Breast reduction directly impacts a woman's overall proportions and it can appear as though women have gained weight following surgery. With larger breasts, a woman's torso and hips actually appear smaller. When breasts are reduced, it can actually make the hips and torso appear larger.
During your recovery, your activity level will be significantly reduced. This decrease in movement can lead to fluid retention, increasing your swelling and bloating symptoms. Without being able to engage in the physical activity you usually would, you may even recognise a small weight gain. This is completely normal!
By Dr Nicholas Moncrieff
This is very common amongst patients post breast and body surgery and the good news is that it is temporary! In most cases, it peaks around 2 days after surgery and then slowly subsides, although it can take months for all swelling to settle down.
Temporary bloating is a common occurrence and typically does not last for more than a few days. It is usually not a cause for concern. Bloating is a side effect of a surgical procedure that can sometimes happen due to anesthesia, extra fluid retention, or damage to the lymphatic system.
In gynecomastia surgeries or explant surgeries, not wearing compression garments as advised may result in excess skin being left over and associated sagging of skin around your breasts.
Postoperative swelling will be at its peak in the first week after surgery as the tissue and muscle heals. Swelling will begin to subside toward the end of week 1, but it will likely be from 6 to 12 months before you see the full and final results of your breast reduction surgery.
Short-term recovery from breast reduction typically lasts about three weeks. Long-term recovery lasts 3-6 months, sometimes longer. Each phase is unique, but some issues may come up at any time, no matter how long it has been since you had surgery.
How long does a bloated stomach last? If your bloating is due to something you ate or drank or to hormone fluctuations, it should begin to ease within a few hours to days. If you are constipated, it won't go down until you start pooping. Water, exercise and herbal teas can help encourage all of these things along.
A seroma, one of the most common potential complications after surgery, refers to the accumulation of uninfected and clear (i.e., serous) fluid under the skin. Seromas are usually found near the site of a surgical incision and can form soon after surgery or, sometimes, weeks later.
This is when an incision is made into the outer layer of the stomach (serosa) and a matching one made on the wall of the body. The two are then sutured together, holding the stomach in place. Surgery generally lasts about an hour to an hour and a half.
However, your stretches will be limited for several weeks after your surgery. Too much strain — such as an overhead stretch — could damage the breast muscles and make another surgery necessary.
Typically, most reductions bring the cup size down one to two sizes, though in cases of extremely large breasts, more drastic results may be achieved.
This fluid retention is often responsible for the majority of the weight you gain. As you heal, fluid retention will gradually subside, which should help you take off the extra weight. Swelling – You'll experience some swelling in the breast region after your procedure, and this can result in a modest weight gain.
How to correctly wear your surgical bra after your breast surgery. Surgical bras should have no seam and fasten in the front with a zipper or clasps. Your surgical bra should be snug but not too tight. You should be able to insert two fingers underneath.
Some of the anesthetics used during surgery and your post-operative medications can cause disturbances to the gastrointestinal system and can contribute to bloating and discomfort. Drinking adequate water is essential for overall good health and it can decrease swelling.
We therefore recommend you keep this position for eight to 12 weeks post-surgery. Some online sources suggest four to six weeks are enough, but you will continue healing beyond this short window of time. To keep pace with that process, you should continue sleeping on your back for no less than eight weeks.
A sports bra will keep the breasts in place while exercising, but it can be too restrictive when dealing with post-surgery recovery. The breasts can swell a little and a sports bra won't leave any room for this.
It is normally good to take a break from the surgical bra for a few hours as long as you keep the operation to a minimum during this period for our routine breast augmentation patients.
I would routinely recommend that compression garments are used for approximately six to eight weeks after your operation, and it's also important that you do not try to wear any bras with underwires in them as that could be quite uncomfortable, especially if any of your incisions are at the breast crease.
Causes might include: Gas from functional indigestion, food intolerances or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Constipation causing a build-up of feces and back-up of digestive contents. Urinary retention causing a build-up of urine.
Bloating happens when the GI tract becomes filled with air or gas. This can be caused by something as simple as the food you eat.
One easy way to tell the difference between bloat and belly fat is to note belly fat does not cause your stomach to expand wildly throughout the course of a day; bloat does. One other way to tell the difference between bloat and belly fat is you can physically grasp belly fat with your hand, you cannot with bloat.