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FAQ
Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammaplasty) is a surgical procedure designed for women with very large breasts. Common problems caused by large breasts range from neck and back pain to breathing problems. This plastic surgery procedure removes fat, skin and tissue from the breasts, which in turn, makes them smaller, weigh less and more firm.
The goal is to give women proportionate breasts to there body. This procedure is done typically to relieve the physical discomforts of very large breasts, the inactivity they can cause, and the pain as well. Most patients are back to work in less than 3 days. However, you may experience discomfort for a couple weeks. Important note: Some insurance companies will cover Breast reduction, but it is important to have the proper documentation. Also, they may require a certain amount of tissue to be removed. This is important to talk to the doctor about during your initial consultation.
The Procedure
There are multiple techniques used for breast reduction, but the most common is an anchor-shaped incision. This follows the natural curve, or shape of the breast. This incision will outline the area of where the breast skin will be removed, and also will identify the new location of your nipple. When the excess skin is removed, the nipple and areola are repositioned to the elevated position. The skin is then brought down and reshapes the breast. In some cases, your plastic surgeon will use liposuction to remove extra fat from the armpit area. Also, in some cases, where the breasts are very large, the nipples and areolas may have to be completely removed. This does result in loss of sensation in the nipple and areola tissue.
After surgery, your recovery
The first couple days you will be sore and you will have some discomfort for at least a week. In the first few days, you will experience most of the discomfort when you move around, sneeze and cough. Your plastic surgeon will prescribe you with some medication for this pain.
A drain will also be placed in your breasts in order to drain out blood and fluids, for the first couple of days. Your bandages will be removed a day or two after surgery, but you will be required to wear a surgical bra for several weeks.
Before you leave, you plastic surgeon will give you instructions on exactly what you can and can not do. To answer a couple common questions, your plastic surgeon will direct you on how to change your dressings, how to shower, and how to be most comfortable. Your surface stitches will be removed within 3 weeks. Other common experiences are random shooting pains for a few months, breast swelling during your first menstruation, some initial loss of feeling in your nipples because of the swelling.
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What Is Breast Reduction?
Women with large, pendulous breasts may experience discomfort, back pain, neck strain, and other problems from the heavy weight and low center of gravity of their breasts. In addition, it is normal to feel self-conscious about breasts which have lost attractiveness. The purpose of the breast reduction is to give a woman smaller, attractively shaped breasts which are in proportion to the rest of her body. Breasts which are smaller and higher on the chest tend to reduce neck and back strain caused by low, heavy breasts.
In the breast reduction procedure, excess breast tissue is removed and the remaining tissue is nicely contoured, the breast skin is tightened, and the nipple and areola are lifted and reduced if necessary. Breast reduction surgery can be performed in most cases as an outpatient procedure. Nipple sensitivity and the ability to breast-feed are typically maintained with the breast reduction techniques that Dr. Bresnick uses. The incisions for breast reduction in most cases require a line around the areola, a vertical line between the areola and breast crease, and a line in the breast crease. For the vast majority of patients, these incision lines fade nicely with time.
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