How to Minimise Post Breast-Reduction Mammoplasty Swelling
Mon 13th Jul 2026
A Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty) aims to reduce the size of an individual’s breasts. Along with addressing aesthetics, a Breast Reduction can eliminate some of the symptoms of heavy breasts, such as neck and shoulder pain, skin irritation and chaffing and compromised mobility.
Swelling is a normal side-effect of the reduction mammoplasty procedure. It is simply your body’s way of reacting to the disturbance. But efforts to minimise postsurgical swelling can help reduce pain, encourage optimal healing and minimise the chance of complications. This article explains how you can reduce swelling and make your recovery smoother and more comfortable.
Summary
- Wear your surgical bra and compression garment as instructed to help minimise swelling and promote healing.
- Elevate your bed head to prevent fluid from accumulating in the chest area
- In the first two weeks, rest often, but take regular, gentle walks around the house to increase circulation and encourage lymphatic drainage
- Return to the clinic for regular LED light therapy sessions to help reduce swelling and pain and encourage healing.
- Avoid salt and salty foods
While swelling is normal after all surgery, helping to avoid unnecessary swelling and bruising is encouraged for three reasons:
- REDUCES DISCOMFORT – Excess swelling puts extra strain on the tissues, which can be particularly uncomfortable and tender in the breast area. This can make it difficult to perform daily activities and generally feel unpleasant. By reducing swelling, you can enjoy a more comfortable and manageable healing process.
- HELPS REVEAL POSTOP RESULTS – Swelling prevents you from seeing the results of your procedure. Therefore, taking care of your body after surgery, encouraging drainage and preventing unnecessary swelling can make the results more apparent.
- ENCOURAGES HEALING – Minimising swelling and bruising helps to reduce the risk of complications and encourages the body to heal faster. However, even after the best efforts, sometimes complications can arise.
Your First Few Days Post- Surgery
Swelling begins almost immediately after surgery as your body reacts to the incisions and tissue changes. Typically, there are three incisions created with a reduction mammoplasty. There is a horizontal scar that sits in the breast fold, a vertical scar that runs from the breast fold to the areola, and a small, circumferential scar around the areola.
Immediately after the surgery, you’ll be fitted with a compression garment to help control the swelling and encourage healing. You’ll also be wearing a post-surgical bra to support your breasts.
In the first few days, swelling will typically be at its highest, particularly around the lower half of the breasts and near the incision sites. Your breasts may feel firm and slightly warm due to your body’s natural healing response.
Sometimes, there is also bruising in the breasts, which can make the swelling look more pronounced.
During this early post-operative period, you should be resting often, but getting up to take small steps around the house to gently encourage circulation and lymphatic drainage. Do not perform any other exercise at this time.
Soon after your surgery (typically, on the day you leave hospital), you’ll be invited to return to the clinic to undergo your first LED light therapy session. This is a non-invasive treatment that:
- reduces swelling and inflammation
- helps minimise pain and discomfort
- accelerate wound healing and tissue regeneration
- optimises scar formation for neater, more refined scars.
It’s recommended that you return to the clinic weekly for the first four weeks to continue these sessions, which will significantly help to decrease the swelling and pain.
Your First Two Weeks
Despite all best efforts, you can still expect substantial swelling during the first two weeks. While this can feel a little overwhelming, it is normal and should pass. Continue to take frequent walks around the house interspersed with rest periods to encourage circulation and drainage. It’s important that you don’t overexert yourself, though, as this can increase inflammation.
Continue to wear your surgical bra as this will provide even support and compression across the breasts, helping to control fluid buildup in the tissues. Your bra also keeps your breasts in a stable position. By preventing unnecessary movement, we prevent aggravation, which can swell the tissues and cause discomfort.
Similarly, you must wear your compression garment to help minimise swelling and discomfort.
During the first two weeks, elevate the head of your bed by placing bricks or wooden blocks under the feet of the bed head. Ideally, create a 30 to 45 degree angle, as this will be pronounced enough to help drain excess fluid.
When sleeping, lie on your back and never on your front.
You may also apply cold packs or packets of frozen peas (wrapped in fabric) to your breasts for 20 – 30 minutes at a time, as this can prevent excess fluid from accumulating in the area.
Avoid salt and salty foods as this can exacerbate swelling.
Six Weeks Post Surgery
By six weeks, most of your swelling would have subsided, although some degree of swelling may remain for a few months. You may also notice fluctuations in swelling; these typically occur if you have increased activity levels too quickly, as the movement and exertion can cause some temporary swelling to return.
During recovery, it’s important to understand the difference between normal signs of swelling and problematic signs.
Normal signs of swelling
- Typically, normal swelling slowly subsides over time; it is also associated with mild discomfort that also decreases over the weeks.
- There will be slight warmth in the breasts initially, but this will slowly subside.
- Some asymmetry or irregularity in the breast is also normal, as swelling doesn’t always occur evenly. These differences should gradually improve, although fluctuations can still occur over the first few months.
Problematic signs of swelling
If your swelling rapidly increases, is associated with severe pain, redness and an increase in heat, this could indicate an infection or a complication like a haematoma. If you experience this, please contact the clinic immediately.
