Breast Reduction Surgery

Fact about procedure

Usually breast reduction surgery is performed for physical relief rather than simply cosmetic improvement. Very large breasts that restrict their activities and cause them physical discomfort trouble most patients who have the surgery. Breast reduction

Breast Reduction Surgery is sought by many patients to relieve the physical and painful strain on neck, shoulder and back cased by excessively heavy breasts. A strain that can be severe that it leads to chronic headaches, Bach and deformities, shoulder in dentition breathing problems and a variety of their medical problems.

Breast Reduction Surgery removes fat, glandular tissue, and excessive skin, resulting in smaller, lighter and firmer breasts that are better shaped in proportion to rest of the body.

Male Breast Reduction (Gynecomastia)

Although rarely discussed, enlarged male breasts are a common condition. Gynecomastia affects approximately 40 to 60 percent of men. There is no known cause for gynecomastia, although there has been some correlation with various drugs or medical conditions.

Men who feel self-conscious about their appearance are helped with breast-reduction surgery. The procedure removes fat and/or glandular tissue from the breasts, and in extreme cases to removes excess skin, resulting in a contoured chest that is flatter and firmer.


Surgical procedure

Breast Reduction Surgery typically is performed to reduce disproportionately large, sagging breasts. It also can reduce the size of the areola (the dark pink skin enlarged as the breast develops)

The most commonly employed Breast Reduction Surgery technique, called brassiere pattern skin reduction, involves both horizontal and vertical incisions that follow the contour of the breast. The vertical incision creates a key hole-shaped pattern above the areola.

Working through the incisions, the plastic surgeon excises excess tissue, fat and skin on the sides of the breast. Skin is removed from the area within the vertical incision and around the areola. The nipple, areola and underlying tissue are moved through this space to a new higher location. Another technique involves completely detaching the nipple from the breast before relocating it. Since a transplanted nipple loses all sensitivity, this approach is performed only when deemed necessary for patients with extremely large breasts.

After the nipples are repositioned, skin on both sides of the breast is moved down and around the areola and then brought together to recon tour the breast.

Sutures close the wounds under the breast and around the nipple area. Following surgery, a gauze dressing may be applied to the breasts or the patient may be placed in a surgical brassiere.

Depending on the extent of the surgery, the procedure usually lasts two hours or longer

Results

Your plastic surgeon will make every effort to make your scars as inconspicuous as possible. Still, it's important to remember that Breast Reduction Surgery scars are extensive and permanent. They often remain lumpy and red for months, then gradually become less obvious, sometimes eventually fading to thin white lines. Fortunately, the scars can usually be placed so that you can wear even low-cut tops.

Duration of Operation:

One to three hours

Possible Risks and Complications

The possible risks of Breast Reduction Surgery are divided into two groups. First, those are seen in all operations and second those that are unique or special for a particular operation. In the first group, the main risks are swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, a scar and numbness or change in sensation. The main problem, which is unique to this operation, is damage to the blood supply of the nipple and a heavy scar. Breast-feeding may not be possible after surgery. Breast reduction does NOT increase the risk of breast cancer and indeed may slightly decrease the risk.

Side Effects

Bruising and swelling is expected. This will disappear with time. It takes three months for breasts to regain their softness and natural appearance.

Spotty areas of numbness are common and may last six weeks to six months. Avoid underwear bras until good feeling has returned.

Feelings of sharpness, burning and other sensations are common during the healing process. If your breast skin is very dry following surgery, you can apply a moisturizer, but be sure to keep the suture (stitches) area dry.

After Care

After Breast Reduction Surgery, you will be wrapped in elastic bandage or a gauze dressings and surgical bra. A small tube may be placed in each breast to drain blood and fluids for the first day or two. The extent of the post-operative swelling and bruising is dependent on whether you tend to bruise or swell easily. The amount you can expect varies for each individual but past surgeries or injuries should be a good indication. Applying cold compresses or ice packs will reduce swelling and relieve discomfort. Many patients use a watertight plastic sandwich bag filled with frozen berries or peas. Regular icing is the key to relieving swelling.

The bandages will be removed a day or two after Breast Reduction Surgery, though you will continue wearing the surgical bra around the clock for several weeks, until the swelling and bruising subsides. In most cases, stitches will be removed in one to three weeks. Sometimes the surgeon will use only dissolvable sutures. If breast skin is very dry following surgery, moisturizer can be applied several times a day, but the suture area must be kept dry at all times.

Recovery Time

The recovery takes one to two weeks. Most people are back to work within a week or two.

Hospital Admission

It departs on your situation. Most breast reduction soreness is performed as out patient procedure. If an extremely large amount of breast tissue. The doctor may want you to stay over might in hospital for recovery.

Anesthetic

General anesthesia (you are asleep) or local with sedation (Neuroleptic anesthesia)

Post Operative Care

Swelling and skin discoloration around the incisions generally will subside in a few days. After surgery, there may be a temporary loss of sensation in the nipples and breast skin. If it occurs, this condition will improve with time. Sutures will be removed within two weeks of surgery.

Although the surgeon makes every effort to keep scars as inconspicuous as possible, reduction mammaplasty scars are extensive and permanent. The patient must be willing to accept the change from large uncomfortable breasts without scars to small comfortable breasts with scars. Scars remain highly visible for a year following surgery then fades to some degree. Since incisions were made around and below the nipples, scars should not be notice able even in low-cut-clothing.

To permit proper healing, you should avoid excessive exercise and refrain from over heal lifting for three to four weeks. The decision on when to return to work and normal activities depends on how fast you heal and how you feel.

- It is important to follow a careful plan on return to strenuous activity, in order to avoid Tension on the wound (which could lead to worse scarring).
- Able to fly back home after seven days.
- Keep your bandage clean and dry. Sponge bathe only. You will remain in bandages for about one week. Light activities can be resumed with in a few days, although your incisions to swell. Routine physical activity and exercising (specially lifting, pulling) should be avoided for at least 6 weeks.

Empty and record the drains three times daily.

NO SMOKING for two weeks after the Breast Reduction Surgery