New York City · Breast Reduction
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New York City Breast Reduction
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New York City Breast Reduction

Breast Reduction Patient Information -
Post-Operative Care

REST: When you arrive home, be prepared to rest in bed for the first 48 hours after breast reduction surgery. Eat lightly and drink to replenish your body fluids. You may go to the bathroom with assistance as needed. If you feel nauseated, lie on your back with your head down and remain still. Any sensation of nausea should pass by the morning after your surgery. If you feel fine, light activity will not harm you.

HOW TO SIT UP: The easiest way to sit up from lying on your back is to move to the edge of the bed and swing your legs over the edge, bending your knees and placing your feet on the ground. Use your abdominal muscles to sit up instead of pushing yourself up with your arms and chest muscles. If you have assistance, another person can carefully support your back to help you sit up.

PAIN: After breast reduction surgery, the recovery period and the associated pain are comparable to that after a Caesarian section. Most patients take the prescribed pain medication. In addition, placing ice bags padded with a towel over the breasts may relieve discomfort significantly. The period of greatest discomfort usually does not last more than 12 to 14 hours.

MEDICATIONS: Take the antibiotics and pain medication prescribed by Dr. Zevon according to the pharmacy instructions. Don't take the pain medication on an empty stomach, as this will produce nausea and vomiting. Have another adult give you the pain medication at the correct time and/or keep written records of how much you take and when you take it. You do not have to take the pain medicine if you are not in pain, but you must take all of your antibiotics. Do not drive while taking pain medication.

CALL DR. ZEVON IF YOU HAVE:

  1. severe pain not responding to pain medication;
  2. more swelling and/or pain on one side than the other; or
  3. a chest wrap that seems too tight.

DON'T TAKE CHANCES! Call if you are concerned about anything you consider significant. During office hours, call (212) 496-6600. After hours, call (917) 612-3800.

HYGIENE: Do not bathe or shower until Dr. Zevon gives you permission a few days after your breast reduction surgery. If you have drains in place, do not sit in a bathtub with water above your waist or with the drains underwater.

SLEEP: You may sleep on your back or on your side, but do not sleep on your stomach for 4 weeks.

DRESSINGS & WRAP: At the time of breast reduction surgery, gauze dressings and breast wraps will be applied around the chest. These will be removed from 1-2 days after surgery and will be replaced with clean dressings, which will remain in place until any drains are removed 4-5 days after surgery. At that time, you will be placed in a surgical bra, which you should wear day and night for 2-3 weeks after surgery. (You may remove the bra for showering or bathing.)

DRAINS: One drain may be placed in each breast at the time of surgery. Drains evacuate the fluid that accumulates after breast reduction surgery and promote faster healing. When the drain is first inserted, the bulb at the end of each tube is compressed to create gentle suction. As the fluid collects in the bulb, the bulb slowly expands.

DRAIN CARE: Safety pin the bulb of the drain to your dressings. Empty the bulb by opening the plug at the top and pouring out the contents twice a day or when it is half full. Do not remove the bulb from the tubing. Squeeze the bulb to recompress it, and put the plug back into the hole at the top. If the bulb fills rapidly after emptying, or you need to empty it more than three times a day, please call us. Dr. Zevon will remove the drains 4-5 days after breast reduction surgery, when the fluid begins to turn a clear straw color and/or the amount of drainage has diminished. Showering or bathing with the drains in place is not harmful, but do not soak the drain sites under water.

Continue reading breast reduction patient information

Pre-operative Instructions  entire document for printing
Post-operative Instructions  entire document for printing
FAQs on Recovery From Plastic Surgery
Breast Reduction Illustrations

 

 

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The Shape of Things to Come Breast Reduction in Manhattan New York City Copyright Dr. Scott J. Zevon, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon of New York City at Central Park Plastic Surgery
The Shape of Things to Come with Plastic Surgery - Dr. Scott Zevon, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon of New York City at Central Park Plastic Surgery

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The shape of THINGS to comeSM - Dr. Zevon is a board certified plastic surgeon practicing in New York City. At his plastic surgery office in Manhattan, he performs cosmetic surgery procedures such as liposuction, tummy tuck, face lift, and eyelid surgery. Dr. Zevon also specializes in breast surgery procedures such as breast augmentation, breast implants and breast lift. Visit Dr. Zevon's extensive archive of plastic surgery before and after photographs.

New York · Manhattan · Breast Reduction: Board-certified plastic surgeon Scott J. Zevon MD maintains this website to provide general health information to the public, not medical advice to individuals. If you are interested in breast reduction surgery, please contact us at our Manhattan plastic surgery office to schedule a consultation with Dr. Zevon.