Breast Reduction
Breast reduction surgery (reduction mammoplasty) removes a portion of the tissue and skin from the breasts in order to reshape and reduce the size of the breasts. It can also make the areola – the area of colored skin surrounding the nipple – smaller.
How to Determine if Breast Reduction is Right for You
If you experience discomfort as a result of having large breasts, then breast reduction may be a procedure to consider. The goal of this surgery is to reduce breast size and thereby alleviate discomfort or pain, while reshaping and lifting the breasts.
Common symptoms that can be alleviated with breast reduction include:
- Breast hypertrophy (also known as macromastia)
- Pain in the neck, shoulders, back due to extra weight of breasts
- Infections or skin irritation in the breast crease, where breast meets chest wall
- Grooving in the shoulders from bra straps
- Emotional/psychological discomfort due to breast size
If you have experienced any of these conditions, we encourage you to schedule a consultation at our Kirkland plastic surgeon’s office for a discussion about breast reduction surgery.
What Happens During Breast Reduction?
Breast reduction is a 2 – 4 hour procedure that is typically performed under general anesthesia, meaning you would sleep through the operation. Dr. Dry makes an incision that circles the areola and then extends down to the breast crease (often called the anchor or inverted T incision).
By removing excess tissue (fat skin and glandular tissue) using liposuction and excision, the breast size is reduced and the breast shape appears more youthful. Stitches are placed to close the incisions, which are then covered with gauze and tape.
How will I look and feel after breast reduction?
After surgery, you should expect some aching, swelling and bruising around the breasts. A pain medication can help you manage discomfort after the surgery. Swelling may cause a partial loss of sensation in the nipples and breasts, which should subside within several days. Recovery time is approximately 1 – 2 weeks.
After breast reduction, your breasts will be smaller, lighter and slightly elevated. To view results of breast reduction, please view our cosmetic surgery photo gallery.
Do you have questions about breast reduction surgery? Contact our office in Kirkland to learn more about this procedure or to schedule a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Gavin Dry.