Q&As on Breast Reduction Surgery

1) What is breast reduction surgery?

Breast reduction surgery is an operation to remove extra fat, tissue, and skin from your breasts. If you are a person who tends to have large breasts that are out of proportion to the rest of your body and cause neck pain, back pain, or other symptoms, you may be considering breast reduction surgery. The procedure itself tends to take around three hours, and most patients are cleared to go home the same day. During your recovery, there may be some minimal pain or discomfort. 

2) Who is a good candidate for breast reduction surgery?

Every year, it’s estimated that 100,000 women successfully undergo plastic surgery to reduce the size of their breasts. Most candidates for breast reduction surgery have breasts that are exceptionally large when compared to their body frame or their body size. As a result of having large breasts, they battle with pain in their shoulders, their neck, or their back. Their gait and posture take a hit too. For these women, breast reduction surgery is a huge help.

3) Steps for Breast Reduction Surgery

From severe back problems to cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, there are different reasons why a woman goes in for breast reduction surgery. This surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty is the surgical reshaping of the breast to make it smaller. Your doctor will, in course of the surgery remove excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin to reduce breast size. We take a deep dive into the types of breast reduction surgeries and how they are done.

The types of breast reduction procedures include minimally invasive surgery or open surgery. The most common surgeries involve: 

Free nipple graft.
Liposuction.
Pedicle method.
Anchor incision.
LeJour incision.

4)What to expect immediately after breast reduction surgery?

After breast reduction surgery, you may suffer from a series of issues. The doctor will normally leave a drainage tube in the wound to help prevent fluid build-up. Even though this tube is in place you may feel pain and discomfort. There will be bruising and swelling, especially around the area of the incision. You may feel numbness around the area. However, the best part is that the results of the breast reduction surgery will be immediately visible.

5)What are the risks attached with breast reduction surgery?

All surgery carries some degree of risk.  Before opting for Reduction Mammoplasty surgery, your doctor will brief you about the potential risks involved.  Major risks include less sensation in the nipples or breasts, uneven shaped breasts or nipples, scars on the breasts, breastfeeding problems, fat necrosis, and general surgery allergic reactions. Another issue could be the reduced effectiveness of breast cancer screening, as an implant may hide breast tissue (and tumours) during a mammogram. 

6) How to Prepare for Breast Reduction Surgery?

You need to be in good physical condition to be sure you heal the way you should, so follow your doctor’s instructions before and after breast reduction surgery. 

Before the surgery, get your home ready for recovery. Have plenty of ice, gauze and clean washcloths and towels in hand. Stock up on Loose, comfortable dresses. Be ready to use the special ointments or creams as recommended by your surgeon for the incision sites. It is ideal to rope in your friends and family for the necessary care post operation. 

7) Will there be scars after the breast reduction surgery?

Breast reduction scars vary according to the type of incision your aesthetic surgeon suggests for you. Your surgeon can conceal some incision lines in natural breast contours, but others will be visible on the breast surface. Although incision lines are permanent, in most cases they will fade and significantly improve over time. Aesthetic plastic surgeons make every effort to hide and minimize scars, with the goal of achieving the desired results with the shortest possible scar.

8) What questions should you ask before the breast reduction surgery? 

It is important for you to take an active role in your surgery. Ask, clarify after all it is your body.

• Am I a good candidate for breast reduction?
• Are the results I am seeking reasonable and realistic?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for the procedure I am undergoing?
• Will my scars be visible? Where will my scars be located?
  What kind of anaesthesia do you recommend for me?
• What will be the costs associated with my surgery?
• What kind of recovery period can I expect and when can I resume normal activities?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?

9) Are there any alternatives to breast reduction surgery?

There are alternatives to breast reduction surgeries too. The first step will be to reduce your weight if you are obese. If you are opting for breast reduction surgery because of cosmetic or aesthetic reasons, a session with a counsellor or a psychologist may help. Think about the pros and cons before going in for breast reduction surgery. 

10) Is Breast Reduction Really Effective?

Most women are very pleased with the results of their breast reduction procedure.  Women who have their breast size reduced tend to be immediately gratified, and over time they notice an increase in their energy level, their stamina, and their day-to-day comfort level.