Breast reduction
Women with large, heavy breasts may experience several health concerns related to their breasts: back pain, neck pain, grooves in the shoulders from bra straps, pain in the breasts, and rashes under the breasts.
Some women are bothered by the psychological embarrassment of large breasts. In other situations, athletic, active women and women who are trying to lose weight are inhibited by the size of their breasts. Breast reduction can minimize or eliminate these problems. Excess skin and breast tissues are removed and the breasts reshaped to be smaller and more attractive.
The breast reduction procedure is performed at the hospital with the patient under general anesthesia. When only a small amount of tissue is removed, the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia with intravenous sedation as an outpatient procedure.
The surgeon makes incisions so that scars form around the areola, vertically below the areola, and in the crease beneath the breast. The incisions are designed so the scars will not be visible while wearing normal clothing. The surgeon then repositions the nipple and areola to a higher position on the breast, and removes excess breast tissue and skin. A drain may be left in place at the time of surgery and removed several days later.
The patient can be up and about the day after surgery, and can go home in the next day in most cases. Sutures are removed within the first two weeks following surgery.
Complications of breast reduction can include postoperative bleeding, infection and healing problems. These complications may result in more obvious scars.
Although every attempt is made to obtain symmetry and a natural shape, there may be some irregularities in the final size and shape of the breasts or in the positioning of the areola and nipple. Because separating the nipple from the breast tissue during the procedure disturbs the surface nerves of the nipple, patients may experience a decrease in sensation which basically returns back. Patients also may experience a permanent inability to breast-feed after having the surgery.
Patients most often are very happy with results, enjoy new breasts shape and forget previous problems associated with heavy breasts.
Examples of this kind of surgery surgery can be found in our gallery.