Breast reduction is surgery to reduce the size of the breasts.
Alternative NamesReduction mammoplasty
DescriptionBreast reduction surgery is usually done under general anesthesia. You will be asleep and pain-free. Or, you may have local anesthesia. You will be awake and will receive medicine to numb your breast area to block pain. If you have local anesthesia, you will also receive medicine to relax you.
For a breast reduction, the surgeon removes some of the breast tissue and skin. Your nipples may be moved higher to center them, for cosmetic reasons.
In the most common procedure,
The operation can last 2 - 5 hours.
Why the Procedure Is PerformedBreast reduction may be recommended for you if you have very large breasts (macromastia) and:
Some women may benefit from non-surgical treatments, such as losing excess weight, exercising to strengthen their back and shoulder muscles, and supportive Bras.
RisksBreast reduction is generally safe. Ask your doctor about these complications.
Risks for any surgery are:
Risks for any anesthesia are:
Risks for this procedure are:
If you smoke, you must stop. Women who smoke after breast surgery have a greater chance of slow wound (incision) healing, infection, and scarring. You must even avoid breathing in secondhand smoke.
Always tell your doctor or nurse:
During the days before surgery:
On the day of your surgery:
You may have to stay overnight in the hospital.
After surgery, a bulky gauze dressing (bandage) will be wrapped around your breasts and chest, and drainage tubes may be attached to your breasts. These tubes will be removed within 3 to 5 days. You will remove the ace wrap, bra, or dressings after surgery, as your doctor has told you.
Within the first week, you will replace your dressing with a soft bra. You must wear this bra for several weeks.
Your pain should decrease in a few days. Take pain medicine to control it. Be sure to take the medicine with food and plenty of water. Do not apply ice or heat to your breasts unless your doctor has told you that is okay.
Within a few days, the swelling and bruising around your incisions should disappear. You may have a temporary loss of sensationin your breast skin and nipples after surgery. Sensation will return over time. Your stitches will be removed within 2 weeks after surgery.
Outlook (Prognosis)You are likely to have a very good outcome from breast reduction surgery. You may feel better about your appearance and be more comfortable with various activities. Pain or skin symptoms, such as striation, will disappear. You may need to wear a special supporting bra for a few months to reshape your breasts.
Scars are permanent. While they will be more visible for the first year they will then fade. The doctor will make every effort to place the incisions so that scars are hidden. Most of the time, the scars should not be noticeable, even in low-cut clothing (incisions are usually made on the underside of the breast).
ReferencesBurns JL, Blackwell SJ. Plastic surgery. In: Townsend CM, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 73.
Brown JR, Holton LH 3rd, Chung TL, Slezak S. Breast-feeding, self-exam, and exercise practices before and after reduction mammoplasty. Ann Plast Surg. 2008 Oct;61(4):375-9.
Handschin AE, Bietry D, Husler R, Banic A, Constantinescu M. Surgical management of gynecomastia--a 10-year analysis. World J Surg. 2008 Jan;32(1):38-44.
The process of breast reduction in males is the same as breast reduction in women, however the male breast reduction is called "Gynecomastia". A breast reduction is the reduction via surgery to reduce the size of large breasts, or to implant breast silicon to make a breast larger. The "American Society of Plastic Surgeons" offer information of male breast reduction.
Breast reduction may also be called reduction mammaplasty
You cannot physically purchase breast reduction online. You can go online and do a search of places that you can go to to get a breast reduction; as well as learn if breast reduction is right for you. You can also talk to your doctor about breast reduction options available nearby. Good luck!
get breast reduction
you can start with a quote or statistic. or something attention grabbing, about breast reduction.
No, she had a breast reduction! :-(
Yes she got a breast reduction sometime around 2005 but she still does work in the industry
Alexia is natural breast reduction is a safe alternative to breast reduction surgery. Alexia breast reduction pills have helped many women obtain smaller breasts naturally. Alexia is a 100% safe and natural herbal supplement that has been reported to show significant breast reduction, up to 50%.
does blue cross blue shield ppo for breast reduction
Someone can find breast reduction photos at a local Web MD US clinic. One can also find breast reduction photos on the official website of the clinic Web MD.
There is a lot of speculation that weather lady Jackie Johnson had a breast reduction. These rumors started when she lost a decent bit of weight, she has not publicly said if she had a reduction or not.
Multiple breast reduction surgery patients have had relief to back with breast reduction surgery. This web address , http://www.plasticsurgery.org/Patients_and_Consumers/Patient_Stories/Breast_Reduction.html , will help if you have more questions.