Breast Reduction / Mammaplasty aims to reduce the breast size and improve physical and emotional symptoms caused by very large breasts. This surgery may remove excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size more in proportion with your body and to alleviate the discomfort associated with excessively large breasts (macromastia).
Although breast reduction is often performed to address medical issues, patients who do not have the symptoms of macromastia but are unhappy with the size of their breasts can still pursue breast reduction as an aesthetic procedure.
Procedure
Breast reduction surgery or reduction mammoplasty, reduces the size and improves the shape of the breasts. Typically, women who are candidates for this procedure have physical symptoms related to the weight or shape of their breasts. These symptoms include back pain, neck pain, and bra strap grooves in the shoulders. The incisions vary based on the breast size before the operation and the final post-operative size.
An incision is made around the nipple and areola accompanied by a vertical incision below the areola with or without a horizontal incision made in the crease below the breast. Short scar techniques are frequently applicable in breast reduction surgery and allow excellent reduction of size with improved shape while limiting the extent of the incisions.
For reduction of very large breasts, in some cases the nipple and areola may need to be surgically removed and reapplied as a graft. Removing and reapplying the nipple/areola tissue will result in the loss of nipple sensation and the inability to breastfeed.
Length
The procedure usually requires two to four hours of operating time depending on the technique chosen and the size of the breasts.
Anesthesia
The procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia supplemented with local anesthesia. Smaller reductions can be performed under intravenous sedation without the need for general anesthesia.
Inpatient/Outpatient
Depending on the size of the breasts, type of anesthesia selected, and length of the surgical procedure, patients may return home on the same day as their surgery or spend the night at an aftercare facility or hospital.
Who is a good candidate for breast reduction surgery?
You may be a candidate for breast reduction surgery if you are physically healthy, you have realistic expectations, you don't smoke, you are bothered by feeling that your breasts are too large, you have breasts that limit your physical activity, you experience back, neck and shoulder pain caused by the weight of your breasts, you have shoulder indentations from bra straps, you have skin irritation beneath the breast crease
Possible Side Effects
Prolonged swelling and delayed healing.
Risks
Risks associated with breast reduction include: unfavorable scarring, loss of nipple sensation, loss of ability to breastfeed, loss of nipple and breast tissue, unsatisfactory shape, and failure to achieve aesthetic goals.
Recovery
Typically recovery requires one to two weeks. Most patients return to normal activities within that period of time. Strenuous physical activities are discouraged for three to six weeks after the surgery.
Results
Most patients who undergo a reduction mammaplasty are pleased with the size and the shape of their breasts and are delighted with the improvement and lessening of the symptoms of pain and discomfort that they experienced due to the weight of their breasts. Breast reduction makes physical activities easier and patients enjoy their new appearance and ability to wear clothing that was uncomfortable or unattractive before the surgery was performed.
You should know that:
Breast reduction surgery can interfere with certain diagnostic procedures
Breast and nipple piercing can cause an infection
Your ability to breastfeed following reduction mammaplasty may be limited; talk to your doctor if you are planning to nurse a baby
The breast reduction procedure can be performed at any age, but is best done when your breasts are fully developed
Changes in the breasts during pregnancy can alter the outcomes of previous breast reduction surgery, as can significant weight fluctuations