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

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

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.