Reduction mammoplasty

Some women have very large breasts which cause them many problems, both physical and mental as well as social embarrassment and teasing and difficulties in finding the right clothing size. Such patients will benefit from a breast reduction surgery. During this procedure a portion of the breast is removed and the remainder is reshaped to give a natural appearing smaller size breast.

The ideal breast reduction candidate is one who wants physical relief from her symptoms and not just cosmetic improvement. She should be mature enough to fully understand the procedure. Hence we recommend waiting until the patient is 18-21 years of age so that the breast tissue is fully developed. Another recommendation is to wait if you plan to have children and breastfeed.

What is Breast Reduction?

The technical term for Breast reduction surgery is Reduction Mammoplasty. It is indicated for women who have very large, hanging breasts. During this procedure your surgeon will remove skin, fat, glandular tissue from both your breasts. As a result you will get smaller, less heavy, firmer and better shaped breasts. In older patients with very low hanging breasts, a mastopexy is performed at the same time to position the breasts higher on the chest wall.

How to prepare for my Breast Reduction surgery?

When you come in for your first consultation, your surgeon will ask you to describe your ideal size. You may bring photos of the type of breast you want. Your surgeon will explain to you the surgery, scars, change in nipple sensation, effects on future breast feeding, etc.Though it may not be possible to meet all your expectations with the surgery, we will do our best to give you a well shaped, less heavy breast.

How is Breast Reduction surgery performed?

The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia,i.e., you will be put to sleep throughout the surgery. The procedure can take from 2 to 4 hours to perform. (Diagrams for the incisions) The incision lines for breast reduction surgery circle the areola( the darker skin surrounding the nipple), along the midline of the breast to the breast crease, and then along the breast crease. In some cases your surgeon may choose to eliminate the scar in the breast crease.

During surgery, excess skin is removed from around the nipple. The nipple can then be moved up into its new position without removing it. However in extremely large breasts where blood supply to the nipple and areola may be jeopardized, your surgeon may opt to remove the nipple and graft it in its new position. Excess fat and breast tissue is removed to reduce the size of the breast. Many times liposuction of the surrounding areas may be done to further improve the look of the breast.

What to expect after breast reduction surgery?

The recovery after breast reconstruction surgery takes upto 3 weeks. You will be discharged home after 2-3 days in hospital. Your breasts will be bruised, swollen and sore for a few days and appropriate painkillers will be prescribed.

Initially strong tapes or elastic bandages will be applied to your chest. These will be replaced by a support bra after a week. The stitches, if any are taken on the skin, will be removed after 10-14 days. After discharge you will need to rest at home for a week and not perform any strenuous activities. You should have someone who can look after you during this period. After 2-3 weeks you can start exercising your lower body, walking. However upper body workouts, running, swimming can only be resumed after a month.

Your breasts and nipple might feel numb for the first few months. The sensation will return over the course of the year but may be permanent in some patients. Breast lift surgery does leave permanent scar, but they are usually covered within the bra.