Breast Reduction

Breasts that are too large and not proportionate to the body can cause problems that limit a person's freedom, such as not being able to wear the clothes she wants and have the desired posture, as opposed to being an element of beauty. In addition, excessively large breasts could cause serious health problems. A breast reduction surgery that is appropriately planned helps one to have natural looking breasts with ideal size and vitality.

What is Breast Reduction Surgery?

It is an operation performed to reduce the existing volume of the breast and bring it to the ideal form targeted for aesthetic and health reasons.

Why is it done?

It is applied to resolve undesired conditions caused by overly large breasts, including back, neck and shoulder pain, poor posture, difficulty in breathing, depression on shoulders due to bra straps, loss of strength and numbness in hands due to compression of arm and hand nerves in shoulders, rash, eczema or fungal infections that may appear under the breasts, restricted physical activities. All these conditions cause not only physical but also psychological and social problems in women.

Why do breasts grow?

Breast tissue may grow for reasons such as hereditary characteristics, hormonal changes, fibrocystic mastopathy, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight gain.

How should right breast shape and size be determined?

In order for breasts to look beautiful, they should have a volume and form in proportion to the body they are in. First of all, it should be ensured that the patient meets necessary health criteria. The aim of breast reduction surgery is to create a form that is proportional to the body and completely symmetrical.

How is Breast Reduction Surgery performed?

By a method chosen according to the condition of the patient in order to bring the breast size down to a desired size, excess tissue and skin are removed from the breasts, and the nipples are positioned correctly without removing them from the breasts, which also enables a breast lift, does not prevent breastfeeding and cause any loss of sensation.

How long does Breast Reduction Surgery take?

Breast reduction surgery usually takes 2-4 hours although this varies according to the technique to be employed and the size of breasts.

Is breast reduction a painful procedure?

You may have a mild ache for a few days after the operation. While moving your arms, you might have mild pain, which can be relieved with simple painkillers.

Type of Anesthesia

General anesthesia method is used in breast reduction surgery.

Before Breast Reduction Surgery

First of all, you should determine your expectations about the operation very well and tell them to your surgeon. You should share your personal and family history of illness and then have a medical examination. After necessary workups and examinations, breast volume, breast nipple location and size in proportion to your body size should be determined.

Who can have Breast Reduction Surgery?

Generally, surgery is considered for patients without any contraindications to surgery, established as a result of examinations and tests, whose breasts growth is not related to a hormonal cause, whose breasts have stopped growing over the last 6 months, have completed their development and need to be reduced.

Doctor Selection

If you intend to have breast reduction surgery, you should consult and be examined by a plastic surgeon who is an expert in their field. Careful examination, a complete physical examination and detailed consultation with a specialist are very important, as breast reduction will be achieved by various techniques according to the condition of the breasts.

Things to consider before surgery

It is important to ensure that your operation is scheduled to take place at a time outside your menses period. You should avoid smoking for a total of 30 days, including 15 days before and after surgery. You should avoid taking blood thinners for 10 days before surgery. You shouldn't drink alcohol over the last 48 hours. If you develop ailments, including flu, cold, sore throat, you should inform the doctor.

After breast reduction surgery

The post-operative process is usually problem free; you'll probably have minimal pain, if you have any. You might have mild ache with movement of arms or cough.

Things to consider after surgery

If you lie in a slight sitting position, any edema or pains you might have will subside more quickly. Do not smoke during recovery period. After the 8th day, you may have a warm bath, resume normal daily activity and work by wearing a sports bra but you should limit arm movements for about 15 days. You should wear your sports bra for up to 8 weeks. Avoid physical contact to your chest region and strenuous sports and activities for the first two months.

Recovery Process

At postop 4 hours, you'll be made to walk and be started on oral nutrition. You should stay at the hospital for one day. You can be discharged the next day if you have no problem.

Drains will be removed during your discharge if blood drainage is less than a certain quantity or left in place for removal on day 4. The recovery period may vary according to each patient. Antibiotics and painkillers are given for one week for protection. On day 4, the first dressing is performed and drains are removed.

On day 8, the second dressing is performed. If absorbable sutures are used, they do not have to be removed. (If permanent sutures are used, they will be removed on about day 15.) Only suture lines are closed with thin tapes. You'll wear a soft and elastic sports bra that completely covers and supports the breasts for 8 weeks.

After having the second dressing, you can resume normal daily activities and work. Edema and bruises in the surgical site will heal in 2-3 weeks.

After a few months, the lower edges of breasts acquire their normal shape and the breasts fall into place. Scars begin to remit. It takes about one year for breasts to acquire their final shape and scars to become unnoticeable.

At 6 and 12 months after breast reduction surgery, you'll have a follow up examination as well as ultrasonography.

Price of Breast Reduction Surgery

A personalized pricing is applied because a patient may require non-routine workups before surgery or for reasons such as the structure of the breasts and the method to be chosen for the procedure.

What are the risks of breast reduction surgery?

Following any surgical intervention, certain undesired results can occur. Such problems can be mostly corrected with small revisions following recovery of the respective region. The surgeon should tell all potential risks to the patient, although they will not occur in the majority of patients who will undergo breast reduction surgery. These risks are increased in patients with heart, vascular and blood diseases, low resistance, diabetes patients, the elderly and smokers.

Though they occur rarely,

1. Early risks include bleeding, infection, allergic reactions, wound disintegration, nipple necrosis.
2. Late risks include excessive firmness of the breast, changes in nipple or breast skin sensation, breastfeeding problem, asymmetry.

Frequently asked questions about breast reduction

Will there be any scar left after surgery?

Factors such as the technique and care used in the surgery, skin type of the patient are effective on postoperative scars. Scars might be initially more pronounced and reddish but they soften over time to turn pink and white in color and become less noticeable. They mostly become very faint and become hardly noticeable as a very thin line at the end of one year.

The large size of a breast is only associated with fattening, and where its form is already smooth, the breast size can be reduced by removing excess fat using liposuction method. The advantage of this situation is that there is no incision scar after the procedure.

Can I breastfeed after Breast Reduction Surgery?

The breast mainly comprises mammary glands and ducts. As some of the mammary glands and ducts are affected during breast reduction surgery, partial or total loss of the function of milk production may occur. If the extent of reduction is low and the amount of tissue removed from mammary glands is not high, techniques that do not impair the connection between the nipple and mammary ducts are employed, it is possible to produce normal or almost normal amount of milk after the procedure. Scientific publications have reported that most mammary ducts are reactivated and capable of producing milk 2-3 years after breast reduction surgery.

If you intend to breastfeed, you should definitely discuss this with your surgeon before surgery.

Is it possible to have smaller breasts without surgery?

There is no valid method for breast reduction other than surgical intervention. In some cases, breast volume may vary slightly for hormonal reasons, due to pregnancy and excess weight gain and loss.

When can I resume work after surgery?

You can resume work on day 8 following surgery. Care should be taken to avoid straining arm movements up to day 15.

Will there be loss of sensation in nipple after surgery?

Transient loss of sensation may develop on nipple due to some nerves that have been cut during surgery, and such loss will resolve after a few months. In the case of extremely large breasts, the nipples should be completely released and permanent loss of sensation may occur after surgery.

Are there any breast reduction exercises?

Regular exercise is beneficial for strengthening chest muscles but does not lead to any certain change of volume.

When can I travel?

You can travel 1 week later, provided you don't skip your follow up appointments, and you're advised to avoid driving for about 2 weeks.

What happens if I gain weight?

Excessive weight changes, pregnancy, breastfeeding and gravity can lead to increased breast volume and sagging again. In that case, it is not inconvenient to repeat the procedure provided that the technique used in the first operation is known to the surgeon.