Following the breast reduction, how long before I can go out and about and resume normal activities?

Generally, recovery requires one to two weeks.  With respect to physical activity,  take it easy to start with. Much depends upon the health of the patient prior to surgery, and the level of physical activity and lifting following surgery. Your incisions must be healed before doing any strenuous activity. You do not want to do anything strenuous or that requires you to bend or stretch.  The board certified plastic surgeon who performs your surgery is the best one to recommend your period of recovery and will provide you with post-operative guidelinesKenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

The recovery from a breast reduction tends to be fairly mild.  One can be out and about in a day or two.  Anything strenuous, such as exercise, would typically be allowed after four to six weeks, depending on the exercise regimen.  Driving, back to work and light shopping could be done in as little as a week. Most surgeons have their own protocols depending on the type of reduction that they do, so be sure to ask.  Best wishes.

Thank you for your question.  Breast Reduction patients in my practice are wrapped with cotton guaze and ace wraps with small skin drains.  We remove the dressings and drains 6-8 days after surgery which most patients can return to work shortly after that.  With any surgery patients should avoid aerobic activity for three weeks.  Good luck.

Each surgeon will have their own post operative instructions, you should discuss this with your surgeon. For my patients I tell them that they can return to normal activities after the bruising and tenderness resolve. It is possible to return to work and drive a car after 1 week as long as no pain medication is being taken. I do not want my patients to resume strenuous exercise for 6 weeks or swelling my occur. Good luck.

Every doc will have their own specific guidelines regarding resuming activities after breast reduction, so it’s best to follow the advice of who never performs your surgery.  In my practice I typically let patients get back to their Pre-Operative activity/exercise routine two weeks after surgery.A visit to a plastic surgeon's office will help you to understand if you're a candidate for the procedure, and what aesthetic and/or functional outcomes are realistic in your particular case.  In order to get a qualified, ethical, and expert opinion on your surgical options and expectations, always schedule an in-person office consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Best of luck,
Keith M. Blechman, MD
New York, NY

Thank you for your question!
.Most patients return to a desk job within 2 weeks. You may not lift anything greater than 10 lbs. for 3 weeks and no vigorous activity for 3 weeks. You need to let your body heal and recover from surgery.
If you have any questions or concerns reach out to your surgeon. Best wishes!

Congratulations on your decision to proceed with breast reduction surgery; for the appropriately selected patient, this operation tends to be one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. 


Like every procedure performed,  every patient will have a different recovery experience. Some of this experience will depend on the patient's personality/pain threshold/occurrence of complications etc.


Most patients are resting at home for the first week and return to light activities within 7 to 10 days. Heavy lifting should be delayed for 4 to 6 weeks.   Most of my patients return to work or school about 2 weeks post. 


Your plastic surgeon will always be your best resource when it comes to more specifics.  
Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with.