Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast Reduction

How do I know if I need a breast reduction?

Large breasts are a common source of neck pain, shoulder pain, backaches and social embarrassment. In many cases, the weight of the excess breast tissue often limits even simple day-to-day activities and can cause severe discomfort while exercising. Fortunately, it is not necessary to sacrifice your daily well being any longer. Numerous women have eliminated the daily pain and regained their freedom of mobility by opting for breast reduction surgery to remove the excess tissue.

What are the Benefits of a Breast Reduction?

On average, a person undergoing a breast reduction has between 1 to 2 pounds of extra weight removed from each breast!
Breast reduction surgery provides an immediate release from the physical and emotional discomfort brought on by large, heavy breasts. Patients are no longer limited by routine or strenuous physical activities, which may increase self-esteem and develop a renewed sense of freedom.

In addition to a reduction in size and weight, the breast reduction procedure will improve symmetry, remove sagging stretched skin and reduce large or stretched areolas. The overall result will be a smaller, lifted and more youthful appearance of the breasts with a big boost in self-esteem and confidence to follow. It’s an all-around win for a woman’s health by reducing physical symptoms while improving mobility and mental outlook.

What can I expect during and after breast reduction surgery?

The first step is an in-depth consultation with us. After discussing your specific goals and expectations, we will provide recommendations based on your breast size, shape, and the amount of breast tissue to be removed. During this time, we will fully explain the procedure and your targeted results.

Breast reduction is done as an outpatient procedure under light general anesthesia for your comfort and safety. The full breast reduction surgery can take anywhere from 3 to 4 hours depending on the amount of tissue to be removed and the degree of lift and shaping that needs to be performed. Afterwards, results are immediately noticeable with a more and lifted appearance and reduced strain on your neck, shoulders and back. A post-surgical support garment will be worn to help minimize swelling and allow early activity. Following the reduction, minor discomfort and soreness is standard, but basic activities may be resumed in as soon as 24-48 hours. Most patients can resume normal daily activities without any discomfort after one week, stretching and light activity in 3 weeks and strenuous exercise at 6 weeks.

Other Common Frequently Asked Questions About Breast Reduction

Can breast tissue come back after breast reduction?

Once removed, breast tissue does not grow back. However breast tissue is sensitive to hormone levels in the body so pregnancy, weight gain or other hormonal imbalances can result in enlargement of the breasts following a breast reduction. Depending on the cause, any enlargement may just temporary, returning to normal with regulation of hormone levels or weight loss.

What is the youngest age to have a breast reduction?

In general, it is recommended to wait until 18 years of age, or two years after growth and development is complete, to have a breast reduction. Waiting until this time minimizes the risk of continued growth of the breasts following a breast reduction procedure. However, in select instances, the onset of puberty causes a rapid and excessive growth of breast tissue leading to debilitating physical (back pain, neck pain, rashes) and social symptoms in girls as young as 12-14 years old. In these extreme cases, known as juvenile hypermastia, a breast reduction may be performed for symptom relief.

Will my Nipples be removed during a breast reduction?

In the majority of breast reduction cases, the nipple and areola remains attached to the body by a section of breast tissue called a pedicle. This pedicle of breast tissue contains the blood vessels and nerves going to the nipple. In addition, it is this pedicle of breast tissue that provides the majority of the remaining breast volume after a breast reduction. Occasionally, and only in the most extreme breast reduction cases, the nipple will need to be removed in order to allow removal of enough breast tissue for a complete breast reduction. If the nipple is removed to allow substantial removal of breast tissue, it is replaced in the ideal location on the breast as a skin graft once the breast reduction is complete.

Will I lose sensation to the Nipples after breast reduction?

In breast reduction cases where the nipple and areola remain attached to breast tissue, the sensation to this area is preserved. In fact, it is common to have an initial increase in nipple sensation immediately after a beast reduction since the nerve endings to the nipple are no longer stretched out and compressed by excess or heavy breast tissue.

Is a breast lift and a breast reduction the same procedure?

No, a breast lift and breast reduction are distinct procedures, however the end result of both is to lift and shape the breasts. A breast lift (mastopexy) removes excess breast skin, but only minimal to no actual breast tissue in order to preserve breast size. A breast reduction removes excess breast skin, but also includes removal of a considerable amount of breast tissue to downsize the breast.

Does insurance cover a breast reduction?

There is a chance that your breast reduction will be covered by insurance, unfortunately, most major insurance companies that still cover this procedure have made the criteria to qualify extremely strict and the process for approval very time consuming. Often, just to be considered for approval by insurance requires multiple doctor visits and lengthy trials of non-surgical means to deal with large, heavy breasts. Even if approval is finally granted, the physician performing the reduction is limited in the scope of work that will actually be reimbursed by insurance.

More and more women are foregoing insurance and opting for a cosmetic breast reduction to allow their plastic surgeon the ability to tailor the procedure to their needs without the constraints and limits placed by insurance companies.

Can other procedures be done at the same time as a breast reduction?

A breast reduction can be performed alone, but is often combined with other female breast and body procedures including liposuction, tummy tuck and BBL.