Also known as reduction mammaplasty, breast reduction is a surgical procedure that removes excess fat, skin and glandular tissue from the breasts, resulting in breasts that are more proportionate to the rest of the body. This procedure may also relieve pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms associated with having excessively large breasts. Women seeking breast reduction surgery may have oversized breasts as a result of pregnancy, changes in weight, or other factors. In some cases, your insurance may cover breast reduction surgery; your plastic surgeon’s office will explain any coverage available to you.
Candidates for breast reduction surgery have excessively large breasts that interfere with day-to-day activities or cause medical problems such as breathing difficulties or back pain. In addition, candidates should be at their desired weight and not plan on becoming pregnant in the future. For best results, patients considering breast reduction surgery must have realistic expectations about the procedure.
Before breast reduction surgery, your plastic surgeon will examine your breasts and review your medical history. It is important that to notify your plastic surgeon of all medications you take and any allergies you may have, as these factors may affect your candidacy for the procedure. If you do qualify for breast reduction surgery, your plastic surgeon will explain the surgical approach to be used and address any concerns you may have.
Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia or intravenous sedation and takes between one and three hours to perform. After the anesthetic has taken effect, incisions are made in your breasts and excess skin, fat and glandular tissue are removed. Then, the remaining breast tissue is reshaped; in some cases, the nipple and/or areola are relocated as well. When breast reduction surgery is complete, sutures are placed in the breast tissue, drainage tubes may be placed under the arms, and the skin is closed with surgical tape, sutures and/or skin adhesives.
For the first few weeks after breast reduction surgery, you may experience soreness, bruising and swelling; these can usually be managed with painkillers. You will be encouraged to walk around as soon as possible after your procedure. For the first month after breast reduction surgery, it is recommended that you refrain from exercise and heavy lifting. Scars will remain at the incision sites, but they will be small enough that a swimsuit can cover them.
All surgical procedures carry a risk of complications. Although their occurrence is rare, risks associated with breast reduction surgery may include adverse reactions to the anesthesia, breast asymmetry, infection, blood clots, persistent pain, and undesired scarring. To minimize the occurrence of complications, always choose a board-certified plastic surgeon for your procedure and follow all instructions carefully.
To learn more about breast reduction surgery, contact us today to schedule a consultation with our plastic surgeon. We look forward to meeting you. Our offices are conveniently located across Queens, NY, Long Island, NY, and Bergen County, NJ.
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