Breast-reduction surgery, surgically known as mammaplasty, is an operation that involves the removal of fat and tissue from the breast in order to restore and reshape the breast to a more natural size and proportion to the women. It is most commonly opted for by women who experience pain as a result of having overly large breasts
Consultation
During the first phase in getting a breast reduction, you must consult a plastic surgeon to decide what operation is right for you. In this phase, you will decide what size and shape you would like for your breasts to become. It can be helpful to bring in pictures of what you like, so the doctor can have a comparison. Lastly, you may be required to have a mammogram, also known as a breast X-ray, for future comparisons of the before and after surgery discussions.
How the Operation is Performed
Breast reduction often takes between one and three hours per breast and is commonly an outpatient procedure. The most used technique for a breast reduction surgery is the "Key-Hole Anchor." This results in an incision around the areola that moves down under the breast, ending in a horizontal cut under the breast and leaving an anchor shape. From that incision, the surgeon will remove the excess tissue, move the areola to the new position and finally wrap the skin around the areola to form the new breast shape.
Risks
Fortunately, there are no fatal risks involved with breast-reduction surgery. However, there are some serious considerations to be made before opting for the surgery. In minor cases, patients will see bleeding, negative reactions to anesthetic or get small infections around the nipple which can be easily cured with antibiotic cream. Worst-case scenarios involve losing all feeling of the nipple and entire breasts or possibly losing all blood flow to the nipple, resulting in tissue death.
Recovery
Post-surgery, the patient must wear a surgical bra that will support the new breasts all hours of the day until the bruising and swelling have completely dissipated. All of the post-operation bandages can be removed between one and three days after the surgery and the stitches will be removed after two or three weeks have passed, according to Ienhance.com. Although all of the bandages and stitches are removed after three weeks, it is recommended that no heavy activity such as lifting or pulling motions are undertaken for a minimum of six weeks.
Cost
Unlike cosmetic procedures, breast reduction surgery can be covered by your medical insurance if your case can be medically proven to be a necessary operation. However, if your situation is not deemed medically necessary, the national average cost for surgeon fees for breast-reduction, according to the American Society of Aesthetic Surgery, was $5,429 in 2009. Although the surgical fee is $5,429, that number does not include the full cost of the operation. According to docshop.com, the surgical fee does not include the anesthesia, medical facility fee, prescriptions, surgical garments, medical testing or any other charges related to pre- and post-operative care.
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