Breast reduction recovery timeframe?

MaineCoonKitty

Breast reduction recovery timeframe?

MaineCoonKitty

I had a left side mastectomy for a massive malignant Phyllodes tumor that left me with a very large wound site about 7 wks ago.  Since then, I've been attached to a wound vac pump which has done a great job of reducing the wound to about 1/3 its originial size.  My breast surgeon referred me to a plastic surgeon to discuss a skin graft to cover the remaining wound and I saw him today.  I've opted for no reconstruction at all on the left side at all.  He suggested that I have a breast reduction on the right side to reduce my remaining D size breast down to a much smaller "barely B" so that I can wear a smaller prosthesis and get more balance as well as be more comfortable going braless when I choose.  YAY! 

The other advantage to this plan is that he can take the skin graft from the right side during the reduction and that will eliminate having to harvest it from another site on my body and probably another 6 weeks attached to a wound vac,

Can anyone give me some info about healing from a breast reduction or this type of skin graft - the timeframe, the pain involved, what kind of activity restrictions you had, etc?  I'm trying to figure out how long I need to plan to be off work since I've already been gone for almost 8 wks for the mastectomy.  I have plenty of sick time to use, I just need to figure out a game plan for when to schedule the procedure.

Thanks in advance for your wisdom and knowledge,

Maine Coon Kitty

(I didn't know where to post this, so I'll also post this in the Reconstruction section too.)

BoobsinaBox

Dear Maine,

I checked to see if you had any responses in the recon board, and I didn't see any there either.  I don't know anything about reduction, but I hoped you would get some responses on the Recon board. I have a relative who had reduction several years ago, and I could ask her about recovery time, if you don't hear from anyone else! Do come back here with all your prosthesis questions!  You could learn a great deal about all the issues and garments and other things at our sister Barbara's non-profit website, http://www.breastfree.com.  Good luck and healing!

Dawn