Breast Reduction Q&A
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Swimming After Breast Reduction?

asked 4 months ago by PeytonB
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 189 times
Tags: athlete, recovery, swimming

Hi, I'm on a very competitive college swim team, and have very large breasts (DD). I'm 5'6 and very tiny and muscular elsewhere. I was wondering if I were to get a breast reduction, how soon I could resume swimming (at an intense level) Thank you

8 answers to Swimming After Breast Reduction?

+1

Breast reduction

Patients that undergo most plastic surgery procedures should avoid vigorous workout acitivities for at least 6-8 weeks. If wounds have not healed, then they shoudl wait a bit longer.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swimming After Breast Reduction

There are several surgical techniques associated with breast reduction surgery and most of them involve incisions on the breast. You need to allow your body sufficient healing time following this surgery. Assuming your post-operative course is uneventful and your healing is normal, I believe you could return to swimming and submerge the breasts after six weeks (but every patient heals differently). Small areas of delayed healing may require a slightly... more
Max Lehfeldt, MD, FACS

Pasadena Plastic Surgeon
+1

Resuming Competitive Swimming after Breast Reduction

A few years ago the Internet was abuzz after Romanian Tennis payer Simona Halep had a Breast Reduction to enable her to improve her already gret tennis game. If your breasts are large enough to warrant a breast reduction Avignon the procedure will improve your swimming speed. In my opinion you could go back to swimming in 4-6 weeks. Unlike extremities, the breasts are held close to the body and do not perform any of the swimming there is no scientific reason you need to protect them more... more
Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Competetive Swimming After Reduction

Assuming normal healing without any problems, I would likely allow you to resume intense swimming after 4-6 weeks. I would let you begin kickboarding, without using your arms to propel yourself, after a couple of weeks.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swimming after reduction

As you can see everyone agrees on about two months. Even that could be early. I would have said the same thing except I no longer do that operation. For the last 10 years I do only the "Scarless" and I allow my patients full activity the moment they feel up to it.
Sherwood Baxt, MD

New Jersey Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swimming after Breast Surgery

There are really two questions to be answered here. One, when will your incision be completely sealed and healed to allow you to get into a community pool and Two, when will you be sufficiently recovered to be able to swim at a competitive level. If you heal without complications you may be able to start swimming in 6 to 8 weeks, but you may need more like 3 months before your energy level and range of motion is more back towards normal.
Jeffrey Zwiren, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swimmming

I would wait for at least 2 months before starting up with swimming -like lap swimming-that way you know you are fully healed
Edward J. Bednar, MD

Charlotte Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swimming After Breast Reduction?

Thank you for the question. Assuming you do well after breast reduction surgery ( all incision lines heal without complications), it will likely be at least 6 to 8 weeks before you are swimming at an “intense level”. Please let me know if you set new personal records. I hope this helps.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

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