Before surgery:
You can have breast reduction surgery at any age — sometimes even as a teenager. But if your breasts aren’t yet fully developed, you might need a second surgery later in life.
You might postpone breast reduction surgery if you have certain future plans, such as:
- Childbirth. If you haven’t started a family or your family isn’t yet complete, you might wait until pregnancy isn’t an issue. Breast-feeding might be challenging after breast reduction surgery — although certain surgical techniques can help preserve your ability to breast-feed.
- Weight loss. If you are interested in losing weight by changing your diet and starting an exercise program, you might wait to decide if reduction mammoplasty is for you. Losing weight can often result in changes to your breast size.
Operation
Breast Reduction surgery is performed under general anaesthetic.
The plastic surgeon removes excess fat, glandular tissue and skin that contribute to large, pendulous breasts. In order to achieve the desired shape, the surgeon makes anchor-like incisions, creating a vertical line downwards from the areola (the coloured area around the nipple) and the horizontal line beneath the breast. The areola, its blood vessels and nerves are repositioned together in most cases. The vertical incisions are brought together to reshape the now smaller breasts. Occasionally, in significant reductions, it might be necessary to separate the areola totally and relocate it. The size of the areola can also be reduced if needed. The plastic surgeon will make the decision as to the most appropriate technique to use.
The scars will not be visible in clothing or most swimwear. Immediately after the surgery, the scars will be red, firm and raised. The scars will mature, fade, and soften within 3–12 months. Many scars fade and become nearly invisible, but other scars may become wide and raised. Final scar appearance cannot be predicted prior to surgery.
Recovery:
- The patient will usually stay at the cosmetic surgery clinic for about 1 night and will wear a compression bandage and a special surgical support bra. This bra is already included in the price of breast reduction. This bra should be worn at all times (even at night) for 14 days to 3 weeks. If a drain is introduced during the surgery, it is removed within 24 hours.
- It is not possible to sleep on the abdomen for a period of 5 weeks. Within a few days, you can shower. When you will be released from the clinic you will be given instructions from the plastic surgeons on how to exchange the dressings.
- You will be able to resume everyday activities after a few days but must avoid lifting objects over the head or making fast movements during the first 4–6 weeks. If you have small children who require a lot of lifting, you need to plan additional help during the initial recovery period.
- The individual post-operative process is very important and the client can participate in that by following the instructions given by the plastic surgeon and the healthy diet.
- After 2 weeks, the patient can return to everyday activities, avoiding strong physical efforts. Any bruising and swelling will usually dissipate within 1–2 months.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ:
How will I feel after Breast Reduction Surgery?
- After the Breast Reduction surgery, you will probably feel tired, sleepy and might suffer from pain. The plastic surgeon might also prescribe antibiotics as a prevention of any potential infection and also tablets for reducing the swelling.
Is the Breast Reduction recovery painful?
- According to our client’s experience during breast reduction recovery they do feel some pain, especially during the first days. However, when leaving the clinic you will be prescribed painkillers . You might also feel discomfort, swelling, heaviness, and numbness in the areas where breast reduction surgery was performed.
What are the possible risks and complications?
- The specific risks and the suitability of Breast Reduction surgery for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are rare.