Recovery & pain info for breast reduction/lift?

Howdy...

Amazingly, Tricare has approved me for a breast reduction even though the plastic surgeon only felt that one side actually needed to be reduced.  He'll be doing a reduction on the left, and lifting both sides on 4/30.

The surgical patient assistant tells me that there is usually not much pain with the procedure since it's only dealing with skin and fatty tissue.  She said not to expect a drain as she's only seen the doctor place a drain for a similar surgery twice in 13 years.  She said that most people can drive in 2 weeks and get back to work anytime after that.

If you've had a reduction and/or lift, what was your experience with the pain?  How quickly did you recover and were there any challenges with which you dealt of which I should be aware?  I work from home (IT stuff), so is 2 weeks a reasonable estimate of how long I may have to be off work?

Any anecdotal info is greatly appreciated... pictures if you have 'em, too!  I'm so excited... thank you so much!


tori

Great post, I'm interested in all these questions too. I'm still working on getting my insurance to approve this surgery.

Julie

Congratulations for your approval!

I had my BR/BL on January 6. My PS also told me that this surgery recovery should not be bad, but let me tell you how wrong he was!

Maybe it is me, but I was in such discomfort, not real pain for about 8 weeks.

I could not touch my breasts and I had sore spots under 2 breasts were anchor cut meets.

I also had 2 huge drains , but I had them only 4 days, they were draining almost nothing.

Only now I start to feel more normal. And my hormones were all messed up.

I wanted cry , I was cranky, etc…  sorry I do not want to scare you, you will like your new breasts, but I want just to tell you that it was a little harder on me then was expected.

My TT was very painfull, but it was more physical pai.

I think, BR/BL involved more hormones change for sure.

I was back to work after 2 weeks, but got normal just recently.

Good news, all that discomfort is temporary, results are permanent.

Good luck to you.

Alla

Had breasts and arms done together in December.
It was the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life for about a week or so.
Much worse than the abdominal work I had done.

My mastopexy and brachioplasty were extended as I had alot of tissue to remove...baggy arm pits and alot of side boob.

I was pretty much cut from one elbow up the arm, thru the pit and down the side into the breast for the lift. Then I had the anchor cut.

No drains.

I drove at the 2 week mark but went easy and did not go anywhere that would involve any backing up. I simply could not do it with my breasts and arms. So, I went to Target and pulled thru a space so I could just go forward when it came time to leave.

I was out of work for 3 weeks. I am a nurse.

Thanks for the responses, ladies.  Have to say, I didn't quite believe the patient assistant when she said it's usually not painful as I recalled seeing posts stating the polar opposite.  Seems you guys agree with me...

Am thinking it WILL be a lot more painful than they say.  Could live without that, but I'm resolved to the course of action... I'm certain it will be worth it.  

Any tricks anyone come up with to ease the pain and manage more easily?


tori

 I had a BL in November, 2011.  Although I wound up a smaller cupsize than before surgery, I don't know if it really counts as a breast reduction since there was so much sagging and loose tissue. One breast was signifigantly larger than the other pre-op.

I had no pain from this surgery and feel it was a walk in the park.  My doctor used the LeJour method to reshape the breast and provide the lift and new size.  This gives you a scar around the nipple, a straight line downwards and 1/2 a short circle in the breast fold.  I had a drain in each breast. One fell out on its own 4days later and one was removed at 7days.

I was religous about taking the pain medication every 4 hours as I also had a LBL performed at the same time.  Honestly, the breasts were a non issue.  This method of lift produces very little scar tissue but makes the breasts look very funky for the first 6 weeks or so until they settle down.

You'll need a front closing sports bra for when your doctor ok's you out of your ace bandages.  These can be hard to find so shop early for one.

Wow, that's awesome news... encouraging!  I'll remember to just keep on schedule with the pain meds, and that's a great tip about the front-closing sports bra... I'll start looking pronto.  Sounds like my surgeon is going to be using the same procedure... so hopefully, we'll have a similar experience.

Thanks!


tori

Front closing sports bra - WalMart, 2 paks for about $10.  Easy - order online if your store doesn't carry them.

 I had a breast lift this summer - similar to the method the poster above indicated.

I found this was also a walk in the park.  I was EASILY able to go back to work at 2 weeks and had to remind myself not to pick things up and stretch too far.  I was driving at about 4 days out - as soon as I had been 24 hours off pain killers.  I had PK in the hospital, and took a couple when I came home - but that was it.

I had my breast and thigh lift at the same time.  I took pain medication for the first week and really didn't have any pain from the breast portion.  I could have gone back to work after two weeks if I'd just had the breast lift.  I did have two drains for the breast portion - nothing for the thighs.  I had the surgery about 18 months agao and am really happy that I did it.