Breast Reduction Provides Numerous Health Benefits

Unless you’re a fuller figured gal, it’s hard to understand how difficult it can be to have a large bust.  Even teenage girls can have this problem, which may lead to various issues that have an enormous influence on health, lifestyle, and shopping alternatives.

According to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, breast reduction is a cosmetic surgical procedure that reduces the size and weight of large, heavy breasts, and helps create a more aesthetically pleasing breast contour that is better proportioned to a patient’s body.  The surgeon removes excess breast tissue, fat, and sagging skin, which improves breast symmetry, makes the breasts smaller, lighter and firmer, and eliminates sagging.

Large breasts contribute to physical symptoms such as back, shoulder, and neck pain, along with shoulder indentations from bra straps, skin irritation, and poor posture.  They can also exacerbate asthma symptoms.  Physical activity can be cumbersome and difficult, even painful; this keeps many women from exercising, which would result in weight loss and a natural reduction in breast size. 

Although often considered a cosmetic procedure, breast reduction surgery can provide the patient with health benefits.  Physical pain should disappear, along with skin problems and shoulder indentations.  Patients will be able to participate in sports and other activities, allowing them to get and stay healthier.  They will be able to find clothing that fits well.  Confidence and self-esteem will be improved, along with an overall quality of life.

Breast reduction surgeries typically take 3-4 hours depending on the size of the breasts.  It is an outpatient surgery and is usually not very painful.  The patient will need 4-5 days off work, and 6 weeks for a complete recovery.  We recommend that prospective patients contact their insurance company for coverage details.  Rubrics are used to determine qualification for coverage; in general, the less you weigh and the more that needs to be removed, the better the chances that insurance will cover the procedure.

Surgery and Incision Placement

Techniques for performing a breast reduction do vary among surgeons.  

An “anchor” incision is one of the most commonly used techniques during this surgery. During this approach, an incision is made around the areola, which extends down to follow the natural curve and crease of the breast. It is also referred to as an inverted “T” incision.

Dr Paresi uses a ‘Vertical Scar’ breast reduction technique in about 90% of patients.  This eliminates the need for the transverse scar on the underside of the breast crease and decreases the overall scar burden for the patient.  It also allows for better re-positioning of the breast tissue to better shape the breast tissue and give an improved aesthetic appearance.

Once the breast is resized and reshaped, the nipple and areola will be repositioned and then the lift will be performed so the breast sits higher on the chest.  The incisions will generally include absorbable stitches on the inside of the breast. There are variations to this incision pattern that can be used depending on breast size and aesthetic goals.