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Breast Reduction
Breast Reduction
Are You A Good Candidate
Meeting With The Doctor
How The Procedure Is Performed
What To Expect After Surgery
Possible Side Effects And Risks
How Long Will The Results Last
Questions You May Have
Breast Reduction
The doctors at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery have performed thousands of successful breast reduction surgeries. In this surgical procedure, excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are removed from very large, heavy, or hanging breasts. Breast reduction surgery is generally performed to:
Make breasts smaller in order to reduce or eliminate various medical problems caused by heavy breasts
Balance the overall figure with a more proportioned breast size
Increase self confidence by enhancing breast appearance
Are You A Good Candidate for Breast Reduction?
If you are in good general health with fully developed breasts and experience any of the following conditions, you may be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery:
· Your heavy breasts cause medical problems such as neck and back pain, skin irritations or rashes, difficulty breathing at times, or changes in your bone structure.
· Your breast size limits your physical activity.
· Your overly large breasts make you feel self-conscious about your appearance.
· Your breasts are out of proportion with the rest of your body.
Also keep in mind that you must not be breastfeeding or intend to breastfeed in order to undergo breast reduction. And, while generally breasts should be fully developed to consider this surgery, teenage girls whose breasts cause serious discomfort may be considered for the procedure.
Meeting With The Doctor
rior to your surgery, you will have an initial consultation with the doctors and staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery. At this consultation, your breasts will be evaluated and you will discuss your goals and expectations for the surgery. Working with the doctors and staff of the Institute, you will determine how large and which shape you would like your breasts to be, as well as the position of the nipple and areola.
The staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will:
· Review the various breast reduction options with you
· Clearly discuss the potential risks of the surgery
· Outline in detail how the procedure is performed and what you can expect before, during, and after the procedure
· Provide detailed cost information and discuss the processing of your insurance claim (if applicable)
· Answer all your questions
You will be asked to provide:
· Details about your medical history
· A list of all medications you currently take including over the counter medications such as aspirin, vitamins, and herbal supplements
· Information regarding your tobacco and alcohol consumption.
Before the surgery, you will need to have a mammogram performed and may be asked to donate blood so that your own blood can be used during surgery if a transfusion is needed.
How The Procedure Is Performed
Your breast reduction procedure will be performed at the hospital or at the Center for Ambulatory Surgery, Inc. (CASI), where the doctors and staff will do everything they can to ensure your comfort during and after the procedure and your happiness with the outcome. The procedure generally takes two to four hours and will be performed under general anesthesia.
The doctor will make incisions in the nipple-areola complex (the dark area around the nipple). The incisions will extend down below the nipples and occasionally into the fold under your breast. The doctor then removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin and then contours a new breast shape and repositions the nipple and areola. Stitches are used to close the incisions. Drains are frequently put in place to drain any blood or fluid that may collect in the surgical area. Taping and a surgical bra are placed over your breasts before leaving the operating suite.
What To Expect After Your Surgery
Activity |
When |
| Shower or Bath | One to Two Days After Surgery |
| Back to Work | Few Days After Surgery |
| Driving | Usually Within a Week After Surgery |
| Physical Contact With Breasts | Three to Four Weeks After Surgery |
| Sexual Activity | One Week After Surgery |
| Strenuous Activity | Three Weeks After Surgery |
| Fading of Scars | Several Months to One Year |
Immediately After Your Surgery
In most cases, you will be ready to go home shortly after the procedure. You will need to have someone drive you home after the surgery since you may be a bit sleepy after the anesthesia.
During surgery, your breasts will be covered with a gauze dressing and a surgical bra will be placed over the dressings to help hold your newly contoured breasts in the correct position. A small tube called a drain may be inserted into each breast to help drain off excess fluid; you will be given instructions on how to care for the drains.
The First 24 to 48 Hours After Your Surgery
During the first 24 to 48 hours after your procedure, you will feel tired from the anesthesia and sore from the surgery. The doctor will prescribe pain medication to alleviate much of the discomfort. Your discomfort level will improve rapidly after the first two days.
You can take a shower or bath the day after your surgery; however, don’t let the bandages covering your incisions get overly wet. You can take off the surgical bra placed over your breasts after the surgery during your shower or bath, but it must be worn at all other times (even while sleeping) for the first two weeks after your surgery.
The First Two Weeks After Surgery
· You will notice a marked improvement in your discomfort level during the first few weeks after your surgery.
· The gauze dressings placed over your breasts during surgery will be removed one to two days after surgery.
· Most of the stitches used are dissolving; any non-dissolving stitches around the areola will be removed five to seven days after surgery. Remaining stitches will be removed within two to three weeks.
· Any bruising you experience will usually disappear in about two weeks.
· Your stitches will be removed within 10 to 20 days after surgery.
You should sleep on your back for the first week after surgery to help keep your breasts in the correct position during initial healing. Placing pillows on either side of your body often helps ensure that you do not roll onto your side while sleeping.
During the first two weeks after surgery, you should also:
· Wear the surgical bra placed over your breasts after surgery at all times, even while sleeping, to help hold your breasts in the correct position. You may take the elastic bra off to shower or bathe, but must put it back on immediately after drying off. If the bra is too tight, call the staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery immediately - bras that are too tight can cause skin problems.
· Avoid heavy lifting and straining for at least one month.
· Use moisturizer several times a day if you have very dry skin after your procedure.
Resuming Your Normal Routine
Everyone heals at different rates and you are the best judge of when you are ready for certain activities, but the following are general guidelines:
· You can most likely return to work or school within a week after your procedure, unless your work is strenuous.
· You can resume driving as soon as you experience no pain when you turn the steering wheel, usually within a week for cars with power steering and a little longer for manual steering.
· Two weeks after surgery, you can begin to sleep without the special elastic bra you’ve been wearing. However, you should continue to wear this bra during the day for four to six weeks after your surgery.
· When you begin to wear your own bras again, you will probably be more comfortable wearing a bra without underwire support until your incisions are fully healed.
· You should not go braless, except while sleeping, for four to six weeks following your surgery. At your follow-up appointment, the doctor will let you know when you can begin to go without a bra.
· Strenuous exercise can begin about four weeks after surgery. Our patients are encouraged to plan an exercise program and discuss it with the staff prior to resuming exercise.
· The scars on your breasts should be protected from sunlight for at least a year after surgery.
Things To Be Aware Of After Your Surgery
· You may feel tired for several weeks after your surgery. Listen to your body and rest when you need to.
· You may see a small amount of fluid draining from your surgical incisions. Some crusting in the area is also normal. However, if you have bleeding that does not respond to 20 minutes of direct pressure or intense pain, call The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery staff right away.
· You will lose some feeling in your nipples and breast skin, caused by swelling after surgery. This usually fades within six to eight weeks, but can take up to a year.
· Your breasts may heal at different rates. One breast may swell, one may feel less comfortable, or the shapes of your breasts may look different. This is normal; however, when your body is fully recovered, your breasts will look very similar and natural.
· The skin of your breasts may appear shiny due to swelling. Within a few weeks, the swelling will disappear and the skin will return to a normal appearance.
· You may experience random shooting pains in your breasts for a few months. These are a normal part of the healing process.
· During your first period after surgery, your breasts may swell and hurt.
What Are The Possible Side Effects or Risks?
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with breast reduction. During your initial meeting with the doctor, these risks will be discussed and it will be determined if you are a good candidate for breast reduction. As with any surgery, you can help reduce the risks of the procedure by closely following the instructions provided to you by the doctors and staff of The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery. The doctors and staff of the Institute will be with you every step of the way to ensure that your procedure goes smoothly and that you have the outcome you desire.
Some possible side effects include:
· Loss of nipple-areola complex
· Sensation changes
· Scars
· Uneven breasts
· Breast feeding limitations
· Breast hardness
How Long Will the Results of Your Breast Reduction Last?
The results of your breast reduction are permanent. However, keep in mind that your breasts may change as a normal part of the aging process.
Questions You May Have
· Are there any other procedures that could be done along with breast reduction to enhance the look of my breasts?
LipoSelection is sometimes used around the breast and under the arms to remove excess fat in those areas during the breast reduction process.
· Will insurance pay for my breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction may be covered by insurance because it corrects a physical condition that affects your general health. The staff at The Metropolitan Institute for Plastic Surgery will work with you to obtain pre-authorization from your insurance company for your breast reduction procedure.
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