Mammoplasty

Breast reduction or reduction mammoplasty is a common surgical procedure which involves the reduction in the size of breasts by excising fat, skin and glandular tissue; it may also involve a procedure to counteract drooping of the breasts.

For women who feel their breasts are too large, for cosmetic or physical reasons, breast reduction surgery may be a beneficial option to consider.

Many women find having the procedure gives them far more than just smaller, firmer breasts.

With this surgery, they also report such benefits as relief from neck and back pain, a new freedom of movement allowing for more exercise and physical activity and the ability to wear many clothing styles they’ve avoided in the past.

In fact, of all plastic surgery procedures, breast reduction ranks among the highest in patient satisfaction.

Candidates For Breast Reduction

Breast reduction offers benefits to women all ages, though waiting until breast development is complete is recommended. Since pregnancy and breast-feeding can affect your breast reduction results, many choose to postpone their surgery until they’ve stopped having children. If you do plan to breast-feed in the future, you should discuss this issue with the surgeon. Due to problems caused by overly large breasts, some women choose to undergo the procedure even if they plan future pregnancies.

Good candidates for breast reduction may have some of the following conditions:

• Body disproportion caused by breasts that are too large
• Chronic neck, back or shoulder pain caused by excessive breast weight
• Heavy, sagging breasts
• Deep shoulder indentations caused by pressure on bra straps
• Skin irritation beneath the breasts
• Restricted exercise and physical activity due to breast size
• Self-consciousness over large breast size
• Breast asymmetry with one breast larger than the other

Breast Reduction Consultation

A personal consultation with your surgeon is the first step for any patient considering breast reduction. We at Canova Medical believe in careful patient consultation to assess your physical and emotional health, discuss your aesthetic goals, and address any questions or concerns you may have.

Issues you should be prepared to discuss during consultation with your Canova Medical Surgeon include:

• Medical conditions, both past and present
• Current medications, including nutritional supplements and herbal remedies
• Previous surgeries
• Weight loss history and goals

During consultation, your surgeon will examine your breasts, evaluating their shape, size, skin elasticity and nipple position.

Photographs and measurements may also be taken for your medical record.

Procedure and Techniques Used For Breast Reduction

Breast reductions are almost always performed while the patient is under general anaesthesia.

There are many variations to breast reduction surgery. The technique your surgeon will use with you depends upon your individual features, physical needs and aesthetic goals.

The most common method, which offers the most significant level of reduction and lift, involves three incisions: one around the circumference of the areola.

Another running vertically from the areola to the breast crease.

The third following the natural curve of the crease beneath the breast. Through these incisions, the excess breast skin will be removed and the remaining breast tissue will be reshaped.

The nipple and areola, which remain attached to the underlying breast tissue, are then shifted to a higher position.

The areola can also be reduced in size for better proportion. Depending upon the amount of reduction needed, the horizontal incision running along breast crease may be avoided in some cases.

Results After Breast Reduction

Breast reduction affords the patient smaller, lighter, and firmer breasts. The surgeon may also reduce the size of and change the shape of the areola (the dark skin around the nipple). Patients typically have restored confidence, as well. It is often mentioned that patients who have received breast reductions are the happiest and most satisfied of all plastic surgery patients.

Patients may take a few weeks for initial recovery, however it may take from six months to a year for the body to completely adjust to the new breast size.

Risks Of The Breast Reduction

Though thousands women undergo breast lift surgery each year and experience no major complications, the procedure does carry some degree of risk. It is important you be well informed of these risks when considering breast reduction. Canova Medical Surgeons consider the discussion of potential risks and complications as one of the most important aspects of patient consultation. During your consultation, your surgeon will discuss these potential complications with you, listen to your safety questions, and offer instructions on how to minimise your risk.

Possible issues include difficulty in breast feeding, scarring, asymmetry, delayed wound healing, altered nipple sensation, fluid retention in the breast, altered erogenous function, and late changes in shape and recurrent ptosis (drooping).

The procedure may impair the likelihood of breastfeeding success due to the surgical disruption to the lactiferous duct system. However, a number of studies have demonstrated a similar ability to breast feed when breast reduction patients are compared to control groups.

Scarring from this procedure may be extensive and permanent. Initially, the scars are lumpy and red, but they gradually subside into their final smaller sizes as thin lines, slightly discoloured.

Preparation for Breast Reduction Surgery

It is important to follow the surgeon’s instructions when preparing for breast reduction surgery to ensure the best possible results. Those instructions may include:

• Refraining from smoking for several weeks before and after surgery
• Avoiding certain medications
• Arranging for help following surgery, such as a ride home and in-home care for the first 24 hours
• Undergoing a baseline mammogram

Recovery After Your Surgery

You will have gauze dressing over your breasts covered by a supportive bra. To aid healing and prevent fluid accumulation, small drain tubes may be placed beneath the skin.The post-operative discomfort you feel during the first few days will be controlled with pain medication.

Though everyone heals at a different pace, you can expect your recovery to roughly go as follows:

Within the First Week

• You will begin to move about more comfortably
• You may feel up to resuming some non-strenuous work
• Your dressings will be changed
• Any surgical drains used will be removed
• You should notice relief from back, neck and shoulder pain

After Several Weeks

• Swelling and bruising will diminish
• All stitches will have been removed
• Nipple sensation should gradually improve
• You may resume to most normal activities, including light exercise

After a Few Months

• Your breasts will start settling into a more natural shape
• Incision lines will begin to fade

Long-Term Results of the Breast Reduction

Breast reduction surgery offers a high rate of patient satisfaction. Women often report better body proportion, more freedom to enjoy physical activities and joy at being able to wear clothing styles they’ve avoided in the past.

Though breast reduction surgery does entail permanent scarring, these scars can be easily concealed beneath clothing, swimsuits and tank tops and will fade significantly over time. Most women find the trade of scarring for their dramatic change in body proportion well worth it.

In most cases, your new breast size and shape should remain for several years to come. Factors such as weight fluctuation or subsequent pregnancies, however, can affect the longevity of the results. Over time, the effects of gravity may change the shape or your breasts. If this happens, you may choose to undergo a breast lift procedure to help restore their more youthful contour.