A large proportion of women seeking breast reduction are those who have large, over-sized breasts, a condition called breast hypertrophy. Some may even seek the surgery to improve physical obstructions while performing physical activities. Discomforts such as back pain, physical burden, shaving bra-bands, sweating, heating and eczemas in the breast folds may be improved. Once a woman undergoes the surgery, she will experience a new lease on life. This process also called Breast Liposuction. In addition, frees women from chronic back and neck pain and skin irritation as well skeletal deformities and breathing problems that are due to oversized breasts. The reduction in the breast size that essentially causes bra strap indentations in shoulders is alleviated, thus, reducing embarrassment due to the extra attention. Men also choose to undergo the surgery for the same reason as even they want to reduce physical symptoms and improve the way they look. Basically, breast reduction liposuction can also reduce the size of the areola. Thus, giving woman smaller, well-shaped breasts that are in proportion with the rest of their body so clothes will fit you better, hence, enhancing a woman's appearance and self confidence.
About the Procedure
To begin, before entering the operating room, surgical markings will be drawn on your breasts by making you sit upright as per your desire. This is the outline to proceed with the correct incisions during surgery while lying down. The drawings will typically take the form of an anchor - encircling the areola and extending above the areola to the new location of the nipple. The markings also extend down vertically below the nipple and horizontally following the natural curve of the crease beneath your breast. The procedure involves three incisions depending on the size and shape of the breasts. One incision is made around the areola. Another runs vertically from the bottom edge of the areola to the crease underneath the breast. The third incision follows the natural curve of the breast crease.
Once the incisions are made, excess breast tissue, fat and skin are removed, and the nipples and remaining underlying tissues are then moved to a new higher location. The skin from both sides of the breast is then brought down and around the areola, shaping the new contour of the breast. It is then sutured.
The replacement of the areola and the nipple may or may not affect sensation in the area after the breast reduction, and this could impair breast feeding in the future. However, sometimes, the nipples and areolas remain attached to underlying mounds of tissue, and this allows for the preservation of sensation. Upon completion of the procedure, stitches remain around the areola and nipple area, in a vertical line beneath the nipple and horizontally under the breast. If the breasts were not too overly large, then some surgical techniques can avoid the horizontal scar altogether. Breast reduction may be accomplished with liposuction in some cases where only fat needs to be removed from the breast. The patient's skin must be highly elastic to use liposuction instead of more common breast reduction surgery.
Length
It takes about 2 to 4 hours to perform the surgery depending on each individual patient and the extent of surgery.
Benefits
Breast reduction surgery can
• Reduce breast size and make the size of the breasts more even, giving better body symmetry.
• Reposition the nipples to make them fit well on the newly shaped smaller breasts.
• Increase comfort and satisfaction
• Create a more proportional chest curvature with overall body shape
• Reduce problems with activities, health, and clothing.
• Change the shape and firmness of the breasts to create a more aesthetic appeal.
Who is an ideal candidate?
Breast reduction surgery can
• Reduce breast size and make the size of the breasts more even, giving better body symmetry.
• Reposition the nipples to make them fit well on the newly shaped smaller breasts.
• Increase comfort and satisfaction
• Create a more proportional chest curvature with overall body shape,
• Reduce problems with activities, health, and clothing.
• Change the shape and firmness of the breasts to create a more aesthetic appeal.
Recovery
Recovery time usually differs from patient to patient. Normally, you should be up and about in a day or two, but your breasts may still ache occasionally for a couple of weeks. Stitches will be removed in about two to three weeks. You may be able to return to work within 14 days but should avoid strenuous activities for at least 6 weeks. Limit your exercises to stretching and swimming.
Usually, you will be able to resume mild exercise and non strenuous work within two weeks. Bruising will begin to fade, and swelling will go down. After a few months, your breasts will settle into a more natural shape. This will take about a year to show you the real and true result. Without the excess weight, you may find that you enjoy life much more and can participate in physical activities you did not think possible.
Planning your surgery
Women who may want to breast feed in the future should obtain specific breast reduction information from their surgeon on the impact of surgery on milk ducts. This will enable them to make an informed decision about whether to go ahead or whether to wait a few years.
Preparing your surgery
Preparing for your surgery, you should discuss with your surgeon about:
• Your expectations
• How the nipple and areola will be positioned
• Risks and limitations from the surgery
The doctors will
• Examine and measure the patient's breasts
• Ask for permission to photograph your breast for reference during surgery and afterwards.
• Discuss different issues that may affect the procedure, like the patient's age, the size and shape of their breasts and the condition of patient's skin.
• Require you to have a mammogram (breast x-ray) before surgery.
• Give guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking, and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications.
Anesthesia
Regardless of the type of operation, usually local tumescent anesthetic combined with conscious sedation, which is equal to general anesthesia, is used. The operation may also be carried out under a fully general anesthetic; it takes between 60 to 90 minutes.
Risks / Complications / Side effects
A breast reduction operation is considered as a major cosmetic surgery, which of course involves some risks. The risks involved are:
Bleeding: All operations can cause postoperative bleeding. These risks increase by the intake of analgesics and Vitamin E. These should be avoided 2 weeks prior to the planned operation.
Infection: All operations can cause infections, which in case it happens can be treated with antibiotics.
Healing problems: The blood supply to tissues is essential for proper healing. In reduction plastics or larger breast plastics, the nipple is transposed on long pedicles from where the blood supply comes. In extreme transpositions, the risk is greater for disturbances that can lead to partial or full loss of the nipple (necrosis). After secondary healing in those cases, there will be scarifications that have to be corrected at a later time. Big breasts are often fatty and fatty tissue has sparse blood supply. Fat necrosis can occur that leads to healing disturbances in the deep tissue, which prolong healing over time. Blood vessels in skin under tension are strangulated, and the blood supply will be decreased. The biggest tension lies in the sub mammary fold where healing problems are quite common. The best prophylaxis is a bra and the use of taping. Scars can be corrected.
Loss of sensibility of the nipple: As the nipples are transposed, the sensory nerves to them can be cut. A transient anesthesia is common. A permanent loss can occur, and there may be loss of milk ducts, too.
Smoking: Smoking does compromise blood circulation and healing. Smoking should be abandoned prior to a planned operation.
Other risks and complications may include: soreness that can be healed be antibiotics, scars common in smokers, unevenly positioned nipples that can be corrected by additional surgery.
Post operative care
After the operation, your surgeons will offer advice on the following to ease your comforts and heal faster:
• 3-4 days of fatigue is common.
• The stitches are removed after 8-10 and after 14 days.
• You should sleep on your back for 3-4 weeks.
• The arms should not be elevated over the horizontal plane.
• Car driving is forbidden for 10 days.
• A sporting bra should be used 24 hours a day during 3-4 weeks after removal of the bandage, thereafter in the daytime for a couple of months (to prevent pulling of the scars).
• Physical activities should be abandoned for one month.
• Transient anesthesia of the nipples for 1-2 months is common. Numbness can stay permanently.
• Using skin tape across the scars for 2-3 months should relieve tension on the scars.
• Sun exposure directly to the scars should be avoided for 6 months as to prevent permanent hyper pigmentation and redness of the scars.
Price range
USD 1,200-6,500