Is breast reduction right for you?

23

AUG / 2018

Is a breast reduction right for you?

Breast reduction surgery is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures. In 2017, plastic surgeons reported performing more than 43,000 cosmetic breast reduction surgeries, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons statistics report.

Women of all ages opt to have the procedure. For many, it's about relieving the constant back pain and the slouching to compensate for the extra weight, in addition to the difficulty finding clothes or bras that fit, dealing with indents in the skin and painful rashes, as well as difficulty exercising or staying active. For some women, even after losing weight, their breasts remain stubbornly large, making surgery the only option.

While there isn’t a particular guideline on how big is "too big" to consider reduction surgery, most insurance companies require women to display symptoms such as back, neck and shoulder pain, trouble sleeping, difficulty exercising and a lack of confidence in intimate and social situations for the procedure to be covered. Women interested in pursuing this surgery should check with their insurance provider for details associated with their particluar plan.

The surgery can take anywhere from approximately two to five hours and involves making incisions that create skin flaps, leaving the nipple and areola attached to a small amount of breast tissue. The plastic surgeon then removes any excess breast tissue, reshapes the remaining tissue and finally sutures the incisions back together. It's important for patients to discuss their desired breast size with their surgeon before the procedure, however there is no guarantee the specific size imagined will actually be achieved. Final breast size will be determined by the surgeon during the procedure depending on the amount of breast tissue and the density.

Patients who undergo breast reduction tend to be the most satisfied with their results. This could be because the reduction not only changes how they look physically, but also how they feel and what they can do. For many women, the reduction reduces constant pain in the back and neck, makes shopping for clothes easier and allows them to return to exercise and regular physical activity, which can greatly improve overall health and happiness.

When performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon, breast reduction is safe and offers patients excellent outcomes. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the first step and the best way to see if the procedure is right for you. Our board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. William Schleicher , offers complimentary cosmetic plastic surgery consultations --call 804-282-4940 to schedule yours.


 

 Back
to top