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Breast reduction not only improves the size,
but also the shape, of overly large breasts. The condition of oversized
breasts is called breast hypertrophy. Breast hypertrophy may develop
at any time: at puberty, during teenage growth years, or after
childbirth. The condition often causes problems such as back pain,
bra strap pain and irritation of the skin under the breasts. Patients
with very large breasts may have difficulty with physical activities
such as tennis or jogging. They also may have problems dressing,
particularly in today's popular athletic wear.
Patients as young
as 14 and as old as 70 have had successful breast reduction. In younger patients,
the surgery may be performed once breast size has been stable
for at least one year. When breast hypertrophy is significant,
insurance may cover some or all of the costs of surgery. Proof
of medical necessity usually can be determined through your request
for preauthorization for the procedure.
Breast hypertrophy is characterized by
three anatomic problems:
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excessive glandular tissue;
-
excessive and/or loose skin over the gland; and
-
low placement of the nipple areolar complex.
Breast reduction surgery (reduction mammoplasty)
corrects all three by reducing the size of the gland, repositioning
the nipple and reshaping the breast.
Based on your age and breast size, the
surgeon chooses one of several possible techniques to reposition
the nipple. Then, a portion of the glandular tissue is removed
and the loose skin tightened to support and shape the reduced
breast. The resulting scars are located around the nipple and
in front of and under the breast, in the breast crease.
Reduction mammoplasty usually is performed
on an outpatient basis or with a one-night hospital stay. After
surgery, a large, bulky dressing will be placed around your chest,
and a small tube, called a drain, may be used to remove blood
or fluid (serum) from the surgical area. The dressing will be
changed and the drain removed two or three days after surgery.
You will be given a soft postoperative bra to wear continuously
for three weeks, except during bathing.
You should not wear underwire
bras or participate in impact exercises or athletics during this
time. Patients usually return to work, school or other routines
10
to 14 days after surgery.
Complications from reduction mammoplasty
are unusual. Occasionally, there may be a change in nipple sensation,
but this is usually temporary. There have been rare instances
of nipple damage.
Click
here for more before-and-after Breast Reduction photos.
Visit our
plastic /
cosmetic surgery
office located in
Portland, Maine (ME).
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