Breast reduction surgery is the only procedure that can help improve the quality of your life by eliminating the discomforts associated with having overly large breasts. After the procedure, the patient will enjoy having breasts that are smaller, weigh less, and are more proportionate to the rest of the body.
The procedure can be done on women starting from the age of 16. The best time to have the procedure done depends on many factors, such as:
– When you are not on your period
It might be weird to consider your period when talking about scheduling breast reduction surgery; however, it is important to have the procedure performed outside your menstrual cycle, and this is a recommendation that you will get from any responsible and experienced board-certified plastic surgeon. During your menstrual cycle and in the days before it, there are hormonal changes in the body that can influence how you feel. Most women are more sensitive during the menstrual period while others become more prone to excessive bleeding. These are just a few of the reasons why you should have your breast reduction scheduled after your menstrual cycle.
– When you can take time off from work
The best time to schedule breast reduction surgery is when you actually have time for it. It might sound funny, but if you can’t take time off from work or school for the recovery period, this means that it is not a good time to have it. For a vast majority of patients, the recovery period is about ten days, but it depends from patient to patient and the complexity of the procedure that was performed.
– When you can stop taking birth control medication
Breast reduction surgery is often performed on women of fertile age, hence many of them are on birth control medication. If this is the case, you should know that breast reduction surgery should be scheduled when you can stop taking birth control pills for at least a month. Birth control pills are associated with a high risk of blood clot formation, a complication with potentially severe consequences.
– When you can stop smoking
Your plastic surgeon will ask about your life habits even from the initial consultation, and one of the questions that you should answer in honesty is related to smoking. If you are smoking before and after the procedure, it increases your chances of developing a complication exponentially. Moreover, studies show that patients who smoke after plastic surgery have longer recovery periods than patients who do not smoke. Ideally, you should schedule your breast reduction surgery three weeks after you have stopped smoking and if you know you can remain a non-smoker for at least the same amount of time post-op.