Patients with overly large, heavy breasts often suffer from physical discomfort, unwanted attention, and embarrassment that can diminish their quality of life.
Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is a surgical breast procedure that reduces breast size. It can provide women with relief from physical problems caused by excessively large breasts, and it can create a more attractive, youthful, and balanced breast shape.
Many of Dr. Patronella’s breast reduction patients report that they can engage in a wider variety of daily activities and wear more clothing styles thanks to the welcome benefits of this procedure.
Ideal candidates for breast reduction surgery must be in good overall health and have realistic expectations about their results.
Those with one or more of the following concerns may benefit from this surgery:
How Is Breast Reduction Performed in Houston?
Breast reduction is performed using general anesthesia. During this surgical procedure, an anchor-shaped incision will be made. The incision will encircle the areola, extend vertically down the lower breast tissue, and run horizontally along the inframammary crease where the breast meets the chest wall.
After the incision has been made, Dr. Patronella will remove excess fat, breast tissue, and skin. Your nipples and areolas will also be repositioned and may be reduced as well to improve their appearance. The incisions will then be closed using surgical sutures.
In some cases, Dr. Patronella may use liposuction to help remove excess fat from your breasts.
Reduction mammaplasty is often combined with breast lift surgery to address overly large, drooping breasts.
What Will My Breast Reduction Recovery Look Like?
You will need to wear a compression sports bra for the first 4 to 6 weeks of your breast reduction surgery recovery. This is necessary to protect your new breast contours and help minimize swelling. You should avoid strenuous activities for at least 4 weeks, though brisk walking may be allowed 2 weeks after the procedure. Most patients can return to work 5 to 7 days after surgery.
Most patients will see immediate results following their surgery. However, final results may take a few weeks to a couple of months to settle into their final contours.
Breast reduction surgery can provide you with long-lasting results and a more proportionate look. This, along with improving physical and emotional discomfort associated with large breasts, typically leads to greater self-confidence.
When combined with a breast lift, your breast reduction surgery cost will vary depending on the extent of correction desired and any combination procedures performed.
Learn more about the price of breast reduction here.
Frequently Asked Questions
In some cases, medical insurance will cover breast reduction surgery costs if the procedure is medically necessary. What your insurance company deems a medical necessity may vary, so it is important to contact your health insurance provider. Because Dr. Patronella does not accept insurance, payment is required in full prior to surgery.
This plastic surgery procedure usually takes between 2 and 4 hours to complete. This will vary based on the complexity of your surgery and whether any other procedures are being combined with it.
Most women tend to lose between one to two cup sizes, but this can vary depending on the style and brand of bras they wear and their goals for the operation.
It is difficult to know exactly how many cup sizes you will lose following your reduction surgery. Part of the challenge is that each bra is somewhat different, so cup size is not an accurate measurement of breast size.
Removing breast tissue will cause some scarring along the incision sites on your breasts. These scars can usually be concealed with a bra or bathing suit. Most patients report the scars are a minor issue compared to the benefits the operation provides.
The techniques discussed on this page are for the reduction of female breasts, but Dr. Patronella also offers male breast reduction surgery. This procedure creates a more firm and masculine chest for men suffering from gynecomastia or otherwise enlarged male breast tissue.
Breast reduction surgery comes with some risks, just like all forms of cosmetic surgery. These risks may include:
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