Overly large breasts can occur either naturally or as a result of hormonal imbalance. Whatever the cause might be, the reality is that in a vast majority of cases, they lead to chronic back, neck and shoulder pain, difficulties in breathing, chronic irritation of the skin in the inframammary fold, as well as the disappointment of rarely finding bras that can accommodate them and offer proper support.
Breast reduction surgery is the plastic surgery procedure that aims to diminish the size of the breasts to get breasts that are more proportionate to the rest of the patient’s anatomy and also to eliminate the emotional and physical discomforts associated with overly large breasts.
Generally speaking, breast reduction surgery doesn’t correct just the functional aspects associated with having large breasts but also enhances the aesthetic appearance of the patient by making the breasts more harmonious with the rest of the body.
Before making the decision to undergo breast reduction surgery, the patient should participate in a pre-operative consultation with the plastic surgeon. During this meeting, important aspects of the procedure will be discussed and the patient’s eligibility to undergo it as well. Moreover, the plastic surgeon will also talk to you about the long-term consequences of undergoing breast reduction and the short-term side effects that can occur after the procedure.
The procedure has been performed with a high success rate for many years now, and there are many patients of all ages that are hoping the procedure will improve their quality of life. However, patients should know that the process of getting smaller breasts that are more suitable for their anatomy won’t happen overnight.
It is true that the procedure often lasts no longer than three hours and once it is done, the patient can already notice that the breasts are smaller. However, the results that occur immediately after the surgery are not the final results of the procedure. The final results can be evaluated a year after when the cicatrization process is completed.
Immediately after breast reduction surgery, the breasts will be swollen and bruises can also occur. To reduce the swelling, make sure to wear the special post-op bra that the plastic surgeon will recommend. The bra should be worn non-stop for the first few weeks, then for more months but only during the day.
Another thing that the patient can do to reduce the swelling is to place ice bags on the breasts. The ice packs should never be placed directly on the skin as this can be very detrimental to the sensitive skin on the breasts. Always use a cloth or a piece of cotton under the ice pack when you use them to reduce the swelling. It is also important to mention that the ice packs should be kept on the breasts for 10-15 minutes at a time, not more.