What is Breast Reduction?
The surgical procedure to reduce the size of the female breast is called breast reduction. This often happens for health reasons such as back pain and poor posture. But it could also be purely for aesthetic reasons. Usually, breast reduction with breast lift is also offered. We’ll tell you all about breast reduction surgeries, when they’re done and the risks.
How is Breast Reduction Surgery done?
In all breast reduction procedures, the relevant tissue or fat is removed. While many women want large breasts, very large breasts can also be a burden. Those affected by this condition often suffer from chronic back and neck pain. Sometimes posture disorders and even herniated discs occur.
Psychological stress from very large breasts can also play a role. For aesthetic reasons, women often feel very uncomfortable about their bodies. This can later affect sex life and sports activities.
Breast Reduction Methods
Various breast reduction techniques are available. In all of them, fat and glandular tissue are remved from the breasts. However, the exact location of the incisions varies. Basically, the surgeon tries to leave as few scars as possible. Which method to use is decided with the patient.
If the surgeon removes too much tissue from the breast, he will often perform a breast lift in addition to the breast reduction procedure. This makes the result more aesthetic for women.
Before Breast Reduction
Preparations should be made before the operation and the doctor’s recommendations should be followed. Possible reasons for breast reduction include:
Orthopedic complaints such as poor posture, back and neck pain
Asymmetric breasts
Skin irritation and eczema in the under-breast fold (intertrigo)
Psychological stress
In such cases, breast reduction is usually the only treatment option and provides great relief to the patient.
Breast Reduction in Men; Male breast size might also need to be reduced. That is, the procedure is required when their breast grow and take a feminine look. Such so-called gynecomastia often represents a huge emotional burden for affected men. Excessive large breasts often cause pain and tension. If diet, exercise or drug therapy cannot eliminate the cause of gynecomastia, breast reduction surgery is performed.
The operation is planned in advance. The surgeon measures the size and shape of the breasts and draws guide lines on the patient’s body with a marker to guide the incision. The shape of the breast when lying down is significantly different from that when standing. The procedure itself takes place under general anesthesia.
What Should Be Considered after Breast Reduction?
You should expect a hospital stay of about two to seven days depending on the extent of the surgery. Drains placed during the procedure are removed immediately if there is no blood or wound secretion. This usually happens after two to three days.
Postoperative swelling and discoloration are quite normal. These regress spontaneously after a while. However, until this is done, the final aesthetic result cannot be verified. This is only possible about three months after breast reduction surgery. If necessary, operative post-processing can be performed at your request.
Stitches are removed after seven to fourteen days. However, there are also special sutures that dissolve on their own after a while. You should wear a specially supported bra for the first time after breast reduction surgery. This not only puts pressure on the wound, but also prevents the breasts from losing shape during the healing process. Wear the support bra 24 hours a day for at least six weeks.
There are physical restrictions after breast reduction surgery. Avoid sports that primarily strain the chest and arm muscles, such as tennis, golf, or weight training. Also, you should not go to the sauna or solarium, so as not to impair wound healing. In addition, for the first few weeks after breast reduction surgery, it is necessary to lie on your back instead of face down on your side.
What Breast Reduction Surgery Techniques are available?
Current techniques used in breast reduction surgery are as follows:
1) Lejour (breast reduction with a lollipop shaped incision)
The L-method follows the same principle as the T-method, except that the surgeon makes only a lateral horizontal incision in the under-breast fold, thus creating an L-shape instead of a T-shape.
2) Breast reduction with a test T incision
In the T method (also known as the Anker or Strömbeck method), the doctor cuts the areola with a scalpel. As a result, the cut runs perpendicular to the under-breast fold. Subsequently the incisions intersect again in a horizontal line. This creates a T-shaped incision that gives the surgical technique its name. After the tissue is removed, the doctor lifts the areola and sutures it.
3) Breast Reduction with the Graft Technique
In the vertical technique, the doctor uses the border between normal skin and areola. As with the T method, it is cut with a scalpel and directed downwards.
In the O method (Benelli method), the surgeon makes a circular incision around the areola.
The O-Method is the most widely used breast reduction method. However, since a small incision cannot remove too much tissue, it is only suitable for small breast reductions.
Is There a Risk of Breast Reduction?
Is breast reduction risky?
What are the risks of breast reduction? Risks associated with breast reduction surgery include:
Bleeding, bruising and swelling,
Injury to nerves with possible permanent impairment of sensitivity,
Wound infection and wound healing disorders,
Unattractive scars, scar growth,
Allergic reactions to drugs and materials used,
Asymmetric nipples after surgery,
Nipple atrophy
Anesthesia related complications can happen.
There is a risk of breastfeeding disorders after breast reduction depending on the type of procedure. This is especially true for young women who want to have children.
Many complications can be avoided with an experienced surgeon and careful operation planning. However, it is important for the doctor to fully explain the possible risks to the patient, especially since it is a frequently requested procedure without medical necessity.
Does Breast Reduction leave a scar?
No, it will not. Non-surgical breast reduction, if a small breast reduction is sufficient, exercise and a healthy diet can also be applied. In this way, the breasts can at least be reduced and tightened a little. However, if diet is not sufficient, there is usually no alternative to surgery.
What Is The Recovery Process like after Breast Reduction?
Signs of improvement are manifested after 2-3 weeks. Very large and heavy breasts can cause a variety of physical problems. First and foremost are back, neck and headaches caused by tension and poor posture. Some women subconsciously lean their torso forward to hide their large breasts.
In the long run, there is a risk that bad posture and the weight of the breasts can cause permanent signs of wear and tear on the spine. The weight of the bra can tighten your shoulders and back. Sometimes the skin becomes irritated and sores develop in the under-breast fold, which can also cause fungal infections to develop.
Also, very large breasts can interfere with women’s daily life. Sports can be problematic when the breasts are heavy and freedom of movement is restricted. However, most of the time, psychological stress is the main reason for breast reduction.
Some women get the feeling that they are being looked at or even made fun of because of the size of their breasts. A woman can feel so uncomfortable with her body that her self-confidence is seriously damaged and she avoids sexual activities, which can negatively affect dating and relationships.
Is the Breast Reduction procedure aftermath painful?
There is not much pain. There are many women who find their breasts too small and want more. However, if the breasts are too large for the body structure, this can also be a burden. Very bulky, heavy breasts often cause tightness and poor posture. This can also lead to mental health problems. For example, it can be a problem when a woman feels that her freedom of movement is restricted because of her large breasts. Or she may be offended by the feeling that she is constantly being looked at in public.
UV light causes darker skin pigments (melanin) to form in scars, making them more noticeable. To avoid this, keep away from direct sunlight and the solarium for about three months after breast reduction surgery.
Does SSI pay for Breast Reduction Surgery?
In any case, it is recommended that you clarify in advance with your health insurer whether and to what extent it will cover the costs.
What should be considered before breast reduction? The procedure should only be done after pregnancy and breastfeeding, as it may interfere with or make breastfeeding impossible. If the woman has just given birth, she must wait at least eight months after breastfeeding for the breast to return to normal.
Doctors should only perform breast reduction procedures when the patient’s body has grown and the breasts have fully developed. Apart from this limitation, the operation can be performed at any age. It is sometimes helpful to have a mammogram and breast ultrasound before the procedure to rule out breast cancer. This is especially true for women aged 35-40. The surgeon discusses in advance with the patient whether these preliminary examinations are necessary in individual cases.
Breast Reduction Prices 2022
The cost of breast reduction surgery may vary depending on the length of hospitalization and the physician. The procedure is covered by health insurance companies only if the procedure is medically necessary. It is useful to do a comprehensive research about breast reduction surgery beforehand. You can contact us immediately to get information about Breast Reduction Prices 2022.