All Procedures
Procedures: Breast Reduction
Useful information for patients on Breast Reduction procedures - reducing the size of large and/or sagging breasts.
Although most people associate "breast surgery" with an increase or a mastopexy (lift), the truth is that many women come to plastic surgery consultations requesting a breast reduction (or reduction mammoplasty) with the desire to solve a health problem that forces them to live with discomfort and even pain.
Breast reduction or reduction mammoplasty is a surgical procedure for women with large and/or sagging breasts who often experience back and neck pain, skin irritation in the inframammary folds due to maceration of the folds, and shoulder pain because the bra straps are marked. To all this is added the fact that patients who require a breast reduction do not find themselves attractive and proportionate with the rest of the body.
The process of molding the breasts to give them a harmonious shape that is in harmony with the patient's anatomy, the surgeon, depending on the amount of breast tissue to remove, usually makes incisions in the shape of an inverted T or anchor, with a vertical line from the areola downwards and a line horizontal that is hidden in the inframammary fold or a lolly-pop design (without the scar in the inframammary fold).
In most cases, with this surgery the woman keeps the areola attached to its blood vessels and nerves, but if it is a mammoplasty with a very large reduction of the breasts, in women without sensitivity in the nipple or older than 50 years, the surgeon may choose to separate the areola and reposition it later.
Usually, breast reduction surgery is combined with the reduction of the size of the nipple-areola complex (NAC).
Useful Information
Ensure you consider all aspects of a procedure. You can speak to your surgeon about these areas of the surgery in more detail during a consultation.
Length
The procedure typically takes between two-three hours.
Anesthesia
For better results and more comfort, general anesthesia is the rule for this surgery.
Inpatient/Outpatient
The patient can leave the surgical facility the same day after recovery from anesthesia or the day after.
Additional Information
Breast reduction is associated with quality of life and self-esteem with a low rate of complications. Poor results can result in, dehiscence, haematoma, scarring, pain, partial or total areolar necrosis and deformity. These complications can be minimized with appropriate patient selection, totally smoking cessation, adequate choice of procedure, and a meticulous technique.
In some cases, there is a fluctuation in the sensitivity of the nipple-areola complex (NAC) that is usually transient.
Scars are permanent, but if you follow your plastic surgeon's advice regarding pre and postoperative care, they will become much less noticeable over time. If due to a healing problem, the scars become wide and bulky, a correction under local anesthesia / local anesthesia and light sedation from 6 months onwards would be advisable.
The breast may be swollen for 4-6 weeks. Return to work is possible after 7-10 days. Sports are allowed after 6-8 weeks.
With good surgical technique, the results are very satisfying with an improved self-esteem and quality of life.