Breast reduction is a surgery designed to improve the sight of the voluminous breasts by reducing their volume and their remodeling. The surgery produces a reduction of symptoms too, such as pain, breasts pain, shoulders pain, neck pain and at the top of spine.
Although it is not so known as breast augmentation surgery, breast reduction surgery is fairly common and it can produce substantial benefits to many patients. Breast reduction usually requires 1 or 2 days of hospitalization. The surgery lasts about 4 hours. Mammography can sometimes be required before the surgery. It is performed to make sure that there are no breast diseases before the surgery. Any benign lesions can be removed during the surgery.
Pre-Operative Preparation
It is recommended to avoid to get in contact with people suffering from colds or other infectious diseases. It advisable to avoid taking aspirin or medications that contain them for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the surgery.
The surgery
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
Drawings and measurements. They are an integral and essential part preparing for the surgery. They are performed before anesthesia to the patient in an upright position; they are a sort of guide for incisions during the surgery when the patient is supine. The surgery consists in removing part of the skin and the underlying tissues of the breast, moving the areola higher and reshaping the remaining tissues in a smaller and higher configuration. Scars left by this surgery, although they tend to become less noticeable as time goes by, are permanent. There is a circular scar around the areola, another in the inframammary crease and a vertical scar joining them. There are no scars above the areola. From time to time it may be necessary to review the scars to obtain an optimum esthetical result. These reviews can be performed under local anesthesia with a small surgery after at least six months
Post-Surgical treatment
The dressing will be removed by the surgeon and should not be touched by the patient before that happens. It is recommended to rest as much as possible during the week to increase the activity gradually in the second and third postoperative week. It is recommended not to raise arms over the head for two weeks and to avoid physical exertion for 3 weeks. Showers, baths and shampoo will be allowed generally after a week. It is recommended to not spend time in the bathtub. Bra should be worn day and night for 2 months and removed only for normal ablutions.
Possible Complications
Complications are rare and usually respond promptly to appropriate treatment without compromising the final result of the surgery.
Bleeding. If you experience bleeding, blood can accumulate in breast and it might be possible to open a wound again in order to remove the accumulated blood and prevent further bleeding.
Infections. These occur very rarely and usually respond promptly to antibiotic treatment.
Loss of nipple sensation. This usually is temporary and it is expected that sensitivity is acquired again almost completely as time goes by. On rare occasions it may be permanent.
Loss of a nipple. The partial or complete loss of a nipple is extremely rare, but some cases are reported in the medical literature. Should it happen, it can be executed later at a reconstructive surgery with satisfactory results. Asymmetries. They can be found in shape, size or position of the areola. They are generally modest and can be corrected easily with local anesthesia no earlier than six months after the surgery
What to expect after the surgery
Pain. Rarely it is intense, most commonly represented by discomfort. However, if necessary, analgesics to be taken are prescribed. Edema (swelling). It is present in reasonable degree; it begins to decrease on the third and fourth day after the surgery and may persist for weeks or even months. A dressing support is practiced at the time of the surgery and is removed 48 hours after the surgery to be replaced by a comfortable bra, the type used for sports activities, which must be worn day and night for 2 months. The sutures are removed on the fifth day and the rest on the 12th day after the surgery. The work and social activities will be fairly limited for the first two weeks after the surgery. If work will require heavy lifting or other strenuous activities, you may need a rest more prolonged. You must avoid driving a car for two weeks. In general, it is good that patients who undergo breast reduction will not try to breastfeed after they are made. Breastfeeding causes breast enlargement which will hinder the result of the surgery. In some cases breast feeding will be impossible for the removal of most of the glands.
Resumption of physical activities
With regard to ski, tennis, football, basketball, sailing, physical activities can be practiced again after 3 weeks, while for most intense sports (swimming, jogging, yoga, dance, spear fishing) will be preferable to wait at least six weeks. Driving a car, normal activities, household chores and sexual activity may be resumed after two weeks. Work and social activities should be reduced for at least 2 weeks after the surgery. If the patient’s work was such as to require physical activity as lifting, pushing, etc., it will be necessary a longer recovery period.