Breast Reduction
It is also known as Reduction Mammoplasty. Breast Reduction surgery removes fat, glandular tissue and skin from the breasts, leaving them smaller, lighter, lifted and firmer. It can also reduce the size of the areola. The goal is to achieve attractive breasts that are in proportion to the rest of your body.
Having large, heavy breasts make many women uncomfortable both physically and psychologically. The excess weight of large breasts may cause back and neck pain, skin irritation, skeletal deformities, even breathing difficulties. Many teenage girls and women are also extremely self conscious about the size of their breasts
Your Consultation
During your consultation, your surgeon will ask medical history. He will examine you and show you what you can expect post-operatively by defining the area of breast to be removed and the new position of the nipple.
Your surgeon will also explain the procedure itself and will explain that it is normal for breasts to be asymmetric and she will strive to make your breasts as symmetric as possible, they will never be truly identical.
She will discuss regarding the scars. Scars will eventually return to skin colour.
After breast reduction surgery breast-feeding is unpredictable.
Procedure
Breast reduction is carried out under general anaesthesia and requires three or four nights stay in hospital. The procedure takes approximately two to five hours.
Having marked the incision site pre-operatively, the surgeon removes the excess skin and glandular tissue from the breast, leaving the nipple on a stalk. The nipple is then repositioned in a lifted position.
The suture line is anchor-shaped and extends around the nipple in its new position, downwards to the under-breast crease and then outward toward the underarm area. In some cases, depending on the amount of tissue removed, it may be possible to leave a single vertical scar.
Because blood clotting can sometimes be a problem with this procedure you will usually be asked to wear anti-embolism stockings as a precautionary measure. These should not be removed until you are advised to do so. You will also be expected to get out of bed and move around as soon as possible
After surgery
Immediately after surgery your new breast size will be apparent, but you should understand that the final shape of your breasts will take around six months to emerge.
Your dressings should be kept clean and dry for one to two weeks after surgery to allow healing to occur. A comfortable, well-fitted bra is also necessary for the first six weeks.
Bruising of the skin and swelling of the breast tissue. However, this will improve markedly in two or three weeks and settle in two to three months.
Numbness of the nipples and the surrounding skin is not uncommon in the early stages although many patients experience the return of sensation very quickly.
As in any surgery, there is a possibility of infection, but this is readily treated with antibiotics and/or dressings as required.
Result
