Breast Reduction (Mammaplasty)
Women with very large breasts may experience a variety of medical problems. These include back and neck pain, skin irritation, skeletal deformities, and breathing problems. Bra straps may leave indentations in the shoulders. Unusually large breasts can make a woman-or a teenage girl-feel extremely self-conscious.
Breast reduction is usually performed for physical relief and cosmetic improvement. Most women who have surgery are troubled by very large sagging breasts that restrict their activities and course of physical discomfort. Breast reduction isn't performed until a woman's breasts are fully developed. The best candidates are those women who are mature enough to fully understand the procedure and have realistic expectations about the results.
The procedure removes fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts. The breasts are made smaller, lighter, firmer, and perkier. The procedure can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The goal is to give the woman smaller, better-shaped breasts in proportion with the rest of her body.
If you're considering breast reduction a basic understanding of the procedure is helpful for you to understand how it's performed and what results you can expect.
Is it right for me?
Breast reduction is a highly individualized procedure and you should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
Breast reduction is a good option for you if:
- You are physically healthy
- You have realistic expectations
- You don’t smoke
- You are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too large
- Your breasts limit your physical activity
- You experience back, neck and shoulder pain caused by the weight of your breasts
- You have regular indentations from bra straps that support heavy, pendulous breasts
- You have skin irritation beneath the breast crease
- Your breasts hang low and have stretched skin
- Your nipples rest below the breast crease when your breasts are unsupported
- You have enlarged areolas caused by stretched skinWhy you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome
Be prepared to discuss:
- Why you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome
- Medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments
- Use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs
- Previous surgeries
- Family history of breast cancer and results of any mammograms or previous biopsies
Your plastic surgeon will also discuss where your procedure will be performed. Breast reduction surgery may be performed in an accredited office-based surgical center, outpatient/ambulatory surgical center, or a hospital.
