Breast reduction, also commonly known as reduction mammaplasty, is a cosmetic procedure where the size of the breasts is reduced by removing fat, skin, and glandular tissue from the area. It is a surgery commonly undertaken by women whose quality of life has been negatively affected by their oversized breasts.

Problems Caused by Oversized Breasts

Larger breasts bring about a number of issues. If the size of the breasts is disproportionately larger than the frame of the body, it can cause back pain and neck pain on an everyday basis. Many women also feel that their breast size restricts them from performing certain physical activities like exercise and sports.

Larger breasts also cause irritation under the area of the breasts, causing this area to develop rashes. By reducing the size of the breasts, this skin condition and the feeling of constant skin irritation can be alleviated.

Some women also feel uncomfortable with the size and shape of their breasts. They choose to undergo a breast-reduction surgery in order to address this discomfort. Another reason why a patient may opt for a breast-reduction surgery is to restore symmetry to the breasts.

Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Reduction?

A breast-reduction surgery provides long-lasting results, but there are two categories of patients who should consider postponing the procedure.

The first are women who are planning to get pregnant in the future. Since pregnancy involves a natural increase in the size of the breasts followed by a decrease, it can negatively affect the results of the procedure. It is best to wait on breast reduction in these cases.

Women who are in the process of losing weight through diet and exercise should also wait to see the results of their weight loss before they opt for this treatment. This is because the size of the breasts often decreases naturally with a decline in weight.

What Should You Expect from a Breast-Reduction Surgery?

A breast reduction can be performed as an outpatient procedure depending upon the details of the case. If the surgery is more intensive, Dr. Martin may recommend a one-night stay at the hospital for aftercare. In all other cases, the patient can go home the same day.

The procedure typically takes between two to five hours to complete. Dr. Martin will make an incision and from there will remove the amount of skin, glandular tissue, and fat needed to give the patient the breast size and shape that they want. Dr. Martin then closes the area using sutures and wraps the breasts in a special bandage.

Aftercare Following Breast Reduction

The patient will need to take a week off from work after breast reduction in order to let their body heal. Dr. Martin may also recommend that the patient not perform any strenuous physical activities for a month.

By this time, the breasts will have healed and the effects of the breast-reduction surgery will become visible. Breast-reduction surgeries come with a very high rate of satisfaction from patients who have undergone the procedure.

Find Out More with a Consultation

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Kurtis Martin has years of experience with aesthetic and functional procedures and will be available to answer your questions. Take the first step – contact our office to schedule your informative breast-reduction consultation.