The breasts are considered to be one of the most important aesthetic areas of the female body. The breasts enhance a female’s beauty by making her look feminine and aesthetically welcoming. However, not all women get pleasant and appealing breasts. Many aesthetic flaws can affect the appearance of the breasts and the overall body outline of women. Two of the major issues females face is having overly large and saggy breasts. However, in many cases, both conditions can affect the patient at once, meaning your breasts may become too large and hence become saggy as well.
Many patients who suffer from having a combo of overly large and saggy breasts often ask whether they can have a breast reduction with a breast lift. Well, it is possible to perform the two procedures at once if you are suffering from both saggy and overly large breasts. However, the intervention would be more invasive, traumatic, and risky as compared to when the surgeries are performed separately, but the benefits of undergoing the combo surgery are immense as well.
Overly large and saggy breasts
While many patients either get overly large or saggy breasts, there are others who suffer from both of these problems at the same time. So what causes the breasts to become very large and saggy? Many factors are responsible for causing the breasts to become overly large. These include genetics, weight gain, certain medications, and hormonal imbalances.
On the other hand, breasts become saggy because of being too large. The extra weight of the breasts damages the elastin of the breast skin and separates the breast muscles, causing the breasts to become overly developed. Furthermore, the effects of gravity and aging can make the condition worse. Other factors that make the breasts saggy include genetics and poor skin quality.
When the breasts become overly large and saggy, they look aesthetically unwelcoming. As such, the condition affects the self-esteem and quality of life of the patient. Most women who have this condition desire to get firmer and suitably-sized breasts. It is worth noting that overly large breasts also create physical pain for the patient. Furthermore, when the breasts become extremely saggy and develop folds, the risk of infection increases.
To overcome the physical and emotional discomforts associated with overly large and saggy breasts, the patient can consider the combo of breast reduction and breast lift. Your candidacy for the combined intervention would be determined during the pre-operative consultation. The plastic surgeon will examine your breasts, assess your health, and know your goals to recommend you an effective course of action, which may be the combined surgery of breast lift and reduction.
Breast reduction surgery effectively reduces the sizes of overly large breasts by removing the excess fat and glandular tissue from the breasts. To treat the breast sagging, the plastic surgeon will remove the excess skin, tighten the underlying breast muscle, and lift the nipples and areolas to a higher position where they look youthful and perky. After the combined surgery, your breasts will appear normally sized and firmer. These improvements will alleviate the physical pain associated with the problem, besides boosting your self-esteem.
Breast reduction with a lift
As stated above, it is possible for the patient to undergo the breast lift and reduction at the same time if she qualifies for the combined surgery and has overly large breasts that also happen to be saggy. If the plastic surgeon finds out that you are a good candidate, you will be told to come to the surgery on a specific date. You will also get specific instructions about the preparation for the surgery. For example, if you are a smoker, you will be told to stop smoking at least two weeks before the surgery. If you are taking certain medications, you may be told to stop them before the procedure or cut down the dose.
The combined surgery of breast reduction and breast lift is performed under general anesthesia, where the patient will remain fully asleep and comfortable. The plastic surgeon will start by placing incisions on the breasts. The shape and length of incisions depend on the aesthetic flaws in the breasts and your goals and expectations.
After making the incisions, the surgeon will access the glandular tissue and remove the excess glandular tissue. The doctor will also tighten the weak and separated breast muscles. In the next step, the plastic surgeon will remove the excess fat from the breasts. If needed, liposuction may be used during this step. Furthermore, the surgeon will remove the saggy nipples and implant them higher up on the breasts where they appear youthful, firmer, and point forward.
In the next step, the doctor will remove the excess skin that is making your breasts look saggy. In the last step, the surgeon will re-drape the remaining skin and suture and close the incisions. Your recovery will start right after the surgery and last for many weeks. Most of the recovery will happen during the first two or three weeks, while it will take six weeks for complete recovery.
In the first two weeks following the procedure, the patient must avoid physical movements and activities. The incisions are at risk of dehiscence, and you must avoid anything that can apply pressure to your breasts. Make sure to take enough rest and stick to a healthy and balanced diet. You can get up and take short and slow walks to prevent blood clotting during the first two weeks.
Complete recovery after the combined intervention takes six weeks. It is important for the patient to avoid strenuous activities during this time, as the pressure can lead to wound splitting, excessive bleeding, and slow wound healing. You will notice some improvements in your breasts right after the surgery; however, complete results will slowly emerge only after many weeks or even months.
You will notice that your breasts have become firmer and have reduced in size when the complete results of the surgery come to the fore. These improvements will make your breasts appear aesthetically appealing and youthful. The pain in your body areas like the back, neck, and shoulder would be alleviated as a result of the reduction of your breast size. Moreover, the aesthetic improvements in your breasts will enhance your overall body outline and definition. Your self-esteem will get a boost, and you will be physically and mentally more active and productive.
Benefits of the combo surgery
The combined intervention of breast reduction and breast lift comes with many benefits. When the procedures are performed at separate times, it can cost you more money; however, when they are performed at once, your cost will be lower. Furthermore, the patient will not be required to have two separate recovery periods and the downtime will be only one.
By undergoing the combo procedure, you will achieve all your aesthetic goals in a single go, instead of going under the knife separately to achieve different goals. Moreover, the combo surgery is highly effective in treating the aesthetic flaws in your breasts.
Risks of combined surgery
While the combo of breast reduction and breast lift entails many benefits, there are also many risks associated with the operation. The risks of the combined intervention are higher than when the procedures are performed separately. It is important for the patient to discuss the risks of the surgery with the plastic surgeon during the pre-operative consultation. You should undergo surgery only when the benefits are greater than the risks.
The common risks associated with the surgery include infection, excessive bleeding, blood clotting, seroma, hematoma, change or loss of skin sensation, abnormal scarring, general dissatisfaction with the results of the surgery, and anesthesia complications. It is also possible that your breasts may become asymmetrical, especially if the surgeon is inexperienced.
The patients must also be extra careful during the recovery period, as it may affect the outcome. Be sure to wear the surgical bras, follow the surgeon’s instructions, and avoid physically demanding activities during the recovery period. Doing so will help you have a smooth and safe recovery.
Conclusion
If your breasts are overly large and saggy at the same time, you may undergo the combined surgery of breast reduction and breast lift. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and has an excellent record of delivering effective results. However, be certain to choose only an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon to perform the procedure. The surgery involves removal of the excess fat and glandular tissue from the breasts, in addition to tightening the pectoral muscles, removal of excess skin, and repositioning the nipples and areolas. After the surgery, your breasts will reduce in size and appear youthful and firmer.