Introduction to Breast Reduction

Indications for Breast Reduction

Excessively large breasts can affect women of all ages. Breast reduction surgery can bring a woman's figure into proportion so that she can feel better about herself, fit into her clothes nicely and be relieved of the physical problems caused by large breasts. Women with very large, pendulous breasts may experience a variety of medical problems caused by the excessive weight and poor leverage placed on the chest and spine. Such problems include back and neck pain, skin irritation, skeletal deformities and breathing problems. Also, a woman's bra straps may leave indentations and cause pain in the shoulders. And, unusually large breasts can make a woman feel extremely self-conscious.

Goals of Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction, technically known as reduction mammaplasty, is designed for women that are bothered by the large size of their breasts. Dr. Connall performs state-of-the-art breast reduction procedures for such women. The procedures are designed to remove fat, glandular breast tissue, and skin from the breasts, making the breasts smaller, lighter, and firmer. The procedure also lifts the areolas and the tissues into more youthful, "perky" positions. Breast reduction can also reduce the size of the areolas, the dark skin surrounding the nipple. The goals of breast reduction surgery are to create smaller, aesthetically-shaped breasts that are more in proportion with the rest of a woman's body and to reduce the physical symptoms that may occur from such large breasts.

Breast Reduction Techniques

Though a rare patient is a candidate for liposuction only to reduce the breasts, the standard techniques for breast reduction involve an open surgical approach in which the undesired breast tissue is directly removed. There are two main techniques for breast reduction surgery. These techniques are very similar to the procedures used for breast lifts, in terms of the patterns of skin removal and resulting scars. The difference being that here breast tissue is removed and the breasts are reduced in size and, in doing so, the breast are lifted and shaped. The vertical breast reduction technique results in a scar around the areola and down the middle of the breast, leaving a lollipop shaped scar. The inverted-T reduction results in a scar around the areola, down the middle of the breast, and across the base of the scar, leaving an inverted-T, or anchor shaped scar.

Breast Reduction Recovery

Breast reduction procedures take about 3-4 hours to perform. They are performed as an outpatient procedure, so you will be able to go home the same day of surgery. You will be tired and very sore for about 3-5 days after surgery. Within 7-14 days, most women can resume basic home and work activities and within 3-4 weeks can resume mild exercise.

Patient Satisfaction is High

The improvement in the aesthetics of the breasts and the feel of the body overall can be dramatic for women following breast reduction surgery. Breast reduction often enhances a woman's self esteem and confidence, and reduces the physical problems caused by large breasts. Because of the wide impact breast reduction surgery can have on a woman's life, the procedure has a very high patient satisfaction rate.