One breast swollen and bruised 2 weeks post op Breast Reduction. Any suggestions?

Question

I am 2 weeks post op breast reduction surgery. My left breast seems to be healing beautifully and minimal pain. My right breast however, seems to be swollen (not significantly bigger than other breast) and started bruising lightly after a week. I went to my surgeons office for a follow up just yesterday and she said everything looked good and no sign of infection. Is swelling and bruising in one breast normal?

Sheila S. Nazarian, MD · Answer

Yes, it is quite common to experience asymmetrical healing and for your breasts to still be bruised, swollen and in pain at the 2 week mark. In general, you will start to feel better at 4-6 weeks, but it can take up to 6 months for your final results to fully reveal themselves. Congratulations on your new breasts. Best, Dr. Nazarian

Joshua Cooper, MD, FACS · Answer

It is not uncommon to have one breast swell more than the other after a breast reduction.  And sometimes one breast will have some bruising and the other won't.The healing process can sometimes be slower in one of the breasts.I recommend trusting your plastic surgeon's expertise, and if she thinks everything is healing up appropriately, then it likely is!Thanks for sharing!

Anne Taylor, MD · Answer

Hello. I know you are worried, but asymmetry of swelling is normal.It sounds like the one side had a little more bruising, which can lead to a slightly longer amount of time with swelling... I would follow the instructions of your plastic surgeon-- she knows best! It takes almost 3 months for swelling to subside... stay positive!Good luck.

One breast swollen and bruised 2 weeks post op Breast Reduction. Any suggestions?

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