Breast reduction
Breast procedures
Breast reduction
Breast reduction surgery in California and Florida (Beverly hills, Newport beach, Orange County, Miami)
Large breasts can be a physical and emotional burden. Chronic back and neck pain, postural issues, and physical limitations are a few of the concerns commonly associated with disproportionately large breasts. Women sometimes report self-consciousness, unwanted attention, and difficulty fitting into clothing as well. If you are experiencing any of these issues, breast reduction surgery is a potential solution.
If you have excessively large breasts, you may decide to pursue breast reduction surgery to potentially improve discomfort or to achieve a smaller and more proportionate breast size. Many patients find that it is a life-changing procedure because it can address both medical and aesthetic concerns.
What is a breast reduction?
Breast reduction also known as reduction mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure that reduces the size of your breasts, make them as symmetric as possible and the size that you desire. The process involves removing excess breast tissue and skin. Additionally, the nipple and areola are typically repositioned to a more youthful position.
Some women struggle with macromastia, a condition characterized by excessive breast enlargement. Breast reduction surgery is often the optimal way to address this condition. However, you do not have to have macromastia to pursue breast reduction surgery.
Breast reduction surgery is often performed if you have large breasts and want to correct problems such as:
- Difficulty performing daily activities and exercising due to the size and weight of your breasts
- Chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain
- Postural changes related to large breast size
- Painful grooves, in the shoulders, created by bra straps
- Chronic skin irritation beneath your breasts
- Trouble finding bras and clothing that fit
- Feeling overweight, unattractive, or matronly because of your breast size
- Receiving unwanted attention
What are the benefits with breast reduction?
There are many potential benefits associated with breast reduction surgery. This procedure is often a great option to potentially alleviate the issues associated with overly-large breasts. For many women, the physical, aesthetic, and psychological advantages of a breast reduction are life-changing.
You may experience the following benefits after your breast reduction:
- Reduced back, neck, and shoulder pain
- Ability to exercise and perform daily tasks more comfortably
- Improved posture
- Access to more bra choices and clothing styles
- Improved comfort while laying on your stomach
- Enhanced self-image
- Reduced self-consciousness in public
- Reduced irritation under the breasts
Overly large breasts can add pounds of extra weight to your frame. By reducing your breast size, you may notice that it is easier and more comfortable to move around. This alone can significantly improve your quality of life.
Who are ideal candidates for breast reduction?
Patients who feel that their large breasts are interfering with their daily life, may be a great candidate for breast reduction surgery. You may decide to pursue breast reduction if you suffer from heavy, pendulous breasts that cause back and neck pain or skin irritation. You may also benefit from this procedure if you are unhappy with the size and shape of your breasts from an aesthetic perspective.
It is often best to wait until you are at least 18 years old before committing to breast reduction surgery. Depending upon breast size, patient symptoms, and maturity, some patients may proceed at a younger age. Keep in mind that some women may desire a second surgery later in life due to ongoing breast growth, effects of pregnancy, and weight gain.
An in-person consultation is necessary to evaluate your candidacy. Generally speaking, you may be an ideal breast reduction candidate if you:
- Are physically healthy
- Don’t smoke or are willing to quit temporarily to facilitate healing
- Want to achieve a lighter, more proportionate breast size
What to expect from a breast reduction procedure?
Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anesthesia. In addition, the plastic surgeon will place local anesthetic into the breasts during the procedure. You will be carefully monitored by a physician anesthesiologist.
Prior to the procedure, the plastic surgeon will make skin markings as part of the breast reduction plan. After the anesthesia has been administered, the plastic surgeon will begin the surgery. These incisions usually follow similar patterns to those used during a breast lift However, with breast reduction, in addition to lifting nipple position and removing excess skin, redundant tissue is removed as well.
Incision options typically include:
- A lollipop shape around the areola and vertically down toward the breast crease
- An anchor shape, which is a lollipop shape with an additional line in the breast crease region
After making the incisions, the plastic surgeon will remove underlying breast tissue and reshape the breast contour. He will also reposition the nipple and areola.
The plastic surgeon will often reduce the size of enlarged areolas. Lastly, he will remove and tighten excess breast skin before closing the incisions.
Breast reduction surgery does create scars and this must be considered in the decision-making. However, time and diligent scar aftercare can greatly improve their appearance. Scars which can typically be covered under most bras and bathing wear are often considered by patients to be a worthwhile tradeoff for smaller, shapelier breasts and potential improvement in symptoms.
What is the recovery like after a breast reduction?
The plastic surgeon does not typically use drains. Instead, you are immediately placed in a bra. While every patient is unique, many patients express that they experience less post-surgical pain than they had anticipated.
Breast reduction surgery can be performed as an out-patient procedure, meaning you go home after surgery and do not stay overnight in a hospital or other facility.
When you leave, you will need to follow the plastic surgeon’s post-operative instructions. These directions may include:
- How to care for your breasts
- Approved and restricted activities
- Medications that you may need to take
- When to follow up again
Is breast reduction surgery covered by insurance?
Breast reduction surgery is sometimes covered by insurance, though not always. Insurance authorization generally depends on if your surgery is considered medically indicated or not.
Requirements vary by insurance provider, although you often must prove that overly large breasts are causing health issues and that you have pursued alternative treatments such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, or orthopedic or chiropractic care. Our team will gladly help you determine if insurance may cover some or all of your surgery.
Insurance providers do not cover aesthetic breast reduction surgery. However, it is still common to pursue breast reduction for cosmetic reasons.
How to chose your surgeon for a breast reduction
You should pick a plastic surgeon that is certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery first and foremost. Moreover, you should pick someone that has been performing breast reduction surgery for some time and done it on many patients. Each procedure is tailored to address the unique goals and concerns expressed by each patient.
Every woman has her own special concerns, as well as her own concept of beauty. Some women desire larger breasts while other women find smaller breasts to be more proportionate and aesthetic. The plastic surgeon should strive to understand each patient’s unique goals and considerations, through caring and personalized consultation, to arrive at an individualized treatment plan.