Breast Reduction
What to Consider Before Breast Reduction Surgery
Breast reduction, or reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed on women whose breasts are overly large for the size of their body. This procedure reduces the overall size of the breasts through the removal of excess skin, fat, and breast tissue. Because large breasts tend to sag, breast reduction is frequently combined with a breast lift, which counteracts the effects of gravity to place the breasts in an elevated position on the chest.
Breast reduction surgery is a plastic surgery procedure in which excess tissues are removed through strategically placed incisions on or around the breasts. The overall goal of breast reduction is to leave the patient with smaller, lighter, and more proportionate breasts.
Types of Breast Reduction
Breast reduction procedures require general anesthesia and take between three and five hours, regardless of the surgical techniques employed. There are several types of breast reduction surgery; the type that is appropriate for your situation depends on the amount of reduction desired, the composition of breast tissue, and your personal preferences regarding the placement of incisions. The most common types of breast reduction are:
- The pendicle method, which require an incision shaped like a circle around the nipple and areola. This procedure is known for the least incidence of scarring, although surgeons are somewhat limited in the amount of tissue they are able to remove.
- The LeJour or vertical incision method, in which this circular incision continues vertically down the breast until it meets the crease underneath the breast.
- The anchor method, in which this incision line is continued horizontally across the underside of the breast. While this involves the longest incision, it also provides the surgeon with complete access to the underlying breast tissues, allowing for the most drastic changes in breast shape and volume.
Once the incision is made, excess tissues, including fat, glandular tissue, and skin, are removed. In some cases, liposuction is involved, particularly when there is a large volume of fat to be removed. The breast reduction may also be performed with a breast lift, in which the strategic removal of excess skin allows the breasts to sit higher on the chest. This may require the repositioning of the nipple in a more natural position on the chest. Regardless of the type of breast reduction surgery you are undergoing, the incision sites are closed once the surgeon has contoured your breasts to the desired results.
As with breast augmentation, breast reduction is mainly performed on women. Men with gynecomastia, or abnormal breast development, can undergo a procedure known as male breast reduction to surgically remove excess breast tissue.
Are you a good candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery?
Women who choose to undergo breast reduction tend to have very large breasts. Although this procedure is often performed for purely cosmetic reasons, the weight of large breasts can cause pain in the neck, shoulders, and back, resulting in significant discomfort. Women often feel that their breasts are too large for their body, and may have trouble finding clothing that fits properly. Many women opting for breast reduction have been the target of unwanted attention due to the size of their breasts and feel self conscious about the shape of their body.
Breast reduction is available to adult women whose breasts have stopped growing. Teenagers are advised to wait a few years before deciding if breast reduction is right for them. Ideal candidates for this procedure do not plan to breastfeed in the future, as there is a possibility that this surgery could interfere with breastfeeding. This procedure is also not recommended for patients who are currently pregnant. Candidates for breast reduction should be in good overall health and at or near a healthy weight, although this procedure may be performed on moderately overweight patients.
Finding a Breast Reduction Surgeon
Other than the cost of breast reduction, its important to find a plastic surgeon that is well qualified. When choosing a breast reduction surgeon, make sure they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS) or other organization such as the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASPS) or American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Although a membership in a society or board-certification doesn’t guarantee a successful outcome most certifying boards like the ABPS require extensive medical training, experience, and rigorous surgical education which can help ensure that the appropriate techniques are used for your breast reduction surgery while reducing the risks of complications.