Considering Breast Reduction Surgery? Five Things You Need to Know

Do you suffer chronic back and neck pain? What about those tiresome gouges in your shoulders from your bra straps? Is your posture deteriorating? Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty, may help relieve these symptoms. As technology advances and surgical techniques get better, more women are in search of consultations from cosmetic surgeons. They want to discuss options for adjusting their breast size to a healthier and comfortable level. If this is you, read on.

There are different types of reduction mammoplasty to fit your individual need and unique results. In general, good candidates for breast reduction surgery include:

• Women that have pendulous breasts (breasts that tend to swing even when inside a bra)
• Women who are thin (thin people tend to have more glandular tissue opposed to fat)
• Women that have exceptionally large breasts (liposuction usually only provides a 30 percent to 50 percent reduction)
• Women that have markedly dense breast tissue
• Women before menopause
• Women without a history of breast tissue disease
• Women who will not conceive children again

The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia and the supervision of an anesthesiologist. The operation typically takes about three hours that may require an overnight stay. The plastic surgeon makes an incision which is normally in a keyhole type shape; then a circle around the areola with two incisions down the breast. Excess fat and additional tissue is removed. The surgeon will then reposition the nipple and areola from beneath the breast.

The second and most popular choice is liposuction breast reduction. Liposuction shrinks the breasts by simply removing all the excess fat. The skin will then retract and produce a visible breast lift and reduction.

Some of the advantages of breast reduction by liposuction are:

• There is less trauma to the breast
• Much faster recovery time
• Almost invisible scars
• Smaller number postoperative complications

Liposuction removes excess fatty tissue from inside the breast; while sparing the glandular breast tissue that is responsible for milk production. There is so little general trauma to the breast tissue that mammograms usually appear normal.

After liposuction, there is a gradual decrease in swelling over a two to four month period. There may be temporary “lumpiness” for a few weeks after surgery. This is not visible and is a normal part of the healing processes.