If you have overly large breasts, they can cause physical, emotional, and psychological discomfort. Breast reduction surgery is a procedure designed to reduce the size of your breasts, alleviate symptoms caused by large breasts, and create a more aesthetic shape. In this blog post, we’ll go over the key steps involved in a breast reduction procedure.
Step 1: Consultation with a Surgeon for Breast Reduction
The first step of a breast reduction procedure is to meet with a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon. During the consultation, your surgeon will review your medical history and current health status, go over the details and associated risks of the operation, and explain the expected outcomes of the surgery. They will also take measurements of your breasts and take photographs that will be used as before-and-after comparison images after the procedure.
Step 2: Pre-operative Preparation for Breast Reduction
Once you and your surgeon have mutually decided that you are a good candidate for the surgery, it’s time to begin preparing for the operation. This includes routine blood tests and a medical exam. You must also stop taking certain medications (like aspirin) and stop drinking alcohol or smoking for a specified period of time before the surgery.
Step 3: Anesthesia Administration for Breast Reduction
During the breast reduction, anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist to ensure your comfort. We typically use general anesthesia, although intravenous sedation is sometimes used.
Step 4: Incisions and Tissue Removal
During the breast reduction, your surgeon will make incisions around the areolas and possibly underneath the breasts to remove excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin. The incisions are designed to give you the most aesthetically pleasing result, while also ensuring there is minimal scarring. Once the reductions have been made, your surgeon will move the nipples and areolas to a higher position.
Step 5: Closure of Incisions
After the excess tissue has been removed and the nipples have been moved, your doctor will then close the incisions with sutures. Your doctor may also use skin adhesives or surgical tape to further reduce scarring.
Step 6: Recovery
When the surgery is complete, a surgical bra is typically worn to help with healing and provide support. You should take it easy and rest for several days after the surgery, but should be able to resume normal activities within a week. Strenuous activities should be avoided for several weeks. You may experience bruising, swelling, and some minor bleeding, but these will go away over the next few weeks.
In conclusion, breast reduction surgery is a relatively simple procedure that can yield life-changing results. It involves several steps, from the initial consultation and preoperative preparation to making incisions, removing unwanted tissue, and closing the incision, to the recovery period. If you have overly large breasts and would like to learn more about breast reduction surgery, we urge you to speak to a board-certified plastic surgeon.
