Breast Reduction

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Excessively large, heavy, sagging breasts can produce extreme physical discomfort and health problems and emotional stress for women. Some of these problems include back, shoulder and neck pain as well as poor posture, skin irritations, skeletal deformities, breathing problems and numbness in the extremities due to compressed nerves. For many women and teenage girls, large breasts can also be an embarrassment, leaving women feeling extremely self-conscious. Breast reduction surgery can help alleviate the discomfort and provide more attractive looking breast shape and smaller breast size.

Breast reduction eliminates skin, fat and tissue, resulting in firmer, lighter and smaller breasts that are more proportionate to the rest of the body.

The Procedure

To reduce the breast tissue and eliminate saggy breast skin, incisions will be made around the areola, vertically down from the bottom of the areola and in the breast fold. The incision is shaped like an anchor. Through these incisions the surgeon is able to reposition the nipple, reduce breast size by taking out excess fat and tissue and remove excess saggy breast skin. 

Who is a candidate for a breast reduction?

• Those with excessively large, uncomfortably heavy breasts who experience back, neck and shoulder pain as well as indentations from bra straps and chafing underneath the breasts.
• Women who have low self-esteem and feel unattractive due to the size of their breasts. Many of these women complain of being unable to buy fashionable clothes and feel uncomfortable in the clothes they are forced to wear due to the size of their breasts. This is especially difficult for teenaged girls.
• Women who cannot perform daily activities or exercise because breast size interferes.

How will I look and feel after surgery?

• After surgery, you will be wrapped around the breasts tightly with an elastic bandage and placed in a bra.
• Each breast will have a small drain inserted to help eliminate any fluids or residual bleeding that can collect in the breasts over the first few days.
• You will experience some swelling, bruising and discomfort that can be lessened with oral medication prescribed by your surgeon. The discomfort will decrease daily.
• Bandages will be removed after a day or two, but you will be required to continue wearing the bra for a few weeks.
• The procedure will leave noticeable scars. For most women, these scars may fade with time. The typically breast reduction incision will leave a scar shaped much like an anchor,

When can I get back to my everyday routine?

• Patients are usually able to move around within a day or two.
• Most women are able to return to work within two weeks depending upon what their individual work duties entail. More strenuous work must be avoided for a longer period of time. Light social activities can also be resumed within this time period.
• More strenuous activities and lifting can begin after 4-6 weeks. Your surgeon will be able to give you instructions on resuming normal activities.
• Any physical contact with the breasts should be avoided for 6 weeks.

Results of my surgery

• After breast reduction, most patients will experience not only physical relief but also increased self-confidence as a result of smaller breasts, more attractive contour and better shape.
• Problems once associated with excessively large breasts are eliminated. Without the interference of large breasts many activities, including exercise, are performed with ease and comfort.
• The results of your breast reduction surgery will last many years.

• Some patients may experience a permanent loss of feeling in the nipples or breasts.

• Breast reduction will leave permanent scars that will be covered by bras and bathing suits. Products are available that can be placed on the scars to help reduce redness and improve the overall appearance.

• Most women feel that the appearance of a scar outweighs the physical discomfort and embarrassment they endured living with excessively large breasts.

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IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE

• There are risks associated with any surgical procedure.
• The specific risks and suitability of each procedure for a given individual can only be determined at the time of consultation. 
• Minor complications that do not affect the outcome may occasionally occur.
• Major complications are rare.
• Your plastic surgeon will review any and all risks and benefits with you during a private consultation.