Mammaplasty – Breast reduction surgery
Mammaplasty (or breast reduction surgery) is a surgical procedure that aims at removing extra fat, tissue and skin from breasts.
Why does any woman with large breasts go for mammaplasty?
Well, though women with large breasts are more confident with their looks and the attention they get, some may have their own issues that they may not discuss with anyone. Such issues include:
- Body looks out of proportion
- Large breasts can cause neck pain and/or back pain
- Large breasts are usually heavy and they tend to sag more even at younger age
- Women may not find the right innerwear
- Development of rashes and irritation under the breasts
Who should NOT go for mammaplasty/breast reduction surgery?
Mammaplasty is not for everyone. If you meet any of the following conditions, breast reduction surgery is not for you.
- If you are smoker (Healing is a problem in smokers)
- If you are obese
- If you are suffering from heart conditions or diabetes
- If you are planning to get pregnant in future (you may have difficulties lactating after delivery)
- If you don’t want to have scars on your breasts (The scars will fade away but they don’t disappear completely).
- If you are still in your teens and if you are breasts are still growing / developing. (If you get mammaplasty done at this age, you may require another surgery later).
- If you plant to work out or diet and lose weight, you can wait until you reach your weight goal. Till then, you should not go for breast reduction.
Mammaplasty is not really a simple procedure. So, it is important that you get in touch with a good and experienced cosmetic gynecologist (or a plastic surgeon) to know the details of the procedure.
How is breast reduction surgery performed?
Some doctors perform breast reduction surgery as an outpatient procedure while some doctors advise you to stay at the hospital for one night. Initially you will be put under anesthesia and you will be asleep during the surgery. The places of incision to remove the tissues, fat etc depends on the size of the breasts and how small you want them to be. Following are the procedures done for mammaplasty:
- Liposuction – Small incisions will be made on or near your breasts and small tubes will be inserted to remove the fat in the breasts. This surgery suits women who want to reduce their breasts minimally. Also, this procedure suits women who are relatively younger – who skin can tighten by itself. (Skin loses it’s elasticity with age.)
- Vertical or Lollipop – The incisions made will resemble that of a lollipop. An incision will be made around the areola and a vertical cut till the bottom crease of the breast to remove the fat and tissues. Once the removal is done, the skin will be stitched.
- Inverted T or Anchor – This procedure is performed in women with very large breasts and they want to reduce the size considerably. Incision will be made around the areola. Then a vertical incision till the bottom crease of the breast will be made. In addition, an incision at the bottom crease of the breasts will also be made that enables to take maximum tissue and fat out.
You will be given pain medication after the surgery that you have to take orally. Experience discomfort and pain is normal.
Under what conditions should you contact your doctor after the mammaplasty surgery?
- If you are seeing any blood or pus or liquid coming out from the incision area
- If you are running a fever after the surgery
- If your breast become red, more tender to touch or unusually swell after the surgery
- If any of the stitches come out
In any of the above cases, you must see your gynecologist immediately. Discharge of pus or blood or any other fluid may be an indication of infection.
Risks associated with mammaplasty
- Possible infection – this holds good with any surgery. You need to visit a well maintained and reputed clinic who sterilizes their equipments well.
- Loss of sensation in nipples or on breasts – Most of the times, this is a temporary issue and you must get your sensation back. But in some cases, the sensation may never come back.
- Bleeding – If there was a problem with suturing
- Damage to nerves, blood vessels inside the breasts. That’s one of the top reasons why you need to always go to an experienced cosmetic gynecologist or a plastic surgeon.
- Irregularly shaped breasts or breasts that don’t match each other’s shape. This will require another surgery to correct.
