Following the placement of sutures, tape will be placed on the incisions and the patient is wrapped with an Ace bandage or fitted with a special bra to be worn at all times for several weeks. A drain may be left in place to be removed a few days later. The patient normally leaves the hospital in a day or two with postsurgery instructions to follow. The surgical area must be kept dry and protected, and the patient should not wear an underwire bra for at least three months. Daily activities should be greatly curtailed, and the patient should not plan to return to work or a normal routine for at least two weeks. However, sutures are removed within the first two weeks of recovery. The patient will be closely monitored during this period for any bleeding, signs of infection, or problems in healing. The patient should immediately report unusual changes to the surgeon.

The incisions from a breast reduction will gradually heal over in several months leaving a discernible scar running from the nipple to the chest wall. The incision running around the breast curve will be mostly obscured. Although the final breast size in breast reduction cannot be guaranteed, much success can be achieved in improving the patient's physical appearance, comfort and social confidence.

Mastopexy to correct marked sagging will require the same incisions and, hence, produce the same scarring that results from a breast reduction procedure. However, once healing is complete, the recontoured breasts will be more youthful and attractive. But, with time, some breasts will again sag and a repeat procedure may be desired.