Breast Reduction - Cosmetic Surgery Guide

Breast reduction surgery is a cosmetic procedure whereby a surgeon removes excess fat and breast tissue from your breasts. Although considered to be a cosmetic procedure, breast reduction surgery is often performed for medical reasons.

Medical Reasons for Having Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction surgery can be performed on a medical basis to treat the problems caused by excessively large breasts. These problems include:

Headaches
Shoulder pain
Neck pain
Back pain
Poor posture
Skin rashes or irritations underneath the breasts
Skin infections underneath the breasts
Struggling to breath
The inability to participate in physical activity
Self consciousness
Lack of self esteem
Depression

All of these symptoms, which are commonly caused by having excessively large breasts, can be treated with breast reduction surgery. Where the problems are considered severe, enough it is also possible to have the procedure carried out on the NHS, although many people decide to have it done privately.

Cosmetic Reasons for Having Breast Reduction Surgery

As well as the medical reasons, there are also many cosmetic reasons for having breast reduction surgery. Having large breasts can be detrimental to your appearance if they are out of proportion with your body. This can cause you to look much bigger than you are as you are forced to wear overlarge clothing to cover your breasts. It can also have an impact on the clothes that you wear meaning that you do not wear revealing or attractive clothing for fear of drawing attention to your breasts.

Breast reduction surgery can improve your appearance by making your breasts more proportionate to your body. This can allow you to wear correctly fitting clothing that draws attention to your figure rather than highlighting your breasts.

How is Breast Reduction Surgery Effective?

Breast reduction surgery is used to remove breast tissue and fat from the breasts. This makes your breasts smaller, more even, and less saggy. The amount of tissue that is removed from your breasts varies from patient to patient. This is dependent on the size of your breasts to begin with, your expectations from the surgery, and any complications that may arise from removing too much tissue from your breasts.

Getting Breast Reduction Surgery

In order to have breast reduction surgery you first need to find a qualified surgeon who is experienced in performing the surgery. The best way to do this is to first research the procedure so that you have a basic understanding of what happens and what can be expected. You can then find several practitioners using the General Medical Council.

You can then research the surgeons, looking for any patient testimonies or complaints. Once you have created a short list of possible practitioners, you will be able to meet them for a consultation. During these meetings, you will be able to judge which surgeon you are most comfortable with.

You will need to discuss what you expect from surgery with your surgeon. You will also need to give them a detailed account of your medical history and any medications that you are taking. This account should contain any herbal remedies or supplements that you take. You will then be given details about how to prepare for your surgery. You should follow these carefully to ensure that you get the best possible results.

What Happens During Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction surgery is performed whilst you are under a general anaesthetic. This means that you will be asleep during the procedure so that you do not feel any pain or discomfort. The surgeon will mark your breasts and place incisions around the nipple and down to the base of the breast. They may also place an incision underneath the breast. The nipple is pulled upwards and tissue is removed from beneath it. Once the desired amount of tissue is removed, the skin is shaped to your new breasts and any excess skin is removed. You are up to four days after your breast reduction surgery.

Recovery from Breast Reduction Surgery

The recovery from breast reduction surgery is a long process that can last up to twelve months. You will need to take between two and six weeks off work, as you will not be able to do any heavy lifting or strenuous activities for at least six weeks after your surgery.

Initially you will spend a lot of time resting and will not be able to go about your normal daily activities. As a result of this, you will need someone at hand to help you to cook and clean. You will also need to take pain- killers during this time to relieve the discomfort caused by your surgery. The stitches will be removed between one and two weeks, unless they are dissolvable. Once they have gone you will be able to do more activities.

Results of Breast Reduction Surgery

The results of your breast reduction surgery will be largely dependent on the decisions made by you and your surgeon. The final results may not be visible for up to twelve months when all of the swelling has gone down and the scarring has begun to fade. In order to get the results that you expect you should be honest about your expectations from the start. You should also ensure that you use an experienced and reputable surgeon.

You should be left with breasts that are small enough not to cause you discomfort or prevent you from doing the things that you want to do. Your breasts should also appear to be fairly even, although it is impossible to get them to be perfectly symmetrical.

If you are unhappy with the results of your surgery, you should talk to your surgeon about this. If your unhappiness is as a result of their failure to deliver the service that they promised, they should rectify their mistakes.

Risks of Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction surgery is an extremely risky surgery due to the length of the procedure and the recovery time. The risks include:

Infection and tissue death
Deep vein thrombosis
Loss of nipple sensation
Loss of blood
Disappointment in the results
Scarring
Asymmetry
Reaction to the general anaesthetic
Loss of the nipple where it is attached by skin graft
Inability to breast feed

What is Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction surgery is an operation during which excess tissue and skin is removed from your breasts. This involves reshaping your breasts and repositioning your nipples to give a natural appearance.

Uses of Breast Reduction Surgery

The primary use of breast reduction surgery is to relieve the problems caused by large breasts by making them smaller. These problems include:

Back and shoulder pain
Bra straps cutting into the shoulders
Sweating, rashes, and infections in the folds under the breasts
Lack of confidence and self- esteem caused by large breasts
Difficulty breathing, especially at night

Breast reduction surgery can also be used to make your breasts more symmetrical if one has grown much larger than the other has. It can also be used to reduce the risk of breast cancer if you are at high risk, although it is unable to eliminate the risk.

Breast reduction surgery is used by both men and women who are suffering because of the size of their breasts.

Why Do Breasts Grow So Large?

Different people's breasts grow to different sizes at different times of life. This is caused by a number of factors including genetics, hormone levels, the shape of your body, and your weight. Breast size tends to be in proportion to body size but in some women, they can be disproportionately large.

This growth can be as a result of puberty during which the levels of oestrogen rise. Breasts are sensitive to this hormone and can grow rapidly as a result of it. The breasts can also grow in post- menopausal women because of hormone changes. They can also become excessively large after you have had a hysterectomy as a result of the hormone replacement therapy, also known as HRT, which you will receive.

Is Breast Reduction Surgery Cosmetic Surgery?

Breast reduction is normally considered to be cosmetic surgery as it is generally undergone to improve your physical appearance. However, in other cases it can be done for medical reasons. The surgery is still considered to be cosmetic; however, you will have more funding options available.

Breast Reduction Surgery

During breast reduction surgery, you will be placed under a general anaesthetic for up to five hours. During this time, cuts will be made around your nipples and underneath your breasts with and incision joining the two. The excess tissue and fat will then be removed. After this, the extra skin is removed so that your skin will mould to your new breasts. The incisions will then be stitched up and the recovery process will begin.

What is Achieved through Breast Reduction Surgery?

The results of breast reduction surgery will vary based on the size of your breasts to begin with, the reasons for which you are having surgery, and your expectations. Generally, the outcome will be smaller breasts, which are less heavy and more firm. Once the healing process is complete, you should be free of the discomfort caused by large breasts. You will also find that your breasts are more equal in shape and size as a result of the surgery.