming Kids,

Roy

For most surgical procedures it takes six weeks for the wounds to become strong.  Be particularly cautious with your movements during this period.  Avoid things such as stretching and vigorous exercise. Ask your surgeon for  recommendations in your particular situation.

Thank you for your question.

For my patients, I ask them to watch lifting their kids or anything over 15-20 pounds for 4-6 weeks.  I would suggest that you speak with your surgeon and follow his/her recommendations.

Best Wishes!

As you can see, there are many different philosophies on when you can resume activity after a reduction.  Conservatism will always be correct but if you're careful and  avoiding incidental trauma to your chest when lifting and that it isn't very strenuous where you have to strain, you should be able to participate in such lifting 1 week after your procedure.  There will always be variables that may change this such as the amount of bleeding encountered during your procedure and if your more prominent vessels were tied off or simiply burned.  Its best to follow your surgeon's recommendations but instead of lifting, why not have them crawl into your lap for a couple of weeks.  By 3 weeks and with uncomplicated healing, you should be able to do what you like with a good sport bra.

Everyone heals differently but a general guideline would be 2-3 weeks of limited activity. Most of my patients are able to get back to work within 2-3 weeks, and start low impact exercise in 2 weeks too. Good luck- Dr. Taylor

I tell my patients two weeks is what is needed for recovery after breast reduction.  You can lift you child after that and increase your level of activity as tolerated.  Of course the more time you have the easier your recovery will be but 2 weeks is enough.

1- Three weeks of no lifting.

2- After three weeks you can start exercize including lifting you child.

3- two months of a supportive bra then you can relax.

Be sure to speak with your surgeon regarding her or his own advice.  I tell my patients 2 weeks and have not had any problems.  Good Luck!    Dr Grant Stevens