Post breast reduction weight lifting limits?

I usually instruct my patients to avoid heavy lifting above 10 lbs for at least 3 weeks after surgery provided everything else is healing well.

There is no "book answer" to this question.  Everyone is different so your surgeon is the best one to answer for you personally.  With that said, my post op instructions are: 
          Walking is good. Bouncing is bad, If it hurts, don't do it.
Lifting alone is not a major risk with breast reduction as the surgery does not affect the muscles.  The problem is more what may push on the breasts or pull at the incisions while lifting.   The increase in blood pressure with straining in the first week could cause bleeding.  It takes most incisions about 6 weeks to get nearly as strong as before surgery. That doesn't mean you can't do anything for 6 weeks but lifting 40 lbs. would probably include rubbing against the chest and pulling at the incisions which could potentially disrupt an incision.  Use common sense.  If it hurts, don't do it.

Your incisions must be healed before doing any strenuous activity.  Ten pounds is usually the limit during recovery, but the PS who performs your BR is the best one to ask as he/she will know your recovery status.   I recommend that my patients wait six weeks before performing strenuous exercise.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Hi, and thank you for your query. I would advise that anything over 10 lb is too heavy to be lifting soon after surgery – six to eight weeks is a reasonable recovery time, although it is your surgeon who knows you best, so please take advice from them. It is essential that you look after yourself and do not return to work too soon. I understand that the temptation is there, particularly if you are feeling well, but your health is of the utmost importance, and you don’t want to risk developing complications. I wish you all the best.

I usually have patients avoid aerobics for about 3 weeks and heavy lifting for about 6 weeks or so. Best to ask your surgeon.

Always best to run these types of questions by your plastic surgeon who knows you, the job you wish to return to, and who is ultimately responsible for your care. Having said that, I ask my patients to avoid lifting anything more than 10 pounds (or do anything that puts strains on incision lines and/or elevates heart rate) for the first four weeks after surgery. Then, heavier lifting can resume gradually (about 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively). Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with.