Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty)
ANESTHESIA
A breast reduction procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia.
RETURN TO EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES
Sports activities are allowed after 1.5 months following breast lift surgery. The avoidance of weightlifting and hyperextension of hands is recommended in the first few weeks after surgery while walking is freely allowed. Driving is permitted after a week following surgery.
Return to work is allowed usually in 2 days after surgery. In case of manual work, the patient can return to work after 10 days.
DURATION OF HOSPITALIZATION
The patient must stay in the hospital for the first 24 hours after surgery.
MOST COMMON COMPLICATIONS
1. Hematoma. If the collection of blood is large, a drainage may be required in the operating room i.e. the use of a tube in the breast to drain the blood. (0% of our patients).
2. Problem with nipples sensitivity, connected with trauma of nerve, responsible for sensitivity around the areole. The technique, that we use, allows us to avoid this complication even during gigantomastia (or macromastia) correction, when more than 2 kilos of tissue are removed, without losing nipple sensitivity.
3. Nipple necrosis (0% of our patients).
4. Wound Separation (Dehiscence). During the first 2-3 weeks after the surgery, a slight wound separation may appear, where the incisions come together (horizontal and vertical). This separation disappears by itself within 1-2 weeks (2% of our patients).
FINAL RESULTS
The results of a breast reduction will appear over the next 3-6 months as breast shape and position continue to settle. The scars are initially red and hard and are gradually improved up to a year, however they don’t disappear completely.
Breast reduction surgery is aimed at decreasing breast size and, at the same time it can be combined with a breast lift surgery. The surgeon makes a T-shaped incision under the areole (in the form of an inverted anchor).
There are no postoperative bandages. There are waterproof pads along the incisions which are removed in one week after surgery. The sutures are all absorbable. In rare cases, periareolar sutures (around the nipple) are removed 2 weeks after surgery. Blood transfusion is not necessary. We never use drainage tubes. The patient must wear a sports bra immediately after surgery.
There is no postoperative pain after a breast reduction only a slight burning sensation that subsides in the first 24 hours after surgery using pain medications. Usually, the oral use of antibiotics for a week as well as light pain medications for the first 2 days after surgery is prescribed. Most of the patients stop taking pain medications after the first 24 hours following surgery. Breastfeeding is possible after a breast reduction surgery. With the technique that we apply, the patient can breastfeed normally.
