Breast reduction - Mammoplasty

Women often suffer from oversized breasts. Large breasts can often be uncomfortable and distressing, and they are also the cause of significant physical discomfort and self-consciousness. For this main reason are women considering a breast reduction surgery that could help them to relieve their constant backache and shoulder pain. After the breast reduction surgery these complaints will disappear. In contrast with breast augmentation and breast lift that are purely cosmetic procedures, breast reduction is a medically necessary surgery procedure that offers both health and cosmetic benefits. The aim of the surgery is to create more proportional breasts with the overall body shape, and so to ease problems with health, activities and clothing. If breasts are not equal sized this surgery can help achieve breast symmetry. Nipple surgery can also be made to reduce the size of the areola. In fact, the breast reduction can be perfomed together with breast lift to achieve a fully satisfactory outcome. Breast reduction is almost the same process as with breast lift, but in this case a certain percentage of skin, fat and breast glands will be removed.

Preparation for your surgery

Your will get some useful instructions from your plastic surgeon to prepare for surgery, including guidelines on eating and drinking, smoking and taking or avoiding certain vitamins and medications. While making preparations, don’t forget to arrange someone who drives you home and who helps you at home for a few days after your surgery.

Instructions before the operation

• Women under 40 years have to undergo an ultrasound examination for both breasts and the axillary area, too. The laboratory report must not be older than 6 months.
• Women over 40 years have to undergo a mammography examination. The laboratory reports must not be older than a year.
• Your general practitioner has to issue a medical certificate to release you for the operation.
• A routine laboratory test must be made (blood cell count, ions, liver and kidney function, Prothrombin, blood sugar, blood group).
• ECG
• Thorax Roentgen
• Smoking and drinking alcohol is forbidden.
• Do not take aspirin and any medicine containing aspirin for 2 weeks before surgery.
• If you are regularly taking medicines, then you have to discuss with your surgeon which must be taken or left off.
• Do not eat or drink or smoke 6 hours before surgery. Chewing gums and drops are not permitted either.
• Before surgery you have to take off your rings, jewellery, piercing and take out your dentures, contact lenses and remove your make-up.
• The surgery of women should be performed outside the menstruation period.

The operation of breast reduction

Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. Before entering the operating room, the surgeon will ask you to sit upright and surgical markings will be drawn on your breasts to make the correct incisions later during surgery when you are lying down. Then the incision is made along the surgical markings. The procedure takes 2-3 hours depending on the complexity of the case. The excess skin, fat, and glandular tissues will be extracted. In most cases the nipples are moved to a higher position on the breast, but remain attached to the nerves and blood vessels. For very large breasts, however, the nipples may need to be moved to a completely new location. In these cases, the nipples will be removed from the underlying connecting tissues and you will lose sensation in the nipple. Upon completion of the procedure, stitches remain around the areola and nipple area, in a vertical line beneath the nipple and horizontally under the breast. Small drain tube will be places in your breasts to help avoid the accumulation of fluids and to help drain them off. Gauze dressings will be put on your breasts and covered with an elastic bandage.

Recovery after your breast reduction surgery

Due to the incisions and tissue removal your breasts will be sore, swollen, and bruised. This pain can be treated by medicaments that you can get from your plastic surgeon. After your surgery you have to spend at least 1 night in the clinic’s recovery-room. In the first two days antibiotics are given to the patient. If fever occurs, then you have to take antibiotics for further 6 days. On the second day the drainage will be removed. A special surgical bra has to be worn day and night for 6 weeks. Removing of the stitches takes place in 2 weeks after your surgery. Taking a shower is only permitted after the removal of the stitches. Refrain from heavy lifting and straining after surgery for three or four weeks. Easy body exercises are only permitted 4 weeks after surgery. Doing sports (tennis, jogging, swimming) is only possible after 6-8 weeks. Avoid intensive exposure to the sun for at least 2 -3 months in order to prevent pigmentation of the scars. The scars will swell and turn red in the first six months, only after 9-12 months they begin to flatten and fade away. You should know that scars will never disappear completely. Depending on the level of activity required, patients are generally able to return to work or school in approximately one week’s time.

Complications and risks of breast reduction

Everyone who is considering any kind of surgery should be aware of both its benefits and risks. As with any surgery, there is also a risk of complications for example: infection, bleeding, reactions to anesthesia. Immediately after surgery you may feel some pain, which can be treated by a prescription from the plastic surgeon. If the pain is more severe, additional follow-up visits may be scheduled. List of complications may include: infections, bleeding, skin and tissue necrosis, permanent loss of breast and nipple sensation, breastfeeding will not be possible after surgery, permanent unaesthetic scarring, breast asymmetry etc.

Price of breast reduction surgery

The prices below are just to your information. You can ask for a quotation if you send us pictures of the relevant area. However, the exact price of the surgery can only be given by the plastic surgeon after having a full consultation.

If you have any questions concerning further plastic-surgeries, we gladly answer all your questions. For more information, please contact us for a consultation appointment with our plastic surgeon.