Breast reduction, or reduction mammoplasty, is a safe and effective way for women to alleviate the discomfort associated with overly large breasts and achieve a breast size more in proportion with their body size.
View an interactive patient education module on Breast Reduction
The best candidates for this surgery include
- Women whose breast have fully developed
- Healthy women who do not have a life-threatening illness or a medical condition that would impede healing
- Non-smokers (smoking can delay healing and will increase the risk of complications)
When to consider breast reduction
- Your breasts are too large for your body frame and create neck, back, or shoulder pain
- You have heavy breasts with nipples and areolas that point downward
- You experience numbness in parts of your breasts and upper chest from excessive breast weight
- You have poor posture
- You have difficulty breathing
- You notice grooves in your shoulders from your bra straps
- You are unhappy or are self-conscious about the appearance of your breasts
- You have finished having children and breast-feeding. If you plan to breast feed in the future, you should discuss this with your plastic surgeon
Your surgeon will review the full risks and benefits of breast reduction surgery with you. Some of the pros and cons that other patients have taken into consideration when weighing whether to go forward with surgery include:
Pros
- Your breasts will be in better proportion with your body and will feel firmer
- Surgery will alleviate neck, back, and shoulder pain and make it easier to breathe and exercise
- Your clothes will fit better and you will feel more confident about your appearance
Cons
- You may have decreased sensation in some areas, including the nipples and areolas
- Some women complain that their breasts and nipples look slightly uneven
- Breast-feeding may be a problem
Contraindications
Breast reduction surgery may not be recommended for patients with any of the following
- Irregular mammograms
- Undiagnosed lumps or other types of breast masses
- Severe obesity
- Diabetes
- Wound healing or clotting disorders (or a family history of either)
- Heart or circulatory disorders
Is this procedure covered by health insurance?
A breast reduction is both a functional and an appearance-related procedure; not all plans will cover it. Your health insurance will decide whether they will cover the procedure based on their criteria for determining medical necessity. Their determination will take into account your height, weight, body surface area, and body mass index.
Large breasts can cause pain, improper posture, rashes, breathing problems, skeletal deformities, and low self-esteem. Breast reduction surgery is usually done to provide relief from these symptoms.
Performed under general anesthesia, the two- to four-hour procedure removes fat and glandular tissue and tightens skin to produce smaller, lighter breasts that are in a healthier proportion to the rest of the body.
Breast reduction surgery is not recommended for women who intend to breast-feed, since many of the milk ducts leading to the nipples are removed.
Contents
- 1 Procedure
- 2 Recovery
- 3 Risks
- 4 Candidates
- 5 Frequently Asked Questions
- 5.1 When can i expect to return to work and resume my normal daily activities?
- 5.2 When Can I shower after Breast Reduction Surgery?
- 5.3 Will my insurance cover the breast reduction procedure?
- 5.4 How Long Will the Results of Breast Reduction Surgery Last?
- 5.5 Will There Be Scarring?
Procedure
During the procedure an anchor-shaped incision is made from the new location of the nipple down to and around the crease beneath the breast. Dr. Bonillas removes excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin, relocates the nipple and areola, and reshapes the breast using skin from around the areola before closing the incisions with stitches. Liposuction may be needed to remove excess fat from the armpit area, and in some cases when only fat needs to be removed from the breasts, liposuction alone is used for breast reduction.
Recovery
Patients will receive personalized recovery instructions following their breast reduction surgery.
For a few days after surgery the breasts are bound with an elastic bandage or a surgical bra and you may be given surgical drainage tubes for fluid removal. Stitches come out in a week and the surgical bra must be worn for about a month.
A little pain is normal after surgery, whether it’s mild discomfort, swelling during menstruation, a measure of numbness or sensitivity, or random, shooting pains that may last for a few months. Swelling, bruising, crusting and slight changes in breast size are also common.
Dr. Bonillas will discuss approved methods of relieving any discomfort.
Most patients return to work in about two weeks, although you should avoid heavy lifting for three to four weeks and only gentle contact with the breasts should occur for six weeks.
Scars fade with time but will not disappear, although they can be hidden with a bra, bathing suit or low-cut top.
Risks
Risks are rare and usually minor but may include bleeding, infection, reaction to the anesthesia, small sores around the nipples, slightly mismatched breasts or unevenly positioned nipples, and permanent loss of feeling in the nipple or breast.
Candidates
Women with large, disproportionate breasts who experience pain, discomfort, and embarrassment due to their breast size may be good candidates for breast reduction surgery.
Although the procedure is generally recommended for mature women with fully developed breasts, breast reduction surgery can be performed on younger women if their breasts are causing serious pain and physical discomfort.
Ideal candidates for a breast reduction are women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can i expect to return to work and resume my normal daily activities?
After breast reduction surgery, it is often possible to return to work within just a couple of weeks, depending on your job. Many patients can resume most of their normal activities, including some form of mild exercise, within a few weeks as well. You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort during this time, but these feelings are normal.
Because sexual arousal could cause incisions to swell and create the possibility of delayed healing, sexual activity should be avoided for at least one week after breast reduction surgery.
When Can I shower after Breast Reduction Surgery?
Many patients are concerned that limited mobility after surgery may prevent them from showering for several days. Dr. Bonillas actually recommends that patients shower as soon as possible after surgery to help them feel refreshed and able to move up and about.
Will my insurance cover the breast reduction procedure?
Breast reductions may be covered by medical insurance if the purpose of the breast reduction surgery is to alleviate physical discomfort and pain caused by oversized breasts. Many factors determine your eligibility, including the specific terms of your insurance policy and the amount of breast tissue to be removed.
How Long Will the Results of Breast Reduction Surgery Last?
The results of breast reduction are long-term. Unless you gain or lose a significant amount of weight or become pregnant, your breast size should remain fairly constant.
The beautiful, balanced results we achieve for our breast reduction patients will last for years.
After breast reduction surgery, breasts will be smaller and more proportionate. However, the effects of aging and gravity may cause breasts to sag over time. If, after a period of years, you become dissatisfied with the appearance of your breasts, you may choose to undergo a breast lift procedure to restore their more youthful contour.
Will There Be Scarring?
Patients will receive personalized instructions for their recovery from their breast reduction, including how to care for and reduce any post-procedure scarring.
The various techniques for breast reductions produce different types of possible scarring. Traditional breast reduction surgery will produce anchor-like scars that extend around the nipple, down the middle of the breast, and under the breast. Vertical incision breast reduction surgery creates shorter scars which also circle the nipple and extend vertically down the breast, but do not continue under the breast. Scar-less breast reduction surgery typically only leaves minor, inconspicuous scars that are usually under the breast crease.
Interested in a breast reduction? Call our helpful staff to schedule your private consultation.