What is Breast Reduction?
Breast Reduction, or Reduction Mammoplasty, involves
the removal of fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the
breasts that makes them appear smaller, lighter and firmer.
Reduction of the size of the areola, the darker skin around
the nipple, can also be done. The objective here is to give
the breasts a better shape that is in proportion with the
rest of the body.
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Effects of Breast Reduction
The
choice of getting a Breast Reduction can have a significant
effect in your life. This is where you decide to
re-establish your health, sense of femininity, and most of
all, your self‑confidence. It might take a long time for
you to consider Breast Reduction before actually getting the
procedure and might wonder why you waited such a long time
to undergo an operation that could ultimately change your
life. Picture yourself with a proportional body, with an
excellent posture, and free from any pain without the
discomfort of large, pendulous breasts that lead to
headaches, back, neck and shoulder pain, humiliation, and
the lack of ability to engage in many physical activities.
Wherever you choose to have breast reduction surgery, you
deserve to achieve your preferred figure to life.
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Candidates for Breast Reduction
Overly large breasts can cause a lot of problems, both
physical and emotional. The best candidates for this
procedure are women who are distressed by very large and
sagging breasts that restrain them from doing activities and
cause physical discomfort. If you have one or more of the
following conditions, you may be a good candidate for Breast
Reduction:
·
Breasts
that are too large in proportion to your body frame.
·
Breasts
that are heavy and pendulous where nipples and areolas point
downward.
·
One
breast is bigger than the other.
·
Presence
of back, neck, or shoulder pain due to the weight of your
breasts.
·
Presence
of skin irritation underneath your breasts.
·
Grooves
in shoulder due to tight bra straps.
·
Limitation in physical activities due to size and weight of
breasts.
·
Discontentment or self-consciousness about the size of
breasts.
It is advised that Breast Reduction be done until breast
growth has stopped although this procedure can actually be
performed at any age. If you plan to breast feed in the
future, it is important that you discuss this first with
your plastic surgeon since childbirth and breastfeeding may
have major and unpredictable effects on the size and shape
of your breasts. On the other hand, many women come to a
decision to go through breast reduction before having
children thinking that they can address any succeeding
changes later.
It is also important that the patient is mature enough to
fully comprehend the procedure and have expectations about
the outcome that are realistic.
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Your
Consultation
Prior to your surgery, the BHMG’s Board Certified Surgeon
will evaluate you to know how you want your breasts to look
like and also let you know if your expectations are actually
realistic for your body frame. The doctor will help in
choosing the Breast Reduction procedure that is suitable for
you. Your options will be discussed with you and from there
decide together which course to take.
Before going into surgery, it is essential that you are in
a good physical and mental condition. It is also important
that you quit smoking as it affects the healing process.
Smoking inhibits the ability of the body to deliver oxygen
to all of the organs which is very vital during surgery and
recovery. Patients who are diabetic may have problems with
healing after the procedure so they are asked to maintain a
certain level of health before undergoing the operation.
Also, patients who are under the age of 18 are advised to
wait until such time that their breasts have stopped growing
before going through with this procedure.
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The Breast Reduction
Procedure
The Breast Reduction procedure is done on an outpatient
setting under general anesthesia. The surgery will take
about 2 to 4 hours.
There are different techniques and procedures to choose
from. From the consultation that you had with the surgeon,
you will have picked the procedure that best suits you and
your body’s goals.
The most common method used in Breast Reduction surgery
involves three incisions. One incision is made surrounding
the areola then another runs vertically from the lower edge
of the areola to the crease beneath the breast. Lastly, the
third incision follows the natural curve of the breast
crease.
The nipple and areola moved to a higher position after the
surgeon has eliminated the excess breast tissue, fat, and
skin. The areola also is reduced in size as this becomes
stretched in large breasts. The skin that was previously
positioned above the nipple is brought down and together to
give the breasts a better shape. For the improvement of the
contour of the upper arm, liposuction may be utilized.
Most of the time, the nipples and areolas stay connected to
the underlying mounds of tissue which allows for
preservation of sensation. The possibility of breastfeeding
may also be preserved by this technique, but is not a
guarantee.
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Recovery
After the surgery, there will immediately be a noticeable
difference in breast size. A few days after the procedure,
a bra should be worn to provide support and to diminish
swelling. To encourage healing and to make certain that you
get the breasts you wish for, a surgical bra should be worn
constantly for several weeks. Most of the patients take a
break, at least 1 to 2 weeks, from work or normal activity.
It is not advisable to participate in strenuous activities
for about 6 weeks after undergoing the operation.
Aside from the reduction in the breast size, there are
other noticeable changes. You may observe an improvement in
your backache, neck ache, shoulder ache, as well as your
posture too. You will also finally experience the joy of
finding the clothes you like that actually fit you well.
Most importantly, it will change the way you feel about
yourself.
Recovery time takes up to 3 to 4 weeks to be able to go
back to work, around 6 weeks to resume strenuous activities,
and several months up to a year or more for the scars to
fade.
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Risks
Major complications from Breast Reduction are very rare.
Yearly, a lot of women go through an uneventful surgery and
are very happy with the outcome. Those who are
contemplating this procedure though must be aware of both
the benefits and the risks of surgery.
Some of the potential complications of this procedure
include bleeding, infection and a reaction to anesthesia.
After surgery, there are instances when the breasts may be
slightly asymmetrical or there may be slight variations in
the nipple height. If preferred, slight adjustments can be
done at a later time. Rarely, permanent loss of sensation
in the nipples or breasts may occur after the procedure.
In certain events where there is poor healing of the
incisions, a revision surgery can be performed. Skin grafts
may also be utilized for reconstruction in the unlikely
event of damage or loss of the nipple and areola.
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Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: How
will my plastic surgeon conduct the evaluation for Breast
Reduction surgery?
A:
At this time, the surgeon will examine your breasts, take
measurements, and photograph your breasts for your medical
record. The doctor will carefully evaluate the size and
shape of your breasts, the quality of your skin, and
position of the nipples and areolas.
Your medical history will be also discussed during the
consultation so you must be prepared to provide pertinent
information about any medical conditions, allergies to
medications, medical treatments received, your surgical
history including breast biopsies, current medications. It
is important that the information you provide is complete.
If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight,
notify your plastic surgeon especially if you have noticed
that your breasts become smaller with weight loss.
Stabilizing one’s weight before undergoing the procedure may
be recommended by your surgeon.
Q: How
should I prepare for surgery?
A:
A baseline mammogram may be recommended depending on your
age or if there is a history of breast cancer in your
family. This is done before surgery and another one several
months after. Doing so will help detect any future changes
in your breast tissue. After the procedure, breast
self-examination can still be performed. Risk of breast
cancer development is not increased by undergoing Breast
Reduction surgery.
Smoking should be stopped in advance before going through
with the surgery. Aspirin and certain anti-inflammatory
drugs should be avoided for a period of time before surgery
as these can cause increased bleeding. Additional
pre-operative instructions will be provided by your surgeon.
However, even if you are released on the day of surgery or
the next day, it is imperative that you have someone to
drive you home and to stay with you for at least one to two
days.
Q: What
will the day of surgery be like?
A:
Breast reduction surgery may be done in a hospital, a
free-standing ambulatory facility, or an office-based
surgical suite.
Most of the time, administration of a general anesthetic is
done making you asleep throughout the procedure. After the
completion of surgery, you will be closely monitored in a
recovery area. In most cases, small drain tubes will be
placed in your breasts to avoid fluid accumulation. Gauze
dressings with an elastic bandage or a surgical bra will be
used in order to cover your breasts.
Q: How
will I look and feel initially?
A:
A day after surgery, you are encouraged to get out of bed
for short periods of time. You will be able to move more
freely and comfortably after several days. On the other
hand, some activities such as bending and lifting must be
avoided as they may cause increased swelling or even
bleeding. You may also be advised to sleep on your back so
as to keep pressure off your breasts.
If surgical drains are placed, they may be removed one or
two days after the procedure, at which time dressings may
also be changed or removed. A support bra should be worn
for a few weeks up until there is diminished swelling and
discoloration of the breasts. Over a period of
approximately three weeks, your stitches will be removed in
stages starting about one week post surgery.
There will be noticeable loss of sensation around the
nipple and areola areas; however, this is usually
temporary. On the other hand, return of normal sensation
may take weeks, months, or even more than a year. Your
breasts may also necessitate some time to acquire a more
natural shape. Initially, the incisions will be color red
or pink and will stay this way for many months following the
procedure.
Q: When
can I resume my normal activities?
A:
After undergoing the procedure, depending on the kind of job
that you have, you may possibly return to work within just a
couple of weeks. Several weeks after the procedure, you may
resume to the majority of your normal activities. However,
mild intermittent discomfort may be felt during this time
but this is expected. On the other hand, when severe pain
is felt, it should be immediately reported to your doctor.
Sexual activity should be avoided for at least one week or
so. After that period, you must be extremely gentle with
your breasts for a minimum of 6 weeks.
Q: How
long will the results last?
A:
Your breast size will remain stable unless you gain or lose
a large amount of weight or if you become pregnant.
However, because of gravity and the natural process of
aging, your breast size and shape will eventually change.
If after several years you are not satisfied with how your
breasts appear, a breast lift procedure may be done to
re-establish a more youthful shape of your breasts.
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