Plastic surgery for breast reduction can help you feel more comfortable and confident in your body. Breast reduction surgery is a procedure that reduces the size of the breasts, helping to alleviate back pain and neck pain. The procedure involves removing excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts. It also involves repositioning the nipple and areola in order to create a more natural-looking breast contour.
The scars from this procedure are often hidden by clothing or easily concealed with makeup. A plastic surgeon will discuss your options with you before recommending breast reduction surgery as the best way to achieve your goals.
Read on to learn more about Best Plastic Surgeon In NJ For Breast Reduction, Do Implants Have To Be Replaced and What’s Involved in a Breast Augmentation Revision?
Best Plastic Surgeon In NJ For Breast Reduction
Breast reduction can help women achieve a smaller breast size and shape and reposition the nipple for natural-looking breasts. Large breasts can make it difficult for a women to exercise or wear clothing that she likes. Larger breasts often contribute to chronic neck, back, and shoulder pain. Women may also be more prone to chafing or skin irritation if they have larger breasts. Overly large breasts can also hinder a woman’s daily activity and cause a woman to be unhappy with her appearance. At Asaadi Plastic Surgery, we can help you reduce the size of your breasts and create beautifully symmetrical results.
WHAT IS BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY?
Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a procedure where excess breast fat and tissue are carefully removed through small incisions. After excess fat and tissue are removed from the breasts, any excess skin will also be removed to create youthful-looking, smaller breasts. Other than reducing the size of your breasts, breast reduction surgery can also help you achieve a natural-looking breast shape for the most pleasing results. The length of your breast reduction surgery depends on your individual case and the amount of excess breast fat and tissue being removed. Breast reduction is commonly performed through the pedicle technique.
While there are several variations of the pedicle technique, all pedicle breast reduction methods entail moving the nipple and areola higher up on the breast. The nipple and areola are attached to tissue that is called a pedicle, which is where the procedure gets its name from. The pedicle contains nerves, ducts, and a blood supply that will retain the functionality of your breast when it comes to breastfeeding. The pedicle technique varies depending on which part of the breast remains attached (above, below, or to the side of the areola). Preserving the circulation and sensation to the nipples during breast reduction surgery is of utmost importance. Venous congestion should be avoided. While the base of the pedicle does not need to be too wide, it should carry ample blood supply. Dr. Asaadi is very meticulous and pays close attention to the distance between the areola and inframammary line to compliment the patient’s height, weight, and breast size. Some patients choose to combine breast reduction surgery with a breast lift for lifted, youthful-looking breasts.
Many younger patients seek out breast reduction surgery. Reduction mammoplasty must be performed differently on a younger patient than an older patient. Younger patients often heal quicker with virtually little to no scarring. Younger women are often more concerned with perfectly shaped breasts and reducing the possibility of scarring. Breast reduction surgery should be performed with great detail so that no future augmentation is required. Dr. Asaadi goes to great lengths to ensure that every detail, no matter how small, is looked at to guarantee optimal breast reduction outcomes.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT BEFORE MY BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY?
A breast reduction consultation will begin with an examination of your breasts to determine what surgical technique is most appropriate. During your consultation, details about your particular breast reduction surgery will be discussed, such as where incisions will be placed and the amount of breast fat to be removed. Dr. Asaadi will also check your medical history and general medical health to ensure your wellbeing during breast reduction surgery. Ideal breast reduction candidates are looking to reduce the size of their breasts while achieving a more balanced, natural appearance.
Prior to your reduction mammoplasty, certain blood-thinning medications such as aspirin should be stopped. Dr. Asaadi can determine which medications should be stopped leading up to your breast reduction surgery. On the day of your surgery, you should wear loose-fitting, comfortable clothing with no jewelry or makeup. You should have a friend or family member accompany you to your reduction mammoplasty surgery, as you will be unable to drive following your procedure. We also recommend that you have someone stay with you for the first few days after your breast reduction surgery.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER MY BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY?
After your breast reduction surgery, drains may be placed to remove any excess fluid from your breasts to promote proper healing. Your breasts will be gently wrapped after breast reduction surgery, and this wrap will need to be changed 1-2 days after your reduction mammoplasty. You may also be given a support garment that you will wear after your breast reduction procedure. A support garment reduces the risk of hurting your healing breasts and can gently support them during your recovery. Support bras are often worn for the first few weeks after your breast reduction surgery to reduce any possibility of discomfort.
Your breasts may be sore after breast reduction surgery, and you may experience slight bruising, swelling, and discomfort. Breast reduction side effects vary depending on the extent of your surgery and if you have combined breast reduction surgery with another procedure, such as a breast lift. Your recovery period will also be affected by if you have drains placed in your breasts or not. Any stitches from your reduction mammoplasty surgery will be removed 1-2 weeks following your surgery.
You will not be able to bend or lift objects following your breast reduction surgery. You also may not workout, play sports, or partake in any strenuous activity for at least 1 month following your breast reduction procedure. Any pain, bruising, or swelling should fade in the days and weeks following your reduction mammoplasty. Dr. Asaadi can also prescribe oral medication to reduce any pain or discomfort you may feel. As you continue to heal, you will being to notice that your breasts are smaller, symmetrical, and natural-looking.
Do Implants Have To Be Replaced
One of the most common questions we get about breast implants is, “Is breast augmentation permanent?” Where there are many reasons why your breast implants may need to be replaced down the road, there isn’t a specific age or number of years that will automatically trigger the need for a breast implant replacement.
How Long Do Breast Implants Last?
Breast implants aren’t permanent, but they can be very long-lasting.
On average, breast implants tend to last 10 to 15 years before a revision may be necessary. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that yours will automatically need to be replaced as soon as your ten-year anniversary rolls around.
For some women, breast implants can last much longer than the average 10 or 15 years. Others may want to change the size, shape or type of implant well before the ten-year mark.
How Do I Know If My Implants Need to Be Replaced?
There are lots of reasons why you might want or need a breast augmentation revision, including:
- Capsular contracture
- Deflating, rippling or ruptured implants
- You want a change of style, size or shape
- Your body has changed due to pregnancy, menopause, weight gain or loss or other factors
- You no longer want breast implants
What’s Involved in a Breast Augmentation Revision?
In some cases, the same incisions from your initial breast augmentation can be used for your revision procedure. However, new incisions may be necessary in some situations to access the breast pocket and remove and replace your implants.
You will need to see your primary care physician for a preoperative physical within the 14 day period prior to your scheduled breast enlargement surgery at our AAAASF-accredited surgery facility, just as you would at a hospital. This is necessary to ensure you are in good medical condition for an anesthetic and operation. All surgeries and types of anesthesia have some risk, and every effort is made to reduce risk. A preoperative physical is an essential part of this process, just as a pilot’s checklist is before takeoff.
Besides being in good health prior to surgery, you must avoid drugs that can increase your risk for bleeding. This would include prescription drugs such as Lovenox, Coumadin, Xarelto, Warfarin, Plavix, and others. This also includes aspirin-containing products (Bayer™, Excedrin™, Anacin™, Bufferin™, Ecotrin™, and many multi-symptom medications — anything with acetylsalicylic acid [ASA, or aspirin]), ibuprofen-containing products (Advil™, Nuprin™, Mediprin™, Motrin™, and similar multi-symptom medicines containing ibuprofen), Aleve™ (naprosyn), or high-dose vitamins D and E (this interferes with vitamin K absorption, which is necessary for proper blood clotting). The dose of vitamins D and E in a daily multivitamin is not a problem, and a multivitamin in the weeks before surgery is a good idea. Except for the daily vitamin, all of the above medications should be avoided during the two weeks before and after surgery, since even one dose can interfere with proper blood clotting. Even a single baby aspirin can increase the risk of bleeding, capsular contracture, and re-operation.
You must also discontinue all herbal preparations you may be taking, as many of these remedies contain blood-thinning agents that can cause bleeding and require re-operation. Some herbal preparations can also interfere with anesthetic medications. Even over-the-counter appetite suppressants or “natural” diuretics can cause increased risk for anesthesia, and must be stopped a full two weeks before surgery.
If you have the Factor V Leiden gene, or other genetic bleeding/clotting disorders, you may need additional consultation with a Hematologist to minimize bleeding or clotting with this elective surgery. Oral contraceptive use, particularly in smokers, increases the potential for developing blood clots with any surgical procedure.
Tobacco use of any kind should be stopped completely two weeks before surgery to prevent post-operative coughing that can raise your blood pressure and increase the risk of bleeding or capsule formation, which can cause hard or painful breasts and require re-operation. If you are having a breast lift, the incisions needed to shape and lift the breasts may cause reduced circulation and difficulty healing; smoking even one cigarette, using nicotine gum, or exposure to second-hand smoke may cause areas of the breast skin or areola to die because of lack of circulation. Prolonged dressing changes, skin grafts, or additional surgery may be necessary if you continue even minimal tobacco or nicotine use or exposure. E-cigarettes or vaping with nicotine are not allowed.
On the day of your breast enlargement surgery, wear loose-fitting clothes, preferably something with front zipper so that it can be put on and taken off without raising one’s arms. You must bring a driver as you should not drive a car for the first two days after surgery or while on pain medications. Someone must also be with you the night of surgery, but this person does not need to be a nurse, just someone who can help with medications, ice bags, assist you to the bathroom, or answer the phone.