This is a surgery that people find has a dramatic affect on their lives. It literally takes the weight off to body enabling better movement and mobility.
Breast reduction surgery removes some of the tissue and skin from the breasts to reshape and reduce the size of the breasts. It can also make the area of dark skin surrounding the nipple (areola) smaller.
To remove tissue and skin from the breast, the surgeon first makes one or more cuts in the breast. After the excess tissue and skin have been removed, the skin is closed with stitches. Sometimes the nipple and areola have to be removed and repositioned.
Mr Yaprak may also recommend a breast ‘lift’ at the same time as a reduction. Reducing large breasts may involve some degree of ptosis (drooping), this can be corrected in the process of reduction if necessary.
As with any surgical procedure, breast reduction surgery can result in some scarring. This is usually a ‘fine-line’ scar running around the nipple-areolar complex and extending in a vertical line down the lower part of the breast. There can also be a short horizontal scar in the inframammary fold (the natural lower boundary of the breast, where the breast and the chest meet). The length of this usually depends on the technique used and the size of the breast pre-operatively.
For smaller breasts, a ‘short-scar’ technique is usually performed. This involves making a lollipop-shaped incision in the breast, with a ring around the nipple and a line extending part of the way down the underside of the breast. Some tissue is then removed from the sides and bottom of the breast, leaving tissue beneath the nipple and areola intact.
Keloid scars can occur and patients need to be aware of this. There can be some sensory change in the breast, although this is true of only a small percentage of patients. In addition, breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery is generally unpredictable.
Drains are often used in breast reduction cases.
Most patients are encouraged to be up and about as soon as possible, doing household chores. After a week, I encourage them to resume their normal physical activities, provided these don’t involve any jarring motions, for example, no jogging, horse riding, mountain biking, etc. that would involve jarring of the upper torso. Patients may, however, commence hiking, walking or doing exercises that work on areas other than the upper torso.
Follow-up takes place a week after the operation, when dressings are changed, sutures are trimmed and all is checked.
