Breast reduction is a plastic surgery procedure performed to help women with breasts that are too big compared to their anatomy gain more mobility and alleviate the back, neck and shoulder pain that is often associated with an excessive volume of the breasts.
While the procedure is commonly performed nowadays and the results achieved can be spectacular, it is important for patients interested in undergoing the procedure to be aware of the ins and outs of breast reduction surgery.
Breast reduction can be performed on women of different ages, from 16 years old until 60 years old. Undergoing the procedure early in life can ensure an increased quality of life for the young patient and can also help her have a more active life and avoid bullying. But this doesn’t mean that it is not worth it to undergo the procedure later in life when the patient is already confronted with multiple discomforts and health issues.
Breast reduction surgery is performed in about two hours, but if the procedure is combined with other procedures such as liposuction, it can take longer. The plastic surgeon will be able to give you a more accurate estimate after performing the physical examination on you during the pre-operative consultation.
The surgery is performed with the patient under general anesthesia as it is quite lengthy. Afterwards, the patient can be released from the hospital within hours if no complications occur and can return home. The recovery period is more or less two weeks, depending on the complexity of each case and also the health condition of the patient.
Keep in mind that during the recovery period, there are strict instructions that need to be followed to the letter to avoid complications. Among these are the need to sleep on the back, avoid smoking, and not lift heavy objects. When it comes to physical activities, most plastic surgeons will advise you to wait at least four to six weeks (sometimes even more) before engaging in physically strenuous activities. Doing physical exercises too soon can lead to the opening of the incisions and other complications that could otherwise be avoided.
After breast reduction surgery, the patient will be left with permanent scars on the breasts. Scars can’t be avoided, and they can be significant in length if the amount of glandular tissue to be removed is large. But this is just a small price to pay to get smaller breasts that are more proportionate to the rest of the body.
Another long-term consequence of breast reduction surgery that patients should be aware of before scheduling is about breastfeeding. After breast reduction surgery, there is a high risk for the patient to lose the ability to breastfeed.