Breast Reduction
Women with very large, pendulous breasts may experience a variety of medical problems caused by the excessive weight-from back and neck pain and skin irritation to skeletal deformities and breathing problems. Bra straps may leave indentations in their shoulders. And unusually large breasts can make a woman-or a teenage girl-feel extremely self-conscious.
Breast reduction, technically known as reduction mammaplasty, is designed for such women. The procedure removes fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts, making them smaller, lighter, and firmer. It can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The goal is to give the woman smaller, better-shaped breasts in proportion with the rest of her body.
Procedure: Anchor shaped incision that circles the areola, extends downward, and follows the natural curve of the crease beneath the breast. Removal of excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin, and moves the nipple and areola into their new position.
Length: 2-4 hours.
Anesthesia: General.
In/Outpatient: Usually outpatient. Sometimes inpatient.
Side Effects: Temporary bruising, swelling, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin. Permanent scars.
Risks: Scars; skin loss; infection. Unevenly positioned nipples. Permanent loss of feeling in nipples or breast. Inability to breast feed.
Recovery: Resume normal activity 4-6 weeks.
Duration of Results:
Permanent to variable with gravity, hormonal shifts, weight changes, and pregnancy.
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Dr. Morwood is a board certified plastic surgeon who can help enhance the size, shape, and symmetry of your breasts.
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*Actual Patient
Disclaimer: there is no guarantee of specific results and the results can vary.
Breast Reduction Monterey — Easing physical pain and emotional distress
Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is a procedure to remove excess breast fat, glandular tissue and skin to achieve a breast size more in proportion with the body. It is also performed to alleviate physical discomfort and emotional distress associated with excessively large breasts (macromastia).
Quality of life issues
Women with large, sagging breasts often develop neck pain, back pain, improper posture, breathing issues, shoulder grooving, bra strap indentations, severe irritation underneath their breasts and rashes in their breast fold (intertrigo). Furthermore, it can be difficult for these women to find clothing that fits properly, and they often find it difficult to exercise and participate in sports. Large breasts also can make some women feel “top heavy,” overweight and/or self-conscious about their breasts. Following breast reduction surgery, these concerns typically resolve. Patients are also able to exercise and be more active after the surgery, which makes weight loss easier and allows them the ability to perform certain physical activities that were difficult or impossible prior to surgery.
Benefits of breast reduction
- Breast reduction surgery actually has one of the highest rates of satisfaction (as high as 95 percent) of all cosmetic procedures.
- The difference in the quality of women’s lives before and after a breast reduction can be remarkable. A number of studies have found that women who have breast reduction surgery commonly feel a boost in their self-esteem, body image and physical health.
- The surgery removes excess tissue and skin to make breasts smaller, but moving the nipples up in position gives breasts a lift. The result is often more youthful, symmetric, perky breasts.
- Those suffering physical pain, discomfort or other disabilities as a result of oversized breasts may find that breast reduction surgery is covered by their medical insurance.
The procedure explained
The surgeon will make an anchor-shaped incision that circles the areola, extends downward, and follows the natural curve of the crease beneath the breast. Excess glandular tissue, fat and skin are removed, while the nipple and areola are moved into their new positions. This surgery is usually outpatient, with general anesthesia, and lasts between 2-4 hours. Side effects include: Temporary bruising, swelling, discomfort, numbness, dry breast skin, permanent scars. Patients generally resume normal activity in 4-6 weeks.
Following surgery
Breast reduction surgery greatly improves a woman’s quality of life, and the healing process is often said to be almost painless. Although there are almost always scars with this surgery, Dr. Morwood places the incisions in areas that can be hidden by bras and bathing suits tops. In addition, the scars tend to fade to thin white lines over time, and there are currently numerous scar prevention procedures available to patients.
Begin with a consultation
During your personal and confidential consultation, Dr. Morwood will answer all of your questions and together you can determine how to proceed. Be prepared to discuss why you want the surgery, your expectations and desired outcome. The doctor will evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors, and examine your breasts. Then he will discuss likely outcomes of your breast reduction procedure as well as any risks or potential complications.
Call Dr. Morwood today
Dr. Morwood is a board certified plastic surgeon who will provide a custom-designed approach to help you achieve your aesthetic vision. Please call (831) 646-8661 to set up a consultation.