Breast Reduction Surgery Guide

While a lot of attention is given to breast augmentation surgery, there seems to be less conversation about breast reduction surgery. In fact, breast reduction surgery does not just alter the appearance of your body, but it can benefit your physical health. Here’s what you should know.

Why Have A Breast Reduction Surgery?

A breast reduction surgery is typically recommended for patients with large breasts that have begun to experience symptoms of pain due to them.

Larger breasts can be excessively heavy, pulling your chest, shoulders, and even neck forward as your body struggles to balance it. The extra weight can affect what you can do activity-wise, and is often limiting when it comes to trying to buy shirts or bras.

Back pain. Mostly, breast reductions are recommended because of the long-term issues they create. With extra weight on the front side of your body, you might begin to experience back pain or injury. Sleeping can also be a major consequence which can also be extremely detrimental to your health.

Weight loss. In some cases, the patient may have lost a dramatic amount of weight, making him or her thinner in all areas, except for the chest. Some will lose volume in the chest, but the skin will remain stretched out and saggy. This excess can cause chafing and rashes in the space below the breasts.

Male breasts. Some men experience the condition gynecomastia, or the presence of male breasts. This condition is often uncomfortable for men and a breast reduction surgery can help remove the excess breast tissue, leaving them with a flatter, more masculine appearance.

The Procedure

Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. The surgery itself can take several hours, depending on the size of the breasts and the amount of work that is required. A reduction usually includes a breast lift as well to help boost the remaining breast tissue to a younger placement.

During the procedure, Dr. Pirani will remove the excess breast tissue to the point of the desired size, which should have been determined prior to the surgery date. Typically, the patient’s breast size will go down to a C or D cup, depending on the patient’s wants and needs.

Following the surgery, patients will need to wear a compression bra to help support the breasts and allow the incisions a better chance of recovery. They are not always required to wear, but most patients report that the extra support does help greatly with comfort.

Recovery

A breast reduction surgery is a major surgery that will take some time to recover from. In addition to wearing a compression or sports bra for two weeks, it can take up to six weeks for the swelling to go down. You will have a good idea about what your final results will be around three months following the procedure. This is when the swelling will decrease and your breasts will settle to a more natural placement.

Risks and Concerns

While all surgeries performed under general anaesthesia come with some element of risk, breast reduction surgery typically causes more relief rather than discomfort. There are some cases where patients will report some loss of sensation to the nipples, but these instances are uncommon.

There are also some concerns over whether breast feeding will still be possible following a reduction surgery. Generally, women will still be able to breastfeed. The only exception to this is in the case of major reduction surgery, where the nipple has been removed and replaced. In those cases, breastfeeding will not be possible.

The amount of scars that will be visible will depend on your situation. There is normally a line underneath the nipple, extending to the lower breast. As long as the breasts stay out of direct sunlight, the scars should heal nicely until they are minor white lines.

In order to get started on your breast reduction journey, give Dr. Pirani a call and set up a consultation.