Questions about Breast Reduction Surgery

Are there any alternatives to breast reductionsurgery?

If you can lose weight, this generally willreduce the size of your breasts. You can try this first; however, many womenwill continue to have large breasts even when they are thin.

Liposuction of the breasts can be effectivein reducing the size of your breasts without causing major scarring. But manywomen do not opt for this tactic, because liposuction often causes your breaststo become saggy since the size of your skin is not reduced.

What is the long-term outcome like for mostpeople?

Breast reduction has one of themost immediate and dramatic results of all plastic surgery procedures. Firstand foremost, you will find that your chronic physical pain and discomfort hassubsided. Your body will be better proportioned, and your clothes will have abetter fit. Although you may have yearned for these changes for a while, manywomen still need some time to adjust to their new body, physically and emotionally.

A highly qualified cosmetic surgeonwill make the incisions as subtle as possible, but the scarring from thissurgery is fairly extensive. They are often long, and they can remain pink orbrown for several years. On the other hand, the scars will be in areas that arenot seen unless you are topless. They can be hidden by most bathing suits.

Also, the possibility of breast feeding inthe future may not be possible, because this procedure removes many of the milkducts that lead to your nipples.

What type ofscarring can I expect and it is always permanent?

Depending on themethod used during surgery, breast reduction scars can range from a small scarnear the underarm for a liposucation breast reduction to anchor-shaped scarsthat run you’re your nipple to the bottom of your breast.

If you arehealthy and do not smoke, chances are that you will heal faster and with fewercomplications. However, scars from a breast reduction procedure are permanent.They often fade with time until they become barely visible, but they may neverdisappear forever. You will be able to wear a bra, bathing suit and low-cuttops without the scars showing.

We do not adviseavoiding breast reduction surgery because of the possibility of permanentscarring, since the benefits of this procedure often outweigh the appearance ofscars.

How long do theresults of breast reduction surgery last?

After theprocedure is completed, your breasts will be forever smaller than they wereprior to the surgery. However, some patients who have gained weight, becamepregnant or start, to take hormone pills following surgery will experienceschanges in the size of their breasts.

Also, gravity may causeyour altered breasts to sag over time. If this happens, you can have a breastlift procedure to lift and tighten your breasts, if desired.

What isthe recovery period like?

Following surgery, it can take anywhere fromsix months to a year for your breasts to settle into their new shape. However,any bruising and swelling should disappear within the first several weeks. Youshould not lift anything or push any heavy objects for at least three to fourweeks. Depending on how fast you heal, you may be able to exercise as soon astwo weeks after your breast reduction procedure.