Breast Reduction Surgery - How Much Pain is There?

It’s not unusual to have pain following breast reduction surgery. Pain tolerance varies from patient to patient with some describing it as minimal, while others describe it as severe. In many cases, the quality of the patient’s surgical experience is related to post-operative pain management.

In the immediate post-operative period, patients are given narcotic pain relievers. They are rapidly switched to non narcotic pain relievers as soon as this becomes possible. This usually takes about seven to ten days following surgery.

Small amounts of discomfort may be present for several months following the procedure. When prolonged pain is present, this might indicate the presence of a complication. Under these circumstances, consultation with your plastic surgeon would be appropriate.

Thank you for your question.  Pain is very subjective and everyone experiences pain differently.  Most patients tolerate breast reduction surgery very well with appropriate oral pain medication afterwards.  In general, most individuals who undergo breast reductions have previously suffered from neck, back, and/or shoulder pain and typically experience relief of these symptoms after surgery.  Be sure to discuss your pain control regimen with your board-certified plastic surgeon.  Best of luck!

It is important to note that everyone has a different experience after surgery, from negible pain to signficant discomfort. In many cases, you are required to stay overnight in hospital.  When you leave the hospital you will be given the appropriate pain relief medication if needed.  After surgery you will immediately notice a significant amount of weight lifted from your shoulders, alleviating any pre-exisiting neck, back and shoulder pain.

Breast reduction surgery reduces the weight of the breast and lifts the breast. It is usually an outpatient procedure and indicated for symptomatic hypermastia, or large breasts which cause neck and back pain, rashes and difficulty fitting into bras. There are numerous types of breast reduction patterns, and in general you will feel almost instant relief from your symptoms rather than discomfort from the actual procedure.

Most patients will take pain medication (vicodin) for about two or three days after breast reduction.  After that time, most patients can control the pain with just Tylenol.  The procedure involves dissection through soft tissue (breast tissue/fat) not muscle, therefore the pain is quite manageable.  You will also feel the relief of removing the extra weight from your breasts which will alleviate your neck/back pain rather quickly.

Best wishes,

Dr.Bruno

This is a frequent question.  Breast reduction appreciates a high satisfaction rate, especially when appropriately applied.  This surgery involves skin and breast only.  There is no significant muscle manipulation.  And, thus, minimal post operative pain.  With this being said, everyone is different.  Everyone processes pain differently.  You will likely go home with pain medication, and this will almost certainly curtail any significant discomfort.  Good luck!

The pain following breast reduction can vary tremendously from one patient to another as well as with the technique. Use of pain pump may help ease pain. In many instances there is more pain from the associated liposuction.

You really shouldn't worry about being in pain, I am sure your surgeon will keep you comfortable with pain medication after your surgery. Most patients only need pain medication for a few days, and some not even that. Breast reduction patients are usually the most happy patients with immediate relief from back, neck and shoulder pain and are so thrilled with their new breasts.

Great question. This is not a particularly painful surgery. If your surgeon uses local anesthesia at the time of surgery and combines it with multimodal pain medication afterward (acetaminophen, NSAIDs, and narcotics, sometimes also gabapentin), your pain will be well controlled after surgery. Most of my patients have mild to moderate pain but everyone is happy with their decision. Most of them would say it's one of the best decisions they've ever taken. Hope you feel well after your surgery!
-Dr. David Mattos, New York Plastic Surgical Group

The pain immediately after your surgery should be well controlled with pain medication and typically in the first few days it can be uncomfortable but not unmanageable. This pain should get better rather than worse and most women report that the pain prior to surgery (neck, shoulder, back pain) instantly improves with all the weight off them. By far the great majority are very happy with the symptomatic relief and happy they underwent the surgery despite the immediate postoperative discomfort. 
Wishing you the best in your journey.
Dr Leo Kim, Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Sydney