Breast Reduction Surgery

Heavy pendulous breasts look ungainly and ugly especially if the person has a small build. They create problems, which are not only aesthetic but physical as well. The person cannot comfortably walk or run or jump with such heavy breasts. Also they need a different bikini size for the top and the bottom. Dress size may also need to be altered to suit their physical incongruity. They may get muscular pain in the back or the arms because of the size. And it is not only women who may want to reduce their breasts, some men also do.

There are several types of plastic surgeries, which can reduce the size bringing them to a comfortable and normal size. Reduction mammoplasty or breast reduction as it is also called, is an outpatient surgical procedure. Excising fat, skin and glandular tissues reduces the size of the breasts. It may also involve a technique to counteract the drooping of breasts especially gigantomastia.

Liposuction is one where the excess fat is sucked out through this method. This may be followed by a breast lift procedure to make the breasts look normal and attractive. Inferior pedicle and vertical scar techniques are the two most common and popular techniques used for breast reduction. The former is also known as the keyhole or Weiss pattern reduction. It involves making an incision which is anchor shaped and which circles the areolas. The incision extends downwards following the natural curve of the breast. The extra tissues, fat and skin are removed and the nipple and the areola moved into a new higher position. This may sometimes leave a ‘square’ shape to the breasts.

In the vertical scar technique, which is also called the SPAIR technique, is now popular because it has minimal scarring and the breasts have a round shape after surgery. The operating surgeon performs a lollipop incision to the breast, which causes the least amount of scarring. Removing lateral and inferior tissues leaving the other parts untouched reduces the breast. It gives the best results. Liposuction is used for women who do not have very large breasts. Their nipples do not change position as only fat is removed and the skin is intact. This method is not as drastic as the other two, is cheaper, and has less healing time and less pain and costs less money. This is generally the method used for men.

As in all other plastic surgeries, the chosen breast reduction surgeons should be board certified, experienced and one on whom the patient has full trust. The surgery may take three to four hours. Healing may take a few days with the breasts feeling tender and painful in the beginning. Some women experience pain and discomfort during the first period after the breast reduction surgery.

The risks may be of scar formation, asymmetry among the breasts, the nipples may not be or required height and breast-feeding may not be possible.