Know Everything about Breast Reduction

Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is an operation performed on those with disproportionately large breasts with respect to their body. It aims to remove excess tissue, skin and fat from the breasts thereby decreasing their overall volume.

It is typically recommended to those with bigger breasts that cause neck and back pain, rashes, difficulty in breathing and other problems. It is also a potential solution for men who suffer from conditions such as gynecomastia (abnormal enlargement of male breasts) and also for women who suffer from nerve pain.

The need for this procedure is often self diagnosable but still requires professional medical consultation with a board certified surgeon. If you suffer from self image issues related to large breasts, or they impede the normal flow of life and daily activity, then reduction mammaplasty may be the answer for you. It can help eliminate discomfort from excessively large breasts and change them to a size more realistic for and proportionate to your body.

Breast reduction surgery is very common for women and many women undergo it to improve the quality of life. The success rate is quite high with most patients reporting that their symptoms were resolved after the procedure, risks are minimal and failures are very less.

There are multiple types of breast reduction surgeries available that involve different surgical means. You can decide on the one that works best for you after consulting your surgeon. These include:

• Liposuction- A faster method of breast reduction for larger breasts made up of mostly fatty tissue that is less invasive and leaves minimal scarring. The procedure involves your surgeon making small cuts in your skin through which a tube connected to a vacuum machine will be inserted. This will suck out the excess fat and fluids from your breasts. This option is best suited for those who want a moderate reduction in size and have good skin elasticity, preventing sagging.
• Vertical (Lollipop) Breast reduction- It is named so as it requires a vertical cut on the breasts. The surgeon will make an opening through a cut surrounding the areola that continues to the crease beneath your breasts. This method helps reduce both fatty as well as glandular tissue. It leaves more scars but they are usually underneath the breasts and hidden from sight by clothing. Vertical Breast reduction is best suited for those who want more of an overall restructuring and lifting of the breasts. It also leaves the nipple and areola with a more natural look.
• Inverted T or “Anchor”- This procedure involved the two incisions from the Vertical one but with an additional cut along the crease of the breasts. It is usually most recommended for people who have heavy sagging in the breasts and require significant restructuring and reshaping. The extra incision helps achieve that by allowing for further removal of the extra fats and fluids. However, this method also has the longest recovery period and also leaves the most scarring,

• Breast reduction surgery cost may range from a minimum of 70,000 INR to a maximum of 1,50,000 INR.
• The cost that can be spent on breast reduction surgery is up to INR 1,10,000.
• The price can be affected by other factors such as post surgery complications, admission fee, surgeon fee, X-rays and other lab tests etc.

Breast reduction surgery most commonly takes around two to four hours to complete. For most breast reduction surgeries, general anesthesia is used.

Breast reduction surgery is considered permanent. However, the rest of the fat tissue that is retained may still swell due to subsequent pregnancy and breastfeeding, or weight gain. Taking hormonal supplementation can also change the size of the breasts after reduction surgery. Overall, however, these changes will be much less dramatic than before surgery.

However, if the level of estrogen is significantly high (known as hyperplasia or hypertrophy), wherein the breast tissue never stops growing and the breasts enlarge. You should attempt to maintain your weight through a mix of consistent exercise and a smart low-fat diet in order to sustain the results of breast reduction.

You are probably a for candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery if you have the following symptoms:

• Dissatisfaction and discomfort with large and heavy breasts
• Neck or back pain and discomfort caused by breast weight
• Difficulty breathing and chest pain
• Challenging to find clothing or bras that fit
• Rashes under the breasts and marks on shoulders from bra straps.
• Significantly drooping breasts with downward-facing areolae and nipples
• Having one breast that is significantly larger than the other
• Having trouble sleeping because lying down hurts your breasts.

There is no fixed ideal age as it depends on a plethora of different factors. Some girls as young as 15 years old may be eligible for breast reduction surgery, while some insurance companies require patients to be at least 16 years old in order to be covered.

However, there are currently no imposed statutory age restrictions for breast reduction. Later in life, women have the same rights. Breast reduction is common among older women between the ages of 50 and 60 because of hormonal changes and potential weight gain following menopause. A thorough examination is necessary to assess a patient's overall health, skin condition, emotional development, and aspirations, no matter what the age is.

Whether you are eligible for the surgery or not depends on you and your surgeon to decide as the insurance companies that cover the charges of the procedure have different guidelines for cases that are eligible for insured coverage, so it varies from person to person.

• Your breasts may have coverings on them when you wake up from surgery, and plastic tubes may be affixed to them to drain blood.
• The tubes will typically be taken out after one to two days, and you can return home.
• Pain medications may help alleviate your aching body for a few days.
• Your breasts will probably be enlarged following surgery, and they can feel lumpy and sensitive. The swelling could persist for about three months.

After the surgery, you may take care of yourself as follows:

• Don’t shower for the first 48 hours (2 days) after your surgery.
• You might be allowed to take a full shower or a shower only from your waist down after the first 48 hours
• When you do start showering, do so every day to keep your surgical cuts clean
• Remove your bra and the gauze pad covering your cuts before getting in the shower.
• Wash with gentle, fragrance-free soap and luke-warm water. Rinse thoroughly after gently cleaning your top incisions and drain sites.
• Take short showers or baths to reduce the risk of infection until your wounds and drain sites are completely healed. After your operation, you might be able to take a tub bath around 6 to 8 weeks later, but with your doctor first.
• Before applying deodorant, lotion, or cream anywhere near your wounds while they are still healing, consult your doctor. Usually, recovery takes six weeks.
• For six weeks following your procedure, wear a soft, supportive bra similar to the one your nurse gave you. Wear it even when asleep.
• Wearing an underwired bra while your incisions are healing is not advised.
• After surgery, you'll be given a prescription for painkillers to help you manage your discomfort.
• Anesthesia (Medications that put you to sleep during surgery) and painkillers may contribute to constipation (having fewer bowel movements than usual). You may want to consult with your doctor for medicines to stimulate bowel movement.
• For six weeks following surgery, avoid pushing, pulling, or lifting anything that weighs more than 5 to 10 pounds (2.3 to 5.4 kilogrammes). When lifting children, doing laundry, or going grocery shopping, keep this in mind.
• For six weeks following surgery, refrain from performing demanding physical activity (such as running, jogging, or leaping).

The side effects of breast reduction surgery and surgical risks include bleeding, infection, fluid buildup around the implant after surgery, allergic reactions to suture materials such as tape adhesive, or other medical products. It may also cause areas of temporary or permanent numbness, changes in breast and nipple sensation, wrinkles in the skin over the implant, or lumpy scar tissue that is raised and irregular in shape.

Other issues include movement of the implants from their initial position and requiring additional surgery to address issues. Anesthetic dangers include allergic response and potentially catastrophic cardiovascular issues like heart stroke or a potentially fatal blood clot in the deep veins of the legs called deep vein thrombosis that can spread to the lungs or the brain.

Breast reduction surgery failure may entail:

• Tape, adhesive, suture materials, blood products, topical treatments, or injectable substances allergies
• Anesthesia dangers
• Deeper structures, including the nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and lungs, may sustain temporary or permanent damage
• Problems related to cardiac, pulmonary, and deep vein thrombosis
• Breast stiffness that is excessive
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Abnormalities in the breast's form and contour
• Asymmetrical breasts
• Clotting of blood.

However, the rate of failure of breast reduction surgery is statistically proven to be low and therefore the need for concern is not too high.

In India, there is a highly skilled, well-educated, and experienced team of plastic and cosmetic surgeons who specialize in breast reduction surgery and who can quickly reduce the size of the breast. With the use of cutting-edge medical technology, plastic and cosmetic surgeons in India give their patients the best possible treatment.

Breast Reduction Surgeons collaborate with other medical professionals and non-medical employees at the hospital to offer patients with healthcare that meets the highest international standards.

You will visit the doctor for a preparatory consultation before having breast reduction surgery. Your surgeon will take a thorough medical history at this time, including what drugs you are currently taking, any allergies you may have, your history of smoking, and any previous procedures. Additionally, your surgeon will require particular information on your history of breastfeeding, pregnancy, mammograms, any personal or family history of breast issues, and any history of lumps in your breasts or having undergone biopsies. To have this procedure, you should be in good physical and mental health.

You must be absolutely open and honest throughout your consultation. Being absolutely honest about your medical background is part of it. It also entails being completely honest about your reasons for wanting a breast reduction. Expect to talk about the emotional difficulties you've had. Your surgeon will take your breast measurements.

They might snap pictures. They will talk about how much breast tissue should be removed to get the results they want during this time. Additionally, you'll learn how to get ready for the procedure and make plans for your recuperation. Your surgeon may also perform a mammography and breast exam to get you ready for this treatment. After that, plan on taking at least a week off from work or school. Some folks require a few weeks, but every circumstance is unique. Your surgeon will give you instructions on when to return for bandage and stitch removal visits.

You must put an end to any exercise for at least a month post operation in order to recuperate.

You can anticipate fatigue and breast soreness following the procedure. To help you get through the first few days, your surgeon will prescribe you an oral pain reliever. Avoid doing any heavy lifting as well. After surgery, some patients experience an emotional reaction, such as depression. That might be typical, but make sure you discuss all of your worries with your doctor.