Breast reduction
A breast reduction procedure, also called reduction mammaplasty, is a process to remove excess breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin to achieve a breast size more appropriate with body form and to alleviate the discomfort associated with excessively large breasts known as macromastia.
Disproportionately large breasts cause both types of problems physical and emotional distress for patients. Patients with large breasts can experience physical discomfort resulting from the weight of their breasts. The resulting pain might make it challenging for most patients to perform normal physical activities. Along with the physical ailments of macromastia, many patients suffer from emotional distress or more significant mental health problems as a result of their large breasts. It may cause a lack of self-confidence in many patients who are involved with this situation.
However breast reduction procedure is mostly performed to address medical problems, patients who do not have the serious symptoms of macromastia but are uncomfortable with the size of their breasts may still pursue breast reduction as an aesthetic process. Patients choosing to undergo breast reduction operation for aesthetic results may cite any number of factors, including social stigmas and wardrobe concerns.
The breast reduction process is mostly done for female patients who have extremely large breasts and want to resolve the problem including:
1. Chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain that requires pain medications
2. Chronic rash or skin irritation under the breasts
3. Nerve pain
4. Restricted activity
5. Poor self-image related to large breasts
6. Difficulty fitting into bras and clothing
Breast reduction opery mostly is not suggested if you have any of these conditions including:
1. Smoke
2. Have certain conditions such as diabetes or heart problems
3. Are very obese
4. Want to avoid scars on your breasts
You have to postpone your breast reduction process if you have certain future plans, like:
1. Childbirth. If you still have not started a family or your family is not yet complete, you may wait until the pregnancy is not a problem. Breast-feeding may be challenging following breast reduction surgery — although certain surgical techniques can help preserve your ability to breastfeed.
2. Weight loss. If you are interested in losing weight by changing your diet and starting an exercise program, you may wait to decide if reduction mammoplasty is suitable for you. Losing weight might mostly result in changes to your breast size.
Risks of the breast reduction process
Breast reduction operation has the same risks as any other type of major operation — bleeding, infection, and an adverse reaction to the anesthetics materials. Other possible risks include:
1. Bruising, which is usually temporary
Scarring
2. Removal of or loss of sensation in the nipples and skin surrounding the nipples (areolae)
3. Difficulty or inability to breast-feed
4. Differences in the size, shape, and symmetry of the surgically altered left and right breasts, might lead to further surgery to improve your appearance
The surgeon mostly:
1. Makes a small incision around the areola and down each breast
2. Removes excessive breast tissue, fat, and skin to decrease the size of each breast
3. Reshapes the breast and repositions the nipple and areola
The nipple and areola:
1. Mostly remain attached to the breast in the same position
2. Might need to be removed and then reattached at a higher position as a skin graft if your breasts are very large
