Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is technically known as reduction mammaplasty. This surgery aims to give one smaller, lighter, firmer, more attractive breasts and relief from backache, shoulder ache, and breast crease irritation that large breasts cause. In addition it may relieve some women of the self-consciousness that they may feel from having too large breasts. Breast reduction surgery removes fat, glandular tissue and skin from the breasts.

Patients who choose this surgical procedure are among the happiest patients the plastic surgeon sees during office follow-up visits. Normally this procedure is performed for physical relief rather than simply cosmetic improvement. The nipple is usually not totally cut from the breast, but so many ducts attaching the nipple to the breast are severed that breast-feeding after surgery is more difficult.

Breast reduction surgery has permanent results, but breasts can still change size. Breast size usually decreases after pregnancy and after menopause. Breasts may get larger if you gain weight, go on the pill, or develop cysts in your breasts. This operation can be done once your breasts stop growing. For some young females with very large breasts, it can be done before breast growth is complete, to make life more tolerable.

As with any surgery, there is always a possibility of complications, including bleeding, infection, or reaction to the anesthesia. There will be some bleeding during the operation but usually this is controlled without great difficulty and it is seldom necessary to transfuse patients undergoing this procedure.

The procedure does leave noticeable, permanent scars, although they can be covered by bra or bathing suit. Poor healing and wider scars are more common in smokers. Some patients may experience a permanent loss of feeling in their nipples or breasts.

There are several acceptable surgical techniques depending on patient anatomy and the surgeon's preference. The most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision that circles the areola, extends downward, and follows the natural curve of the crease beneath the breast. The surgeon removes excess glandular tissue, fat and skin, and moves the nipple and areola into their new position. A small tube may be placed in each breast to drain off blood and fluids for the first day or two.

Breast reduction is generally done in a hospital, as an inpatient procedure. The operation will last between three and four hours. A patient can expect to remain in the hospital for one night. General anesthesia is always used. You'll be asleep through the entire operation. No stitches need to be removed in this surgery.

After the surgery is done, gauze bandages are put over the breasts. The recovering patient will hurt virtually all day the first day after surgery and possibly the second day. Pain is tiring and until this phase is over, one will feel exhausted. You will be able to buy some new bras after 2 weeks, but you will still be swollen. Wait to buy the rest of your new bras until 6 weeks after surgery. From time to time you will have sharp shooting pains, even weeks after surgery. These last only a second and indicate that nerves are recovering.

Breasts will be bruised for the first week, turning yellow in the second week after surgery and they will probably be completely numb for many weeks. Scars will vary with the surgical technique, but there will be a scar around the areola. This scar will continue down to the crease under the breast and in the breast crease itself.

The scar progression in most people is:

1. Scars red and lumpy in the first 6 weeks.
2. Scars beginning to fade to a paler pink and to soften and flatten from 6 weeks to 6 months.
3. Scars flat and white, pale pink, or brown by 1 year.

You can return to work or school two weeks after surgery. After three weeks you can resume sports.

The scars are the most common source of dissatisfaction. The scar can be very fine, or thick and wide. It will depend on the healing capacity of each person individually. Nipple feeling may not return for months. There may be certain areas of numbness for up to six months.

Breast reduction is one of the very best cosmetic operations available. Surgery removes the emotional and physical burden of too large breasts and the nuisance of never finding clothes that fit. Thus it is rare to find a patient who isn't happy with her result, assuming she was realistic about what it could do and where the scars would be.

As much as you may have desired these changes, you'll need time to adjust to your new image, as will your family and friends.

Before	After

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