Breast Reduction

Though there are no guarantees that your chronic back and neck pain will cease following surgery, the removal of a significant amount of volume from the breasts does generally alleviate a great deal of back and neck pain in breast reduction patients. This is often one of the main goals of the procedure, and patients should notice a difference right away. Posture is something that will require attention and effort on your part after the procedure, as you will have to re-train your body to have better overall posture. Breast reduction does make it easier to maintain good posture, since you will have to hold up less weight overall.

Because excessively large and heavy breasts can cause health problems for women who have them, there are many insurance companies that will cover the breast reduction cost. However, there are often strict requirements that must be met in order to have the procedure reimbursed, including back/neck pain caused by the breasts, patient’s weight, amount of reduction that will be performed, and a letter from the primary care physician. If you are seeking breast reduction coverage, be sure you understand all the policies and requirements before you move forward.

Breast reduction does not simply remove volume—the procedure also combines some techniques from a breast lift as well. In addition to making the breast smaller, lighter, and firmer, the breasts tend to look more “perky” and lifted after reduction surgery, since there is less tissue sagging and pulling the breasts down. The size of the areolas is also reduced, and with the contouring of the breast performed during the reduction surgery, breasts tend to have more lift and a youthful appearance after the operation.

While some manufacturers do make breast reduction pills that claim to reduce the size of overly large breasts by targeting the fat cells in the area, these claims are largely unsubstantiated, and the products are a waste of money. Breasts are made up of more than just fat, and surgery is the only effective treatment for permanently reducing and reshaping the breasts by removing excess skin, fat, and breast gland tissue. At this time, there is no effective breast reduction without surgery.

Absolutely. Reduction surgery contours and lifts the breasts, while removing fat, skin, and gland tissue as needed to achieve the desired aesthetic results. This process is customized to each patient, meaning that women with asymmetrical breasts can have tissue removed to make the breasts appear both smaller and more symmetrical.

Plastic surgery is generally very safe when performed by a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon, but there is always a small risk for complications. It is important for patients to be aware of these risks and keep an eye out for any problems during recovery. Some potential complications associated with breast reduction include:

• Bleeding
• Anesthesia complications
• Prominent scarring
• Infection
• Poor healing
• Poor aesthetic outcome/irregularities
• Skin discoloration
• Nerve damage
• Fluid accumulation
• Loss of nipple or areolar tissue
• Open wounds

Because of the way the procedure is performed, there will be some visible scarring following breast reduction surgery. However, breast reduction scars will fade to become less prominent over the first year or so after surgery. Breast reduction scarring will often be located around the areola (skin surrounding the nipple), extending straight down underneath the breast, and may be more extensive depending on the amount of volume to be removed. Our surgeons will always use techniques that involve the least amount of scarring possible and will discuss the specifics of the incisions with you during your consultation.

You and your surgeon will discuss your desired cup size and breast appearance. This will allow the surgeon to determine how much volume will be removed. Some insurance companies do have a minimum amount of volume that must be removed to qualify for coverage, but this number varies. It’s usually best to focus on what you want out of surgery than the actual amount of breast tissue to be removed.

Because all surgery produces swelling, you will have to be patient when it comes to seeing the final results of your breast reduction surgery. For the first few weeks of breast reduction recovery, your breasts will be swollen and the incisions will not be healed, making it seem like your breasts are still quite large. Over the next few months, the swelling will subside, and you will be able to see final results within 6-12 months.

While the loss of the ability to breastfeed is a common concern for women considering any type of breast surgery, some women are able to breastfeed following breast reduction. There is always a small risk that breast surgery will affect breastfeeding, but our Atlanta plastic surgeons do everything they can to preserve both the aesthetics and function of the breasts.