If you have large breasts, other people may think it’s desirable, but you know about the chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain that often results from a larger bustline. Some people with large breasts are in nearly constant pain.
While you could take prescription painkillers to manage the pain, this is a less-than-ideal solution for many reasons. A more permanent solution is breast reduction, also known as a reduction mammoplasty. The specialists at Advanced Plastic Surgery Center explain more about what breast reduction involves and whether or not it might be a good solution for you.
What is breast reduction?
A breast reduction surgery reduces the size of your breasts. In getting this procedure, you’ll likely lose a lot of the pressure that your breasts put on your back, neck, and shoulders.
Other benefits of removing the excess fat and tissue from your breasts include the following:
- Improved ease of participating in activities
- More streamlined appearance
- Eliminated or reduced nerve pain
- Fewer rashes and infections of the skin below your breasts
- Eliminated grooves in your shoulders from bra straps
- Relieves emotional distress
If your breasts are large enough to be considered when deciding what to wear or which activities to take part in, you may benefit from having the size of your breasts reduced.
Benefits for men and women
Both men and women can benefit from having their breast size reduced. Some men have a problem called gynecomastia, which refers to growing excess breast tissue where none is wanted.
Whether you’re male or female, you can have more confidence in your body when your breast size is reduced.
What to expect from the procedure
You may wonder about what to expect from breast reduction surgery. Here’s a guideline of what you can generally expect.
Consultation
When you make an appointment for a consultation about breast reduction, the doctor will tell you about the procedure and what your expectations should be from it.
While you may have a target bust size, the doctor will let you know how realistic it is. We often have to adjust the placement of your nipples, which may or may not work with the cup size you’re expecting.
If you smoke–even socially–we’ll ask you to quit before the procedure. Your healing time is significantly affected by smoking, so we ask that you commit to being smoke-free before getting surgery.
In addition, you’ll want to be within about 10 pounds of your goal weight or at least have a relatively stable weight. Future weight gain can cause your breasts to grow again, which could undo the reasons for your surgery.
Coming in for surgery
When you come in for your breast reduction surgery, we’ll first have a list of pre-surgical instructions you’ll need to follow.
We’ll also get you started with anesthesia, keeping you from feeling pain during the procedure. Your doctor will make an incision in your breasts to remove the excess fat and tissue. These incisions may also be used to reposition your nipples.
After the surgery, you can usually go home the same day, but you’ll want to be prepared because your recovery may have some challenging moments.
Recovery and aftercare
After the surgery, you will usually NOT be sent home with drains to catch any leaking fluid or tissue. Instead, the doctor usually wraps your chest tightly with compression bandages.
Most people opt to have 450-600 grams of fat and glandular tissue removed, although your amount is individually customized to what will make you look and feel your best. Most people lose a couple of pounds after the procedure. It’s less than what it feels like, however. You will likely feel much lighter after the procedure and your recovery.
You’ll want to avoid any heavy lifting until the doctor clears you for doing so. It is a major surgery, so you should not be surprised that the recovery is not a walk in the park. However, according to the plastic surgery site RealSelf, 97% of those who had the procedure say it was “worth it.”
If you are tired of living with the aches and pains caused by your large breasts, contact us for a consultation with Advanced Plastic Surgery Center specialists or request an appointment online.
