Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is also known as mammoplasty and involves the reduction of excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size in proportion with your body and alleviate the discomfort that typically is caused by overly large breasts.

Overly large breasts can cause health problems as well as emotional problems. In addition to self-image issues, they may cause physical discomfort. The excess weight of the breast tissue can impair your ability to lead an active life. The emotional discomfort and self-consciousness often associated with having large pendulous breasts is also an important issue to many women.

Reduction Mammoplasty

Reduction mammoplasty, as breast reduction is known, removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to realize a breast size in proportion with your body and to thereby alleviate the discomfort associated with overly large breasts.

Breast Reduction Preparation

Only you can decide if it is right for you, and you should not choose to have this procedure—or not to—in order to fulfill someone else’s expectations, or fit yourself into any idealized image of how you should look. It is a good option for you if you are physically healthy, have realistic expectations, don’t smoke, are bothered by the feeling that your breasts are too large, are bothered that your breasts limit your physical activity, experience back, neck and shoulder pain caused by the weight of your breasts, have regular indentations from bra straps that support heavy, pendulous breasts, have skin irritation beneath the breast crease. You also may want this surgery if your breasts hang low and have stretched skin, or if your nipples rest below the breast crease when your breasts are unsupported. You may also have enlarged areolas due to the stretched skin.

Breast Reduction Procedure

The first thing you must do if you have decided to have breast reduction surgery is find a surgeon you can trust. Make sure your surgeon has completed at least five years of surgical training, and that a minimum of two years of that training is in plastic surgery. Also be sure that your surgeon is trained and experienced in all plastic surgery procedures, including breast, body, face and reconstruction. Your surgeon must only operate in accredited medical facilities and adhere to a strict code of ethics.

The first thing you must do is consult with a plastic surgeon. He or she will ask you a number of questions. You must answer them honestly as the safety of the procedure depends on you doing so.