Can I have a bath 3 weeks post op breast reduction surgery?

I permit my patients to shower a couple of days after breast reduction including washing the breasts. As soon as the wounds are sealed immersion and bathwater or a swimming pool is permitted. Your specific instructions should come from your own surgeon.

Hello dear, thanks for your question. Theoretically, once the skin edges have healed in
about 48 hours following surgery, bathing in a bath tub can be resumed.In reality, small absorbable interrupted
sutures may break through the skin and become exposed.In this situation infection could occur in a
patient who is submerged in a bath tub.This environment may have unique bacteria that may be antibiotic
resistant.For
this reason, we don’t allow patients to soak in a bath tub for at least four weeks.During this time it’s more appropriate to
utilize a shower.It’s important to
remember that every patient’s procedure and post-operative course is
unique.For these reasons, make sure you
consult your plastic surgeon before getting into the water.Good luck :)

At three weeks post op, your wounds should be completely healed, and it should be safe to have a bath. Please always double check with your surgeon, as we all have different postoperative approaches. 

Each surgeon will have his or her own protocol for postop care and bathing, so you really need to check with your own surgeon or his or her nurse for specific instructions in your case.  However, I can tell you how I manage my own patients.  I allow them to shower during the first week after surgery, and until all of the scabs and crusts are gone from the incisions and all wounds are completely covered with the new, pink epidermal skin, I tell them running water only.  Thus, no dunking the breasts in bathtubs, hot tubs, swimming pools, lakes, oceans, or any other standing water until healed.  If my patients want to sit in a bathtub up to their waists and bathe their lower bodies or simply soak their lower bodies, that's fine, as long as the wounds themselves aren't submerged until all scabs and crusts are gone.  This just helps to prevent any bacteria from getting under scabs where some absorbable suture material might still be accessible and cause an infection.  Hope this helps, but again, please call your surgeon to be sure of his or her recommendations first.

Thank you for the question and if you are healing nicely without complication then it should be OK to take a bath, but ask your surgeon his thoughts.Dr. Corbin