Breast reduction
Indications for breast reduction
Breast reduction surgery may be advised to women with very large breasts in
order to relieve back and neck pain as well as other medical and psychological
problems caused by excessive breast weight and size. Usually this surgery is
performed for physical relief rather than cosmetic improvements. Breast
reduction is not recommended for women who intend to breast-feed or until a
woman’s breasts are fully developed.
Before the procedure
The surgeon carefully examines your breasts and discusses with you risks,
limitations, your expectations and possible outcomes of the surgery. It is
also a good opportunity to decide on anaesthesia. Make sure you understand the
procedure and its results.
It may be required that you have a mammogram (breast X-ray) made before the surgery.
Breast reduction surgery
Breast reduction is also called reduction mammoplasty. It removes fat,
glandular tissue and skin from the breasts making them smaller, lighter and
better-shaped. When only extra fat needs to be removed breast reduction
surgery can be replaced by liposuction.
Breast reduction plastic surgery is generally performed as an inpatient procedure
under general anesthesia. The procedure takes two to four hours. After the
surgery you may need to stay at a hospital for two or three days.
During the surgery the incision is made around the areola, downward and
following the crease beneath the breast. Extra tissue, fat and skin are
removed and the edges of the incision are joined to form a new shape of the
breasts. If the breasts are very large or pendulous, the nipples and areolas
are moved to a higher position.
Stitches are usually located around the areola, as a vertical line from areola
down and along the lower crease of the breast.
After the surgery
The surgery can reduce breast volume and improve its shape, ease spinal pains,
facilitate medical and X-ray examination of mammary glands, allow for many
physical activities. The recovery time varies depending on the amount of the
tissue removed, age and other personal factors.
Immediately after the surgery you will be wrapped in elastic bandage with a
small tube in each breast to allow blood and fluids drainage for the first
couple of days. Some pain and discomfort can be reduced by pain killers if
prescribed by your surgeon.
The bandages are removed in a day or two following the surgery and the
stitches in 1-3 weeks. You may expect some pain and swelling during your first
menstruation after the procedure but it will pass in a few days.
Many breast reduction patients can return to work in just a few days after the
surgery but any heavy, strenuous activity should be avoided for several weeks.
Surgery results will be visible in a few weeks when the swelling and bruising
disappears. However it may take from six months to a year until your breasts
completely adjust to their new shape and size. You too, will need time to adapt
to your new image but it is definitely worth it.
If you have more questions about a breast reduction plastic surgery, feel free to
contact us.
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