Breast Reduction

Some women find their breasts too large to suit their lifestyle. Sometimes very large breasts can also cause a variety of associated problems such as rashes, skin irritation, neck pain and back pain. Wearing bras can cause discomfort from the shoulder straps and often very large breasts can make a woman feel very self-conscious.

Breast reduction is a procedure done to reshape and reduce the size of the breasts by removing excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a smaller breast size in proportion with the body. Breast reduction surgery also alleviates the discomfort associated with overly large breasts.

Who is a good candidate for breast reduction?

Overdeveloped breasts can have chronic negative effects for women. Common experiences of breast reduction candidates include chronic body aches and pain, especially in the back and shoulders, noticeable size difference between breasts, rashes or skin irritation from chafing, inability to enjoy sports or physical activities due to breast size, and feeling self-conscious or unhappy with breast size.

Breast reduction surgery can help to alleviate these issues, especially when the breasts are out of proportion with the body size.

Where are the incisions made for breast reduction surgery?

A breast reduction typically involves three incisions: one around the areola, one vertical incision from the bottom edge of the areola to the crease under the breast, and one incision beneath the breast in the crease, following its natural curve. This is commonly referred to as the "anchor" incision. Newer techniques are used to remove the lower horizontal portion, giving a "lollipop-shaped" incision.

During breast reduction surgery, the excess tissue and skin are removed and the incisions are closed with careful attention paid to the shape and overall appearance of the breasts.

How long is recovery after breast reduction?

Immediately after breast reduction surgery, most patients experience swelling and some discomfort. Dr. Hess will prescribe a pain medication to alleviate any pain or discomfort and may recommend that you wear a support bra for a few weeks.

Most patients are able to go back to work in as little as five days. It is important to remember that the full results may not be evident for several months as your body adjusts and heals.

Breast reduction, is a surgical option for such women. The procedure involves the removal of fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts, making them smaller, lighter, and firmer. The outcome of this procedure is smaller, better-shaped breasts in proportion with the rest of the body.

A great resource for real patient stories about breast reduction surgery can be found on RealSelf.com, where Dr. Hess has also answered hundreds of patient questions about plastic surgery.