Breast reduction, also known as mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to remove fat, skin and grandular tissues from breasts in order to reduce their size. The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia and has a significant recovery period.
There are many reasons why women opt for breast reduction procedures. Some women want smaller breasts for health reasons while others simply want a new look. Either way, it is important that you first understand what you are getting yourself into before going under the knife.
As it is the case with other types of surgeries, breast reduction does come with its own sets of pros and cons. Breast reduction can help treat many different problems associated with having extra large breasts. Problems such as neck and back pains are common in women with large breasts and a successful reduction procedure can help remedy the situation. This type of surgery can make it easy for you to participate in physical activities and also improve confidence.
On the other hand, the surgery might leave you with permanent scars, seroma (fluid retention), hematoma (blood collection), bleeding and infection among others side effects.
What to Expect
Before the procedure begins, your surgeon will review your medical history, try to understand your expectations as far as appearance and size is concerned, and explain in details the risks and benefits to be expected. The techniques used to reduce breast size will vary from one patient to the next. The procedure might include liposuction which will get rid of excess fat or surgery through incision.
The surgeon starts by making an incision round the areola and then another down each breast. The surgeon will then remove fat, skin and excess breast tissue in order to reduce breast size. Afterwards, they’ll try to achieve symmetry by reshaping and re-positioning the areola and nipple. In some cases, the surgeon will remove both the nipple and areola and reattach them higher than the original position. This is mostly common in women with very large breasts.
What to Expect after the Procedure
Immediately after the procedure, the surgeon will wrap your breasts in bandages and gauze dressings and insert a tube under your arms to help drain excess fluid and blood. You’ll also need to take antibiotics and pain killers for a while as you recover.
Afterwards, you’ll need to limit physical activities for a few weeks and also wear elastic compression bras to protect the breasts during recovery.
How to Choose the Best Breast Reduction Surgeon
When considering breast reduction surgery, it is important that you find a qualified surgeon to work on you. The first thing to take into consideration is board certification. A board certified surgeon will have undergone proper training and qualified to perform different mammoplasty procedures. This improves your chances of achieving high quality results during and after the surgery.
The next thing you’ll need to consider is experience and training. Make sure you choose a surgeon with a proven track record and one who’s had proper training and experience. Don’t be afraid to ask where your surgeon got their training as this will help you understand the professional better.
It would also help put your mind at ease if you went through previous patient testimonials to find out exactly how they felt about the procedure. Ask for before-and-after photos of each patient in order to gauge the quality of the work done on their bodies.
Finally, it is important that you choose a surgeon that makes you feel comfortable. Your surgeon should be friendly, comforting and honest – we recommend Dr. Ted Eisenberg. If you are not comfortable with the way a surgeon makes you feel, then don’t hesitate to look elsewhere.