How long after my breast reduction do I have to avoid heavy lifting?

Question

Im having a breast reduction in two weeks and im starting to feel some anxiety when i think about the healing process, my surgeon is on holiday for now so i cant go to him with my questions.. my main concern is that i have a 9 month old baby, she weighs 20 lb.. how long after surgery am i not allowed to pick her up pr hold her? What about household chores, how long are u supposed to just lay down and not move? Im looking forward to answers plz P.S. im going from 36 E to hopefully a small C cup

Navid Jallali, MB ChB (Hons), MD, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Thank you for your question which is a common query. I check the incisions at two weeks post op and as long as the wounds have healed, I allow my patients to lift children as long as they are wearing a sports bra. If there is any unhealed areas I recommend not doing any lifting and most wounds go on to heal by 4 weeks post surgery.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Generally, recovery requires one to two weeks during which help with your daughter and household chores would be advisable.  Because you are the mother of a nine month old which involves physical activity,  take it easy to start with. You do not want to do anything strenuous or that requires you to bend or stretch.  You want to protect your breasts from trauma that may be caused by swinging arms and legs and quick, jerky movements.  Most PSs will recommend four to six weeks before resuming strenuous activity with a weight lifting limit of 10 to 15 pounds. Proper lifting techniques can be applied to lessen the probability of injury or suture tension. The incisions should be healed and durable before subjecting them to any real stress. The board certified PS who performs your BR is the best one to recommend your period of recovery and post operative restrictions.Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Charles Nduka, MD · Answer

This depends entirely with your surgeon. Generally, patients are advised not to do any heavy activities for the first two weeks. Strenuous activities are usually not advised until about a month after surgery to allow rapid healing. gradual return to exercise may then be initiated. The timeline depends on your surgeon's protocol and your rate of healing.

Christine Blaine, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi and thank you for your question.  As a mother of young children myself, I can imagine the concern that you might have going into surgery about what limitations (if any) there will be post-operatively with regard to child care.  Generally speaking, I recommend that my patients avoid heavy lifting and/or exercise for at least 4 weeks post-op so as to minimize the risk for complications.  For mothers with young children, I will typically recommend that they have help scheduled for at least the first 2 weeks following surgery to help with all of the lifting and climbing that the little ones do/require.  Since you have already scheduled your procedure, the best advice about post-operative restrictions will come from your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon directly.  I hope that this helps and again, please discuss this with your surgeon before surgery so you can best prepare!

Scott C. Lindsay, DO · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.I typically have my patients wait three to four weeks before doing any heavy lifting. Check with your surgeon when he or she returns. Let your body continue to heal and follow all your surgeons instructions. Best of luck!

Reza Momeni, MD, FACS · Answer

We usually monitor our breast reduction patients weekly after surgery for 3-4 weeks, and most of our patients can return to full activities at the end of the month.

How long after my breast reduction do I have to avoid heavy lifting?

Answers (6)

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