What's involved with a breast reduction?
A reduction mammoplasty, or breast reduction, involves reducing volume by removing breast tissue, and reshaping the breast skin and nipple position to provide a smaller and more youthful appearance to your breasts. Typically patients with larger breasts have back pain, shoulder pain, bra strap grooving, and may also experience rashes in the breast creases and posture problems. Patients may also feel self conscious or embarrassed about their large breasts, and their breasts may even interfere with the ability to exercise or lose weight. Bras and certain clothing may be difficult to find in the correct size. Frequently, the breasts also tend to droop because of their heaviness. The excess weight is made up of both glandular (breast) tissue and adipose (fatty) tissue.
The breast reduction procedure accomplishes a few important goals to improve the breasts and patient symptoms:
There are a variety of different breast reduction surgical techniques. Dr. Sharma will go over your options during the consultation and determine what will work best for you. Incisions may be placed around the the areola and vertically below the areola (lollipop scar) for a vertical breast reduction technique. This procedure works well for mild to moderate reduction volumes. Another common technique involves placing the scar around the areola, vertically below the areola, and horizontally along the breast crease (anchor scar). Dr. Sharma will discuss the pros and cons of each of the scars with you to determine what is best for your individual needs. In order to minimize the length of scars, and provide the best appearance of your breasts, Dr. Sharma may also discuss the use of liposuction to the sides of the breast to get you the look you deserve.
The breast reduction procedure accomplishes a few important goals to improve the breasts and patient symptoms:
- reduce the breast volume by removing excess breast tissue
- raise the nipple into a better more elevated youthful position on the breast mound
- maintain stable blood supply to the nipple
- improve symmetry of the two breasts
- improve the overall breast shape
- reduce the excess skin and re-drape it to provide a more well-defined skin envelope to support the breast
- provide a lasting result
- improve the symptoms of pain in the back, neck, and/or shoulder
There are a variety of different breast reduction surgical techniques. Dr. Sharma will go over your options during the consultation and determine what will work best for you. Incisions may be placed around the the areola and vertically below the areola (lollipop scar) for a vertical breast reduction technique. This procedure works well for mild to moderate reduction volumes. Another common technique involves placing the scar around the areola, vertically below the areola, and horizontally along the breast crease (anchor scar). Dr. Sharma will discuss the pros and cons of each of the scars with you to determine what is best for your individual needs. In order to minimize the length of scars, and provide the best appearance of your breasts, Dr. Sharma may also discuss the use of liposuction to the sides of the breast to get you the look you deserve.
Am I a Good Candidate?
Healthy, non-smoking patients who have these features of their breasts typically make good candidates for a breast reduction procedure:
It is important to have some idea as to how small you would like your breasts to be. While breast cup sizes can be quite variable depending on the bra manufacturer, knowing your current and ideal breast cup sizes will help determine what operation is best for you. Dr. Sharma will review the pros and cons of the various types of breast reduction techniques with you during your consultation, and whether or not you are an appropriate candidate for this procedure.
- excess breast volume
- low-lying nipple position
- sagging (ptotic) breasts
- breast asymmetry - one breast larger than the other
- stretch marks (striae) on the breast skin
- a desire to improve the shape of the breasts and feel more confident with smaller breasts
- back, neck, or shoulder pain due to large breasts
- realistic goals and expectations
It is important to have some idea as to how small you would like your breasts to be. While breast cup sizes can be quite variable depending on the bra manufacturer, knowing your current and ideal breast cup sizes will help determine what operation is best for you. Dr. Sharma will review the pros and cons of the various types of breast reduction techniques with you during your consultation, and whether or not you are an appropriate candidate for this procedure.