BREAST REDUCTION, IS A SURGICAL PROCEDURE THAT REDUCES THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE BREASTS BY REMOVING EXCESS SKIN AND UNDERLYING BREAST TISSUE. IT ALSO REDUCES THE SIZE OF THE NIPPLE-AREOLAR COMPLEX, WHICH FREQUENTLY BECOMES ENLARGED AS A RESULT OF BREAST DEVELOPMENT. THE SURGERY CREATES BREASTS THAT ARE LIFTED, SMALLER AND SHAPELIER.
WITH LARGE BREASTS, A VARIETY OF MEDICAL CONDITIONS CAN RESULT:
- “SHOULDER GROOVING” DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEIGHT ON BRA STRAPS
- BACK AND NECK PAIN
- DIFFICULTY FITTING INTO CLOTHES
- SLUMPED SHOULDERS AND OTHER POSTURAL CHANGES
- DIFFICULTY WITH PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES
- IRRITATION TO THE SKIN IN THE CREASE UNDERNEATH THE BREASTS
- FEELINGS OF SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS
WHO IS A CANDIDATE?
WOMEN WITH DISPROPORTIONATELY LARGE BREASTS ARE GOOD CANDIDATES FOR SURGERY. THIS IS DONE FOR BOTH COSMETIC IMPROVEMENT AND SYMPTOMATIC RELIEF. IN GENERAL, WOMEN WITH SIZE DD OR GREATER ARE THE MOST FREQUENT CANDIDATES. HOWEVER, EVEN SIZE C OR D CAN BE TOO LARGE FOR A PETITE WOMAN. WHILE WOMEN FROM ANY AGE CAN BENEFIT FROM THE PROCEDURE, IT IS USUALLY PERFORMED AFTER THE BREASTS ARE FULLY DEVELOPED
BEFORE ANESTHESIA IS GIVEN. THE DOCTOR NEEDS AN ARCHITECTURAL PLAN TO ENABLE HIM TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS THAT WILL ACCOMMODATE THE CHANGES OF THE BODY AS IT MOVES FROM A PRONE POSITION TO AN UPRIGHT POSITION. WHATEVER TECHNIQUE IS USED, THE SKIN WILL NEED TO BE TIGHTENED AS THE NIPPLE-AREOLAR COMPLEX IS MOVED UP. EXCESS TISSUE WILL BE REMOVED AND REMAINING TISSUE WILL BE CONTOURED AND RESHAPED. LIPOSUCTION IS USED IN MANY CASES FOR REMOVAL OF EXCESS FAT THAT MAY BE ON THE SIDES OF THE CHEST.
THE SHORT-SCAR OR LOLLIPOP TECHNIQUE WAS DEVELOPED IN EUROPE AND NOW SHARES GREAT POPULARITY IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS PROCEDURE LIMITS THE INCISIONS AND RECONSTRUCTS THE INTERNAL BREAST TISSUE TO A MORE CONICAL SHAPE, GIVING THE BREASTS A YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE THAT IS LONG LASTING. THE INVERTED-T TECHNIQUE IS A TIME-TESTED GOLD STANDARD. THIS PROCEDURE CAN BE USED FOR ALL SIZE BREAST LIFTS AND REDUCTIONS. THE SKIN INCISION IS MADE LIKE THE LOLLIPOP INCISION, BUT AN ADDITIONAL HORIZONTAL INCISION IS MADE ALONG THE CREASE. THIS CAN TIGHTEN THE SKIN TO A GREAT EXTENT, BUT AT THE EXPENSE OF A SLIGHTLY LARGER INCISION. THE SHAPE OF THE BREASTS RELIES LARGELY ON THE SKIN-TIGHTENING COMPONENT.
THE FREE-NIPPLE GRAFT TECHNIQUE IS USED FOR VERY LARGE-BREASTED WOMEN, IN WHICH THE ANCHOR TYPE OF PROCEDURE IS NOT SAFE. THE FREE-NIPPLE TECHNIQUE EXCISES THE NIPPLE OFF OF THE UNDERLINING BLOOD SUPPLY. THE SKIN AND BREAST IS RECONSTRUCTED MUCH LIKE THE INVERTED-T TECHNIQUE, THE NIPPLE IS REPLACED AND SEWN INTACT AS A FULL-THICKNESS SKIN GRAFT. THIS TECHNIQUE WORKS EXTREMELY WELL IN LARGE-BREASTED WOMEN. THE SCARS ARE SIMILAR TO AN INVERTED-T. THE NIPPLE-AREOLAR AREA USUALLY LOSES SENSATION.
ONCE THE INCISIONS ARE MADE AND THE BREAST TISSUE IS REDUCED, THE SKIN IS METICULOUSLY CLOSED IN SEVERAL LAYERS. STERI-STRIPS™ ARE PLACED OVER THE SUTURED INCISION LINES, GAUZE PADS ARE PLACED OVER EACH BREAST AND A SOFT COMPRESSION BRA WITH FRONT HOOK CLOSURE IS PUT ON THE PATIENT.
ANESTHESIA
THE SURGERY IS DONE UNDER GENERAL ANESTHESIA.CLICK THE IMAGE TO VIEW MORE PICTURES
POST-SURGERY
AFTER SURGERY, THE PATIENT WILL BE KEPT IN THE RECOVERY ROOM FOR A FEW HOURS. THE PATIENT WILL BE ALLOWED TO GO HOME WITH THE HELP OF A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND ONCE SHE IS FULLY AWAKE. .
IN 3 TO 5 DAYS THE DRESSINGS WILL BE REPLACED, AND IF DRAINS ARE USED, THEY WILL BE REMOVED. IN 24 HOURS AFTER THE DRAINS HAVE BEEN REMOVED, THE TINY INCISIONS WILL CLOSE, MAKING THEM WATERPROOF AND THEN IT IS SAFE FOR THE PATIENT TO SHOWER. UNTIL THE DRAINS ARE REMOVED THE PATIENT MAY ONLY TAKE SPONGE BATHS, AS THE INCISION SITES ARE VULNERABLE TO INFECTION AND THEREFORE MUST BE KEPT DRY. THE SURGERY BOOKLET HAS DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR WOUND CARE.
AFTER THE FIRST WEEK, MOST OF THE SWELLING AND BRUISING WILL BE RESOLVED, BUT WOMEN SHOULD ALLOW THEMSELVES TWO FULL WEEKS FOR RECOVERY. THE PATIENT IS ABLE TO RETURN TO NORMAL ACTIVITIES AFTER THE BRUISING AND TENDERNESS HAVE RESOLVED.
ALL SURGERIES CARRY THE RISK OF INFECTION, BLEEDING AND ANESTHESIA COMPLICATIONS. REDUCTION MAMMOPLASTY WILL LEAVE SCARS FROM THE INCISION AROUND THE NIPPLE-AREOLAR COMPLEX CONTINUING TO THE BASE OF THE BREAST AND ALONG THE BREAST FOLD WHEN USING THE INVERTED-T TECHNIQUE. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THERE MIGHT BE A REDUCTION IN SENSATION OF THE NIPPLE AND BREAST AREA. IT MAY TAKE UP TO 6 MONTHS FOR THE FEELING TO RETURN. BREASTFEEDING USUALLY REMAINS AN OPTION FOR WOMEN THAT HAVE HAD BREAST REDUCTIONS, BUT THERE MAY BE A SMALL MINORITY THAT WILL LOSE THE ABILITY TO NURSE. IN RARE INSTANCES, ONE BREAST MAY BE SLIGHTLY A DIFFERENT SIZE. THERE MAY BE SOME SLIGHT DIFFERENCES WITH THE NIPPLE-AREOLAR COMPLEX.
RESULTS
WOMEN ARE ABLE TO ENJOY IMMEDIATE RESULTS OF THEIR BREAST REDUCTION, BUT NEED TO PLAN ON AT LEAST A COUPLE OF MONTHS FOR THEIR BREASTS TO SETTLE INTO THEIR NEW POSITION AND SHAPE. RIGHT AWAY WOMEN WILL NOTICE THAT THEIR BALANCE IS BETTER. SHOPPING AND TRYING ON CLOTHES WILL BE A GREAT EXPERIENCE. IMPROVED POSTURE, AND REDUCTION IN BACK AND NECK PAIN WILL BE REALIZED AS THE BODY ENJOYS A LIGHTER GRAVITATIONAL PULL. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE SCARS THAT RESULT FROM THIS SURGERY, BREAST REDUCTION PATIENTS ARE SOME OF THE HAPPIEST PLASTIC SURGERY PATIENTS STATING THAT THE CHANGES THAT THE SURGERY HAS MADE ARE LIFE CHANGING.
