After surgery, you will be wrapped in elastic bandage or a gauze dressings and surgical bra. A small tube may be placed in each breast to drain blood and fluids for the first day or two. The extent of the post-operative swelling and bruising is dependent on whether you tend to bruise or swell easily. The amount you can expect varies for each individual but past surgery or injuries should be a good indication. Applying cold compresses or ice packs will reduce swelling and relieve discomfort. Many patients use a watertight plastic sandwiches bag filled with frozen berries or peas. Regular icing is the key to relieving swelling.
The bandages will be removed a day or two after surgery, though you will continue wearing the surgical bra around the clock for several weeks, until the swelling and bruising subsides. In most cases, stitches will be removed in one to three weeks. Sometimes the surgeon will use only dissolvable sutures. If breast skin is very dry following surgery, moisturizer can be applied several times a day, but the suture area must be kept dry at all times.

Swelling and skin discoloration around the incisions generally will subside in a few days. After surgery, there may be a temporary loss of sensation in the nipples and breast skin. If it occurs, this condition will improve with time. Sutures will be removed within two weeks after surgery.
Although the surgeon makes every effort to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible, reduction mammoplasty scars are extensive and permanent. The patient must be willing to accept the change from large uncomfortable breasts without scars to small comfortable breasts with scars. Scars remain highly visible for a year following surgery then fades to some degree. Since incisions were made around and below the nipples, scars should not be noticeable even in low-cut-clothing.
To permit proper healing, you should avoid excessive exercise and refrain from over heal lifting for three to four weeks. The decision on when to return to work and normal activities depends on how fast you heal and how you feel.
It is important to follow a careful plan on return to strenuous activity, in order to avoid tension on the wound (which could lead to worse scarring).
Keep your bandage clean and dry. Sponge bathe only. You will remain in bandages for about one week. Light activities can be resumed within a few days. Routine physical activities and exercising (especially lifting, pulling) should be avoided for at least 6 weeks. Empty and record the drains three times a day. NO SMOKING for two weeks after the surgery.