What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?
Women with large and heavy breasts experience several health concerns due to their breast sizes such as back and neck pain, breast pain and even rashes under the breast. The added weight of large breasts may exacerbate the symptoms for women with arthritis or spinal problems.
Breast Reduction Surgery often called as a Reduction Mammoplasty is a surgical procedure which involves removal of excess skin, fat, and glandular tissue from the patient’s breasts. This surgery can reduce the size of one’s breasts considerably.
How Does Breast Reduction Surgery Help Patients?
Dr Shree Harsh has seen many patients who are distressed due to large breasts. Following are some of the conditions that can be resolved by Reduction Mammoplasty:
- Macromastia - Having excessively large breasts falls under the medical condition of macromastia. This condition causes a lot of physical and mental distress for the patient. It also restricts their physical activities.
- Disproportionate or asymmetrical breasts - Sometimes a woman’s breast size is not proportionate to the rest of her body or her breasts are asymmetrical in shape.
- Mental stress - Many women face mental health issues due to their large breasts. This affects their self-confidence and self-esteem.
All of the above are issues that are not easy for women to face or speak of. But thanks to the breast reduction surgery at Pinnacle Cosmetic Surgery, these can disappear forever.
Who Is An Ideal Candidate For This Surgery?
- A healthy woman who is facing physical or mental issues due to her large breasts.
- A woman whose breasts have fully developed.
- A non-smoker.
- A woman who is not currently breastfeeding or pregnant.
- A woman who is non-diabetic.
- A woman who has no cardiac issues.
If you fit into the above conditions then you are an ideal candidate for a breast reduction surgery.
How Is Breast Reduction Surgery Performed?
Dr Shree Harsh will first administer anaesthesia on your body. Once the anaesthesia sets in, the surgeon will proceed and make an incision. The incision will be made either around the areola (around the nipple) in a circular form, or in a keyhole pattern beginning at the areola and ending around the crease of the breast, or lastly in T shape starting around the areola and encompassing the curve of the breast.
The procedure essentially consists of excising a wedge of breast gland with the overlying skin. While doing so the nipple is preserved on a bridge of tissue, which provides it with blood supply, and then translocated to a new higher position. Closing the incision involves sutures, surgical tape and skin adhesives.
The final scar will be around the areola and extend vertically down to the inframammary fold in the vertical scar technique of breast reduction. There will be an additional transverse scar in the inframammary fold if the keyhole pattern (inferior pedicle technique) is used.
What To Expect During Recovery?
Once you come out of the operating theatre, the doctor will keep you under observation in the recovery room for a minimum of 3 hours. Your vitals will be monitored to ensure that there are no complications arising from the surgery.
Your breasts will be covered in gauze dressing and bandages post-surgery. In case there is excess fluid or blood that needs to be drained out, a small tube will be placed for drainage. This tube is temporary. Dr Shree Harsh will remove it in one of the upcoming follow-up visits.
Dr Shree Harsh will give you specific instructions on how to take care of your breasts during the recovery time. He will also give you medication to manage the pain and prevent any infections. Once the dressings are removed he may ask you to wear compression garments or support garments on your breasts. Please follow all the instructions perfectly, without fail.
He will schedule regular follow up visits with you in the weeks following your surgery. Do not miss any visits and keep the doctor updated about your health. A return to light activity is possible as soon as you feel ready, usually within ten days following surgery. All stitches are usually absorbable and will not need removing. You will be advised not to exercise for six weeks after surgery, and after that period, you must wear a sports bra while exercising.
Healing will continue for several weeks as swelling dissipates and breast shape and position settle. Scars are initially red and visible for the first six months but rapidly become soft, supple and fade after that. The results of your surgery will slowly become clear as your body heals and revitalises after the surgery.
What Are The Risks Associated With This Surgery?
As with every surgical procedure, there are certain risks associated with breast reduction too. Please note that the risks are low and rarely observed in patients.
Some of the potential risks include:
- Accumulation of blood (hematoma), infection and poor healing at the site of suturing.
- A decreased sensation at the nipple.
- Decreased blood supply at the nipple, which may lead to partial or total necrosis of the nipple. This may need secondary reconstruction. This is very rare. The risk is increased in smokers and diabetics. Hence, women are advised to stop smoking at least two weeks prior to surgery.
- The ability to breastfeed after reduction is unpredictable. It depends on the extent of reduction and type of technique used.
What Is The Cost Of Breast Reduction Surgery At Pinnacle Cosmetic Surgery?
Generally, Pinnacle Cosmetic Surgery charges approximately INR 70,000 for Breast Reduction Surgery. But the actual cost will depend upon your unique case and will be disclosed to you by Dr Shree Harsh during your consultation.
In case you are wondering whether or not Breast Reduction is right for you, we invite you for a consultation with Dr Shree Harsh. He will discuss the treatment, its benefits, best possible results and any complications involved one-on-one with you.
Meet Your Surgeon
Dr. Shree Harsh is a board certified internationally trained Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon. He has been trained in the prestigious and historical department of Plastic and Maxillofacial Surgery at G.M.C.Nagpur from where he completed his M.Ch. in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He cleared his D.N.B. in Plastic Surgery from the National Board of Examination, New Delhi. He has received the international scholarship of Plastic Surgery Educational Network by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in the year 2016-2017. He was awarded the prestigious DAFPRS fellowship by the Dutch Association of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He has been trained by Dr.Patrick L Tonnard and Dr.Alexis Verpaele at the MACS lift centre- Coupure Centrum in Ghent, Belgium in both Surgical and non Surgical Aesthetic Surgery procedures during his fellowship period. He has presented several papers at national and international level conferences and is the author of a number of publications in scientific journals. He is a soft-spoken dedicated Plastic Surgeon who believes in safety first for the patients
Book Consultation with Dr Shree Harsh
It is very natural to be anxious about the outcome of your cosmetic surgery and it is best to openly discuss your concerns with Dr. Harsh. During your consultation Dr. Harsh will:
- Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
- Explain the problem to you
- Ask for your photographs
Be prepared to discuss:
- Your surgical goals and expectations
- Medical conditions, drug allergies, and previous medical treatments.
- Current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use if any.
- Details if you have undergone any previous surgeries.
- Likely outcomes, and any risks or potential complications.