Breast reduction is a surgical operation to remove fat, tissue and skin from the breasts, most common for women who have over-sized breasts. Usual reasons for getting a breast reduction are back pain, sleep problems or hypertrophy.
Breast reduction is not recommended for women who would like to breast feed later.
Procedure
The procedure will last from 2 to 4 hours. Generally the patient will be under general anesthesia and in general one night stay in the hospital is necessary.
Often the surgeon will choose to re-locate the nipples to a higher position. The doctor will create an half circle incision below the nipple, going downwards to the bottom the breast.
Excess tissue, fat and skin are removed and the nipple is brought in to the new position. The skin previously above the nipple will be stretched down to create the new shape.
In cases of extreme sagging it sometimes necessary to remove the nipples from their connective tissue and place them later in the new position. In this case it is likely that the patient will lose feeling in the nipples.
After the procedure the surgeon will close the incision with sutures. Often a drainage pipe will be left in place to reduce swelling, this will be removed in a day or two.
Recovery after the procedure
After the surgery your surgeon will cover the affected area in bandages, after one way the bandage can be removed.
Pain is to be expected the first few days, the first week there will be some level of discomfort.
The first month you will have to wear a surgical bra, quite similar to a sports bra. It is built in such a way that the bra doesn’t touch the stitches. You will need to wear the bra 24 hours a day.
The nipples will feel strange for some time, but will gradually return to feel normal. The first menstruation after the surgery might lead to painful and swollen breasts.
You can return to work after 3 - 4 weeks. But avoid strenuous exercise for the first 6 weeks. The scars will heal slowly and might take up to a year to become less visible. Expect the shape so lightly alter over this time as well, while the tissue settles.
Risks
All surgery carries some amount of risk. Some complications that can occur are listed below.
- Bleeding
- Problems with breast feeding
- Slightly uneven breasts
- Unwanted scarring
- Loss of feeling in the nipples
- Necrosis of the nipple
Who is a candidate for breast reduction?
Typically women who elect breast reduction have some level of discomfort because of the size of their breast. Typical symptoms include back or neck pain, poor posture, irritated skin from bra straps, breathing problems, sleep problems and rashes under the skin of the breast.
Breast reduction surgery can not be done until the breasts are fully grown, usually around the age of 18.
Women who intend to breast feed their child should not have breast reduction surgery.
