Breast Reduction Surgery
Breast Reduction: Key Takeaways
- Treatment Overview: Performed for both cosmetic and functional reasons, breast reduction removes excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin to achieve a lighter breast size and alleviates discomfort caused by disproportionately large breasts. The procedure also lifts the breasts to some degree and resizes/repositions the nipple-areolar complexes for improved aesthetics.
- Benefits: Breast reduction can address chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain; improve posture; reduce skin irritation under the breast fold; and make daily activities like exercise more comfortable. Patients also frequently experience psychological benefits, such as improved self-esteem and body image.
- Ideal Candidates: The best candidates are adult women who have finished physically developing and are bothered by large, heavy, or asymmetrical breasts. Candidates must be in good overall health and should not smoke for several weeks before surgery.
- Procedure Details: Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately 4 hours, during which excess skin and breast tissue are removed from one or both breasts. A breast lift and areola reduction are often included as part of the procedure.
- Recovery: Most patients return to regular activities and office work within one to two weeks, with full unrestricted activity typically resuming after four weeks. Results are generally permanent, although weight changes, pregnancy, and aging can affect the breasts’ long-term appearance.
- Surgeon Expertise: Dr. Gregory Wittpenn has over 20 years of experience performing both aesthetic and reconstructive surgery procedures, holding hospital privileges at local institutions like Nacogdoches Medical Center and Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. He is double board-certified and holds the distinction of being one of few Texas surgeons who are also fellowship-trained.
Breast reduction surgery, or reduction mammaplasty, is designed to decrease the size and improve the shape of overly large, sagging breasts that cause health and self-esteem problems for many women. Excessive breast size can contribute to neck, shoulder and back pain as well as breast fold infections and emotional discomfort, so although breast reduction is considered an elective cosmetic surgery procedure, it may also be medically necessary in some cases.
What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?
Breast reduction surgery is a procedure designed to reduce the size and weight of large breasts. It involves removing excess breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin to achieve a breast size that is in better proportion with the body and to alleviate discomfort associated with overly large breasts. As needed, the nipple-areolar complex can also be resized and relocated for improved breast aesthetics. During a consultation, Dr. Wittpenn will discuss your individual goals for the procedure and create a custom treatment plan to achieve the desired level of reduction.
What Are the Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery?
Breast reduction can offer patients a number of benefits, including:
- Pain Relief: Reduces back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by the weight of large breasts.
- Improved Posture: Alleviates poor posture and related issues due to excessive breast weight.
- Increased Comfort: Makes daily activities and exercise more comfortable and less restricted.
- Enhanced Appearance: Results in a breast size more proportional to the body, improving overall appearance.
- Clothing Fit: More balanced proportions make it easier to fit into clothing and bras, enhancing wardrobe options.
- Reduced Skin Irritation: Decreases skin irritation and infections under the breast fold.
- Psychological Benefits: Boosts self-esteem and body image, often leading to better mental health.
Who Is a Candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery?
Adult women who are done physically developing and are bothered by large, pendulous breasts or significant breast asymmetry are typically the best breast reduction candidates. However, in extreme cases, breast reduction surgery may be performed on teens whose breasts are disfigured or interfere with normal daily activities. Like all plastic surgery patients, breast reduction patients must be in good health and should not smoke for several weeks prior to surgery.
Patient Results
What Can I Expect From the Breast Reduction Procedure?
General anesthesia is used during breast reduction surgery, and the entire procedure takes about 4 hours. Excess skin and breast tissue is removed from one or both breasts. A breast reduction also includes a breast lift to help correct sagging and areola reduction surgery to decrease enlarged, stretched areolas that are often present on large breasts.
What Is Breast Reduction Surgery Recovery Like?
Most breast reduction patients can return to routine activities and office work within the first week or two after their procedure, though strenuous exercise should be avoided until Dr. Wittpenn gives clearance. A sports bra should be worn for support for four weeks after surgery, after which time most patients can return to full, unrestricted activity. It is important to note that breast reduction scars, which are similar to breast lift scars, will continue to fade as they heal for several months after breast reduction surgery. Follow-up visits are crucial to monitor healing and manage any complications, and Dr. Wittpenn will provide personalized, detailed aftercare instructions for each patient that should be carefully followed for an optimal outcome.
How Long Do Breast Reduction Results Last?
Breast reduction surgery generally provides long-lasting, permanent results for patients. Once excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are removed, they do not grow back. However, factors such as weight fluctuations, pregnancy, hormonal changes, and the natural aging process can influence the long-term appearance of the breasts over time. Some degree of sagging may occur as skin elasticity diminishes with age, but the breasts will almost always remain smaller and lighter compared to their pre-surgery state. Those who maintain a stable weight and follow healthy lifestyle habits typically enjoy their breast reduction results for decades, finding long-term relief from physical symptoms such as neck, shoulder, and back pain. That said, pregnancy or major weight loss after reduction surgery can cause a loss of shape and contour in the breasts, so it’s recommended to undergo the procedure after you have no future plans for children if possible.
Will I Have Visible Breast Reduction Scars?
Yes. While scarring after breast reduction is expected, the overwhelming majority of patients believe the lasting improvements to aesthetics, mobility, comfort, and confidence far outweigh the potential drawbacks of post-surgical scarring. With Dr. Wittpenn’s extensive experience performing countless breast reductions for Nacogdoches patients, he is well-versed in placing incision patterns in locations undetectable beneath bras and bikini tops. Over time and with good care of incisions, breast reduction scars also tend to become lighter and less noticeable. Our before-and-after photos can also provide a good idea of how scarring may appear after surgery and Dr. Wittpenn will discuss the best incision pattern for your needs and goals during your consultation.
How Much Does Breast Reduction Cost?
Breast reduction is priced according to a patient’s individual treatment plan, as well as outside factors like your geographic location and the expertise of your plastic surgeon. Your personalized quote will also be inclusive of other standard surgical expenses, such as the anesthesia fee, surgical facility fee, etc. After a personal consultation, our office can provide a cost estimate calculated based on:
- The extent of reduction necessary to achieve your goals
- The surgical technique used
- The severity of breast ptosis addressed
Breast reduction can sometimes be fully or partially covered by insurance, depending on a patient’s unique policy and whether a documented history of medical symptoms exists. In most cases, breast reduction coverage is only available in cases of medical necessity when non-surgical solutions have failed to provide improvement. We encourage you to reach out to your insurance provider for more information on medical requirements. For all out-of-pocket costs, Dr. Wittpenn accepts plastic surgery financing through CareCredit® and ALPHAEON™ Credit for qualified patients.
Contact New Horizons Plastic Surgery
Contact New Horizons Plastic Surgery at (936) 564-3744 if you’re considering a breast reduction or have questions about the reduction mammaplasty procedure. Dr. Gregory Wittpenn is an expert Nacogdoches breast reduction surgeon serving patients throughout eastern Texas and western Louisiana, including residents of Huntsville, Longview, Lufkin, Tyler and Shreveport.