Mammaplasty reduction is a surgical procedure that reduces the volume and weight of a woman’s breasts. It is also effective for lifting breasts that have sagged due to age, childbirth, or any other natural cause.
Planning Your Breast Reduction Surgery
The Mamaplasty Consultation
The breast reduction consultation will determine if you are suitable candidate for the procedure. During the consultation, your full medical history, including childbirth and family planning, will be discussed. If you are a smoker, you will be asked to stop smoking 2 weeks before surgery. If you are significantly overweight then planned preoperative weight reduction will be encouraged but this alone does not necessarily rule you out for an operation. In some cases, the achievement of reduced breast size can become a stimulus for further planned weight loss. Depending on your age you may be required to have a mammogram prior to surgery. The current recommendation that all women above age of 40 should have mammogram prior to breast reduction surgery.
The Mamaplasty Surgery
The surgeon makes a circular incision around the areola. The surgeon then removes the excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin, and moves the nipple and areola into their new position.
In order to maintain blood-flow and preserve sensation in the nipple and areola, they remain attached to the breast by a thin stalk of tissue throughout this process.
This technique has been modified and refined throughout the years in order to improve safety as well as the aesthetic results.
The stitches are usually located around the areola, in a vertical line extending downward, and along the lower crease of the breast.
The procedure will usually take two to three hours, depending on the complexity of the case.
After Your Breast Reduction Surgery
A simple dressing will be applied to the chest area for a week after surgery.
This is necessary for effective healing.
Drainage tubes are applied if necessary to drain off excess fluids from the wounds and reduce the formation of bruises. If they are inserted, they will be removed after approximately 24 hours.
You will be going home either the same day or the day after your surgery.
An appointment will be arranged for you to come back and see your surgeon 7-10 days after your surgery, so he can remove your dressing and review the wound. Stitches usually dissolve and don’t require removal.
Getting Back to Work and Normal Activities
You will have to rest completely for the first 48 hours after surgery.
It is quite normal to experience a burning sensation during this time.
It may be possible to return to work after as little as four days but only if it does not require you to lift heavy objects.
Normal physical activity can be resumed after about a month.