Blood Loss During Breast Reduction?

3 months after childbirth may be too early to be undergoing a breast reduction since the breasts are still changing.
With modern tumescent anesthetic techniques, the blood loss during breast reduction can be minimized. When I was in residency, we routinely had patients autodonate blood. Now, it is unheard of in our practice because of the minimal blood loss when breast recution surgery is performed expediently by a skilled surgeon using tumescent or superwet anesthetic techniques.
All patients undergoing an elective procedure should optimize their medical health before having surgery.

The amount of blood that most patients lose during breast reduction is negligible, especially when compared with blood loss that occurs during childbirth. However, there are a few things that you should consider before having surgery. Three months after having a child is too soon for breast reduction surgery. I prefer that my patients wait a minimum of six months after delivery prior to any elective body contouring surgery...and preferable closer to twelve months. Also, if you are anemic now, you should wait until your Iron stores are repleted prior to commencing with additional elective surgery.

Thank you for the question.

The blood loss associated with breast reduction surgery is not significant. More than likely, your plastic surgeon will be checking your hemoglobin/hematocrit prior to the procedure.

It will be in your best interest to proceed with breast reduction surgery when you have reached a long-term stable weight. Also you should wait at least 3 to 6 months after breast-feeding before undergoing the procedure.

Best wishes with the breast reduction procedure; it is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform.

 

It performed properly, a minimal amount of blood should be lost during a breast reduction surgery. The surgery is usually performed with techniques that minimize the blood loss. An experienced board-certified plastic surgeon should have enough familiarity with the anatomy of the breast to minimize blood loss and prevent the need for blood transfusions.

First, if you recently had a pregnancy, then I would wait at least 6 months or until your breasts have settled down and your weight is stable to undergo a breast reduction. If you are severely anemic, then you should have a work-up and you may be at risk for healing problems. You should not lose a lot of blood form a breast reduction.