13/10/2026
In our series on post-operative care we speak to ASAPS member surgeons on what they believe is the most important aspects of recovery.
For breast reduction surgery, there are several things in the post-operative period. We follow our patients a lot, and I tell them this. So, in the first eight weeks, my patients are not doing any heavy lifting and they're wearing a compression garment, but we actually follow them almost weekly.
For the first week follow-up, I look for post-operative swelling, make sure things are healing appropriately. I tell my patients not to judge the end result at that stage, but I wanna make sure that their pain is okay, there are no immediate issues, they're wearing their compression garment and they're not doing too much.
At approximately two weeks is when we actually take the surgical tapes off to inspect the scars and we instruct our patients on what to do with respect to scar care. This includes massage, silicon taping, and we provide them with this so that they are well equipped to begin the journey for scar management.
Usually around week six to eight is when we'll see them again to remove their compression garments and advise them about what clothing and what activity they can resume.
We then see our patients at three months, six months, and 12 months, and that's largely just to see how their shape is settling down, how their scars are doing, and that they're ultimately happy with the end result.
We actually, even after the 12 months, leave the door open for patients to come back. We really like seeing what their scars have done and their shape has done long-term, and I feel that's helped me refine shape and techniques and see how results change with time.
Dr Shagun Aggarwal
Specialist Plastic Surgeon (MED0001131487)
[ASAPS, Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, Specialist Plastic Surgeons, Dr Shagun Aggarwal]
