What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?
While women often undergo breast augmentation surgery to achieve larger and more voluminous breasts, many women desire to have their large natural breasts reduced in size. This is because overly large breasts can be a burden on a woman’s body and lifestyle. Not only can large breasts cause back, neck, and shoulder pain, but large breasts can draw unwanted attention, keep women from wearing the clothes they desire, and prevent them from participating in some of their favorite activities (like sports).
Breast reduction surgery (reduction mammoplasty) is a cosmetic procedure that reduces the breast size by removing excess breast tissue and fat. This procedure creates smaller, firmer, more aesthetically pleasing breasts that are more proportionate to the rest of your body. After a breast reduction, women report experiencing less chronic pain and feeling more confident with their body shape.
What Are the Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery?
- Improves self-esteem and confidence
- Alleviates health issues like chronic pain and skin abrasions
- Improves body proportions
- Reduces unwanted attention
- Improves ability to exercise
- Improves ability to find clothing that fits
“…The appointments are always on time, quick, and friendly! They always make me feel comfortable and happy with my results! “
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Where Are the Incisions for Breast Reduction?
Anchor Incision
The most common type of breast reduction uses an anchor incision, or inverted-T, as it allows for the most amount of reduction and correction. This incision encircles each areola, extends down the lower breast pole, and continues along the breast crease (inframammary fold).
Lollipop Incision
For women who desire more minimal correction, a lollipop incision may be used. This incision encircles each areola and extends vertically down the lower breast pole. Unlike the anchor incision, the lollipop incision does not require the horizontal incision along the breast crease.
How Is Breast Reduction Surgery Performed?
Step 1: Consultation
As with any cosmetic procedure, you will first have a consultation with your board-certified plastic surgeon. During your consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss your aesthetic concerns as well as your goals. Your surgeon will evaluate your breasts to create a surgical plan that is tailored to your specific needs. Your surgeon may also discuss the possibility of including a breast lift (mastopexy) to your breast reduction procedure.
Step 2: Preparation and Anesthesia
Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anesthesia to ensure patient comfort and safety during the procedure.
Step 3: Incisions and Tissue Removal
Once the anesthesia is administered, your plastic surgeon will make the chosen incisions on each breast.
After the incisions are made, your surgeon will remove breast tissue and fat and then reshape the remaining tissue to create a more aesthetically pleasing appearance. If needed, the nipple-areolar complex will be removed and transplanted to a higher, more natural position.
Breast reduction surgery generally takes between three and five hours to complete and is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning that you will be able to return home after the anesthesia wears off.
Our philosophy is to create the most natural results and never do more than is necessary.
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Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you are looking to achieve a more natural and beautiful appearance to your body by reducing the size of your overly large breasts, schedule your consultation by calling (813) 400-1465 or by filling out our contact form.
Breast Reduction Recovery and Results
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After your breast reduction, you will experience swelling, bruising, tightness, and some discomfort in the surgical area. These side effects are to be expected and will dissipate over time. Most patients can return to work and many of their normal, daily activities after one week. However, you will need to avoid strenuous activities and lifting heavy objects for several weeks.
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The best way to ensure a speedy recovery and optimal results is following your post-surgical instructions. This will include resting your body to allow your incisions to heal. You will also be required to wear a compression garment and/or surgical bra during the weeks after your procedure. These garments help to protect your incisions and maintain the proper shape to the breasts as you recover. Additionally, taking short, slow walks will help speed up your recovery because it increases blood circulation.
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After your breast reduction, you will have smaller, more manageable breasts that balance beautifully with the rest of your body. This procedure can help significantly improve your quality of life, and you can look forward to improved confidence and comfort. This can include wearing the clothes you’ve always wanted to wear and participating in your favorite activities.
After their breast reduction, most women can’t wait to go out and show off their stunning and transformative results.
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One of the very best aspects of breast reduction surgery is that your results are long lasting. However, an increase in your weight can add to the size of your breasts. Because of this, it is important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle (regular exercise and a balanced diet).
Breast Reduction FAQS
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If you struggle with overly large breasts that reduce your quality of life (which includes physical and psychological frustrations), then breast reduction surgery may be a fantastic option for you. Optimal candidates are non-smoking women who are in good general health and have realistic expectations for their results. At your consultation, one of our board-certified plastic surgeons will evaluate your condition to determine if breast reduction surgery is right for you.
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While breast reduction surgery reduces the size of the breasts, it does not elevate the breasts to a higher, perkier level on the chest. This is why many women choose to combine their breast reduction procedure with breast lift surgery. And by combining these procedures, you will have less overall cost and recovery time than if you have these procedures performed separately, since you are having and recovering from the procedures at the same time.
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Because breast reduction surgery is an invasive procedure, there will be scars. However, women who undergo breast reduction surgery typically feel that their stunning results outweigh the resulting scars. Additionally, surgical scars will fade over time.
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Like any plastic surgery procedure, the cost of breast reduction surgery varies with each patient and procedure. This is because the price is dependent on numerous factors, including the extent of correction needed, the techniques performed, and whether you are combining your breast reduction with a breast lift. At PREMIERE Center for Cosmetic Surgery, we want to help you achieve your cosmetic goals, which is why we are proud to offer affordable financing plans.
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If the size of your overly large breasts is causing you chronic physical pain and your primary care physician has determined that breast reduction is a solution, then your procedure may be covered by insurance. Make sure to discuss your situation with your personal physician and with our staff.