Breast Reduction

Breast Reduction surgery or Reduction mammaplasty is a reduction of the breast tissue to make the breast smaller and lighter. This commonly requested procedure helps in getting more proportionate breasts to one’s frame. It alleviates the immense physical (Back pain, neck pain, bad posture, fungal infection in the lower breast fold) and social discomfort that a woman may be feeling due to the large breast. It corrects the asymmetry in the areola area and breast sizes. Dr Sharmistha Bhattacharyya, a leading plastic surgeon and the founder of our esteemed clinic is known for offering breast reduction surgery that provides patients with desirable results.

When does one need Breast Reduction?

You may need breast reduction if you have:

• Large breasts disproportionate to your body frame that make you conscious in everyday life.
• Large breasts which have the areola that are pointed downwards
• Unhappy about breasts being too large.
• If one breast is larger than the other.
• Shoulder pain, neck pain and back pain due to the heavy breasts.
• Difficulty in breathing when you lie down due to the breasts pressing the neck region.
• Shoulder grooving due to bra straps
• Excess sweat or repetitive fungal infections due to the breast folds
• For the better fitting of clothes
• Betterment of poor posture.

What are the types of Breast reductions one can have?

The procedures of Breast reduction vary from patient to patient based on their unique needs. To provide effective and result-oriented breast reduction by Dr Sharmistha Bhattacharyya, our surgeon ensures to choose the right type. Although liposuction is performed in almost all breast reduction, it is used as an adjunctive procedure rather than the mainstay of treatment is usually used to reduce the fat component of the breasts and the sides. Alone liposuction will only benefit females where they have a substantial fat component in their breasts. This usually happens with post-menopausal women.

• Doughnut Incision: This is also called the peri-areolar approach. Again this is of limited use and pertains to only certain types of breasts.
• Lollipop incision: The lollipop incision is the most common method now used in breasts reduction worldwide. It has an incision around the areola and a line running vertically downwards from the areola to the breast crease.
• Anchor incision: In very large breast often anchor incision is utilized to give a pleasing shape to the breasts. This has an incision around the areola, vertically downwards to the crease and along the breasts crease.

How to prepare for the Breast reduction surgery?

• Please discuss your medical history, any prior medical conditions, and medications you are taking or allergic to.
• You may need to undergo certain blood investigations and radiological investigations.
• If you are more than 40 years of age you may need a mammogram.
• Stop smoking two weeks before the surgery.
• Stop taking blood-thinning medications.
• We request you to arrange for a responsible adult who could drive you to and fro to the designated facility and preferably stay with you for a night.

I am really concerned about the scars.

Aesthetic surgeons make all possible efforts to minimize and hide the scars of any procedures by their special suturing techniques and placing the scars in folds of skin. Although initially the scars do look prominent it fade away gradually. breast is one of the tissues where the scars really fade away over time and are discernible on very very close observation. The advantages that are got with the procedure outweigh the presence of scars multiple times. However, if one has a tendency of keloids and pigmented scars then one must bring it to the notice of the Plastic Surgeon.

Post-operative recovery at home

• You should wear a supportive garment for your breasts so that the breasts heal properly.
• You must have the medications as prescribed by your surgeon and visit as called.
• Stitch line care: Keep your stitch line as dry as possible. Normally dressings come off in a week.
• Removal of stitches: usually absorbable sutures are placed but if they need to be removed then they will be removed in 8-10 days.
• Soreness and pain: The breast settles down well after about a week of surgery.
• Swelling: Edema is present in tissues after any surgery. You can expect a good amount of settlement after two weeks.
• Activity: you can return to your routine activities gradually. Strenuous activity will have to wait for 6-12 weeks.

Complications and Risk

The serious side effects of breast reduction are very uncommon if done by an experienced Plastic Surgeon in an accredited facility. However, all surgical interventions come with certain risks which are usually very low:

• Anesthetic complications
• Collection of blood or body fluid
• Infection
• Sensation changes
• Scarring
• Allergic reactions

When should one not do breast reduction or who is not a candidate? Contradictions

• Abnormal mammograms
• Undiagnosed mass in the breasts
• Morbid obesity (One must first get the obesity corrected and subsequently get the breast surgery done)
• Currently Breastfeeding
• Coagulation disorders.
• Heart diseases that have contradictions for surgical intervention.

If you are in good health and have realistic expectation out of the procedure you will most likely benefit out of this procedure. The goal of every Plastic surgeon is to make you achieve your goal in the smoothest way possible. The support of the staff and the Surgeon go a long way in ensuring the same.