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Doctor’s Thoughts on Breast Reduction
At Pacific Center Plastic Surgery, we strive to understand your unique concerns and goals to find the right treatment plan for you. When it comes to a surgical procedure like breast reduction Newport Beach-based Pacific Center Plastic Surgery’s board-certified team will be honest about the pros and cons of this treatment option. For many, the significant results of a breast reduction can offer life-changing physical relief and improved confidence.
We’ve helped thousands of patients achieve long-lasting results from their breast reduction surgery to achieve smaller, more comfortable breasts. As board-certified surgeons, we aim to deliver the best care, from consultation to post-op. To get started on your journey or to learn more about your options, contact our office and request a consultation.
What is a Breast Reduction?
A breast reduction is a surgical procedure used to address overly large breasts. Living with large breasts can cause a lot of physical as well as emotional discomfort. With a breast reduction, patients can find relief and enjoy a more comfortable and active lifestyle.
At Pacific Center Plastic Surgery we strive to deliver Newport Beach breast reduction patients the best experience possible in every way. Our board certified plastic surgeons are experts in breast procedures and renowned for their breast reduction results.
As each patient has unique concerns, conditions, and goals, breast reduction surgery can include a variety of techniques to achieve the desired results. Breast reduction almost invariably includes the lifting and sculpting of the breasts, and may also involve the repositioning of the nipples or a reduction in areola size.
Who can Benefit from a Breast Reduction?
Women of nearly any age can benefit from a breast reduction if they are bothered by overly large breasts. Breast reduction surgery may address concerns including:
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain due to the weight of the breasts
- Headaches
- Poor posture due to the weight of the breasts on the chest
- Indentations in the shoulders and back from bra straps
- Irritation under the breasts
- Discomfort during physical activity
- Difficulty finding bras and clothes that fit right
- Self-consciousness due to breast size
Breast reduction has one of the highest patient satisfaction rates among plastic surgery procedures and it is a wonderfully life-changing experience for so many. Along with improving the above concerns caused by large breasts, a breast reduction may also benefit you if you experienced breast enlargement after pregnancy and breastfeeding. To be a successful candidate for breast reduction, it is important to take the proper steps to prepare for surgery and closely follow the post-procedure instructions provided by your surgeon.
How is a Breast Reduction Performed?
Breast reduction is typically performed under general anesthesia for your comfort. An incision is often made around the areola, down towards the breast crease, and/or under the breast crease. The incision pattern required will depend on the amount of tissue being removed and your outcome goals.
Excess tissue can be surgically removed, while liposuction techniques can be performed to reduce pockets of fat in the area. After breast reduction is performed, breast lift techniques are almost always used to address stretched tissue and sagging skin. The nipples may also be repositioned to fit with your newly shaped breasts.
Breast reduction surgery may take 2 to 5 hours (or, in some cases, longer), depending on your specific needs, techniques used and desired results. Breast reduction surgery is often considered a combination procedure as it also requires the lifting and sculpting of the breasts.
Recovery After Breast Reduction
After a breast reduction, you will be instructed to wear a surgical bra or sports bra for several weeks to assist in healing and support your new shape. For some patients, a drain may also be placed under the skin to help during this process.
For many, work and light activity can be resumed after about a week. During this time, you can expect some swelling and general discomfort that can be managed with prescription pain medication, the use of an ice pack, or other methods as directed by your surgeon.
You should avoid movements that require the use of chest muscles while healing, as well as sleeping on your stomach. Generally, after about two weeks, exercise can be gradually resumed as long as you do not experience an increase in swelling or discomfort.
The expert team at Pacific Center Plastic Surgery will provide you with detailed post-op instructions to ensure that you are adequately prepared for recovery, follow-up appointments, and what to expect as your body heals. In the days and weeks following surgery, our team will monitor your progress and closely work with you to help you achieve the best results.
Breast Reduction Results
Many patients notice a difference in their breasts right after their breast reduction, however, the final results can be hidden by swelling for several weeks. Once the swelling has resolved, you can enjoy your newly sized breasts along with the relief of back, shoulder, and neck pain, as well as other discomforts associated with large breasts.
Patients report feeling more confident with their figure as well as improved comfort during physical activity. The results of a breast reduction are long-lasting and will age naturally with the rest of your body.
Breast reduction results can be maintained through a proper and consistent diet and exercise. While excess fat is permanently removed during breast reduction surgery, excessive weight gain may lead to new fat deposits within the breasts. Weight loss can also affect your breast reduction results, so it is often recommended that patients who would like to lose weight do so before undergoing breast reduction surgery.
Additionally, it is most important that a patient’s weight is stable. Therefore, patients who choose to lose weight before breast reduction surgery should be able to maintain their weight over time to ensure the best (and longest-lasting) breast reduction results. Our goal is to set you up for long-term success and properly set expectations for surgery.
Your Consultation at Pacific Center Plastic Surgery
To learn more about your breast reduction options at Pacific Center Plastic Surgery, contact our office and request a consultation. At Pacific Center Plastic Surgery, our doctors are board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons and are experts in the breast reduction procedure. By working with our friendly and experienced team, we can help you choose the right techniques for your concerns and goals.
Breast Reduction FAQs
Does insurance cover breast reduction surgery?
Depending on your reasons for pursuing a breast reduction and your insurance provider’s specific requirements, breast reduction surgery may or may not be covered. Alternatively, we provide many financing options to help cover the cost of the procedure. Please contact our office to learn more about your payment options.
Will breast reduction surgery cause loss of sensation in the nipples?
Breast reduction surgery patients will likely experience some numbness around the nipples following their procedure. While most sensation typically returns within two months of breast reduction surgery, some numbness can return later or not at all. If you are concerned about breast reduction surgery’s impact on nipple sensation, it is important to discuss this with your surgeon.
Will I be able to breastfeed after breast reduction surgery?
It is impossible to know definitively who will or won’t have difficulty breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery. It is also important to note that pregnancy or any significant weight changes may affect breast reduction surgery results. Some patients choose to undergo breast reduction surgery once they are done breastfeeding to avoid such complications. If you are planning to become pregnant, discuss this with your surgeon to help ensure the right treatment plan is created for you.
Will my scars be visible?
Due to the location of incisions involved in breast reduction surgery, patients should expect some visible scarring. However, these scars will fade significantly over time and the benefits of breast reduction surgery often outweigh concerns about scarring. Additionally, we offer a wide range of scar therapy treatments including topical creams and laser treatments, which can greatly help during the healing process and once healed.
What risks and side effects are associated with breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery has one of the highest patient satisfaction rates among all plastic surgery procedures. However, as with any surgical procedure, breast reduction surgery does carry some risk. An allergic reaction to medications or surgical materials may be possible. Although very low, risks associated with anesthesia and bleeding are also present during breast reduction surgery.
While our highly experienced and board-certified surgeons are experts at breast sculpting, breast reduction surgery does come with some cosmetic risks as well. Asymmetry, irregularities associated with shape or contour, and breast firmness may occur.
During your consultation, any and all risks that should be considered with breast reduction surgery will be covered.
Who is a good candidate for breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery can be a very positive and life-changing procedure for most healthy patients of all ages who have experienced physical or emotional discomfort as a result of excessively large breasts. However, it is often recommended that younger patients wait until their breasts are fully developed before undergoing breast reduction surgery.
Patients considering breast reduction surgery should have realistic expectations for their results. Expectations should be thoroughly discussed with your plastic surgeon to discuss what may be realistically achieved and ensure the best possible results. The vast majority of patients are extremely satisfied with the outcome of their breast reduction.
It’s also important to note that patients who smoke are typically asked to temporarily quit to avoid complications and promote healing before and after a breast reduction.
