Breast reduction removes excess breast tissue and skin to reduce the size of the breasts. The surgeon will make an incision around the areola (the darker area around the nipple) and remove excess fat, glandular tissue (milk-producing glands), and skin from underneath the breast. The surgeon may also remove some of the muscles in your chest wall if they are causing problems with your posture or creating a pulled-down look to your breast.
Breast reduction surgery, also called reduction mammaplasty, is a procedure that reduces the size of the breasts. The procedure is done on women who have overly large breasts that cause them pain and discomfort, such as backaches, neck and shoulder pain, skin irritation, and difficulty sleeping.
Read on to learn more about Best Silicone Sheets For Breast Reduction Scars, Breast Reduction Scar Treatment and Best Shirts To Wear After Breast Augmentation
Best Silicone Sheets For Breast Reduction Scars
One of the most common questions we receive from our patients before surgery is, “Will this leave a scar?” Anytime skin is cut, surgically or otherwise, there will be a scar. There are various things we can do to minimize scarring, one being silicone sheeting.
What are silicone gel strips/silicone sheeting?
These strips are thin, pliable, and 100% silicone to occlude the scar, which helps the body to maintain moisture during the healing process and regulate collagen production, therefore, minimizing scarring. Whenever our skin integrity is altered, whether by incision or injury, the body uses its natural defenses by producing collagen to heal the wound. Without proper care, these areas can overproduce collagen leading to hypertrophy (raised or bumpy) or keloid formation.
Why use silicone gel strips after surgery?
Studies have shown a reduction in keloid (thick, raised scars) with silicone sheets. Anecdotally, many surgeons feel sheeting helps normal scars heal better.
How do the silicone strips get used?
You will receive a pack of sheeting specific for your scar pattern that contains two to four 1mm thick strips. Each strip can cover any scar from 1-6 inches in length but can be cut for you specifically. Each strip has an easy-peel backing and is flexible, durable, and reusable for up to 3 months.
Directions for application:
- Once your surgical incisions have healed and no longer have scabbing or open areas, you can start using your gel strips.
- Remove gel sheeting from packaging and trim, if necessary, to fit. Sheet should extend at least ½ inch beyond the area.
- Make sure your scar is clean and dry before application, free from any creams, gels, ointments, or powders.
- Peel off backing and apply to scar, sticky side down.
- Wear daily for 12 to 22 hours for approximately 3 months.
- If gel sheeting loses its stickiness, wash gently with a mild soap and cool water, lay flat to air dry. This will allow it to become sticky again.
- It is important not to apply sheeting if you plan on swimming, sweating, or bathing. Remove the strips before working out and showering.
How long do you wear the sheets?
We recommend wearing the sheets for 12 to 22 hours, making sure you remove them daily to allow the area to be washed and cleaned. Most people wear them for about 3 months.
When should you stop wearing the sheeting?
We recommend wearing the sheets for about 3 months or when advised by one of our team members that it is ok to stop. If you encounter any redness or irritation after starting the silicone or have a known allergy, please contact us immediately. Furthermore, if you feel any areas along your incision that may contain a suture, please stop using the silicone sheeting and contact your surgeon.
Breast Reduction Scar Treatment
A breast reduction, also known as “reduction mammoplasty,” is a surgical procedure performed by a plastic surgeon aimed at reducing the size of one or both breasts. There are many reasons why a woman might elect to undergo breast reduction surgery. But whether it’s to restore functionality to the breasts, improve their cosmetic appearance, or regain confidence, noticeable scars will result. Post-operative care and scar management is an important step to ensure the best cosmetic outcome after your breast reduction procedure.
Continue reading to learn all about breast reduction surgeries and what you can do post-operatively to care for your scars.
What are breast reduction surgeries for?
The enlargement of the breasts is a common problem for a lot of women. There are a number of causes for this condition, many of which aren’t harmful to a woman’s health. Early maturation, weight gain, and a rare condition known as “breast hypertrophy” can contribute to the overgrowth of breast tissue. Other factors that influence bust size include genetics, hormonal changes, and pregnancy. Most women develop large breasts during the pubertal stage of breast development, but later-stage enlargement can occur as a result of a number of other factors.
Women with enlarged breasts often feel that their bust size is disproportionate to their body size and wish to improve symmetry by having a reductive procedure. Sometimes this is done solely to enhance the cosmetic appearance of the breasts, but it may also be a corrective measure for a number of physiological issues. Breast enlargement can induce severe neck, back, and shoulder pain, which can deteriorate a woman’s health and infringe on daily activities. In addition to enhancing one’s physical well-being, breast reductions can restore confidence in one’s self-image.
Many people consider breast reduction surgery a female-only procedure. But more and more men are going under the knife to rectify a condition known as gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is a generally harmless condition characterized by the enlargement of male breasts from excessive glandular and fat tissue growth. A hormonal imbalance resulting from the overproduction of estrogen in men can lead to this disorder. Reductive surgeries for gynecomastia are primarily cosmetic in nature and leave only slight scarring around the areola.
Types of breast reduction incisions
There are several techniques a plastic surgeon might employ when performing a breast reduction procedure. The type of incision made to the breast depends on the woman’s anatomy, her desired shape, and the amount of breast tissue to be removed. Each of the following incision types will produce a different scar shape and size.
Best Shirts To Wear After Breast Augmentation
With over 300,000 breast augmentations performed in the US, women are curious about how to make their surgery smooth and complication-free. In most instances, breast augmentation involves the placement of a silicone implant beneath the pectoralis muscle, the site is beneath the breast itself.
Why Submuscular is the preferred placement of Implants
There are several reasons why this is the most common approach for this operation.
- First, the implant looks more natural as there is additional tissue than the breast alone to cover the implant. This helps to achieve a more natural look where the edges of the implant are camouflaged.
- Next, the incidence of capsular contracture is reduced significantly when the implant is in the sub-muscular space. This helps to provide a more long-lasting result and reduce the need for revisionary surgery.
- Finally, the ability to image the breast in a mammogram is not compromised with the implant in this location. This helps with the long-term breast health maintenance that is important to all women.
What are the Post-Breast Augmentation Clothes
Since it is most likely that the implant will be in a submuscular position, there is likely to be some discomfort with the movement of the pectoralis muscle. Thus, patients should limit the movement of their arms away from their body, which will stretch the chest. This can create a little discomfort. Thus, we find that most women will initially want easy on and off garments such as a zip-up hoody or button-up blouses. These tend to be the easiest for the first week of surgery.
During this time, we will provide a bra for the majority of patients to wear. This is a relatively snug, front-zip bra with a wide and soft band preventing too much irritation to the incision. Usually, this is an issue with patients who choose a breast crease incision since this is the spot where the band of the bra is most compressive. That way there is less risk of incisional irritation and possible breakdown.
After the first week
Most patients can wear any item of clothing they choose. However, the bra is restricted to a soft, compressive sports bra for the majority of the time for the first three weeks. Patients will have a greater range of motion and find it easier to get into any outfit they choose. Patients can find different sports bras if needed, but it is best to check with your doctor to ensure the fit is proper and allowing for an uneventful healing process.
At three weeks
Patients can change their bra to a soft, non-underwire and non-push-up style during the day or at work. Once they return home, patients should return to wearing a sports bra again to prevent prolonged compression on the scar. This could lead to scar irritation and unfavorable scarring. Patients are asked to avoid lace bras or more structured lingerie as this again will distort the breast and possibly displace the implant from the pocket created in surgery.
When to wear normal clothes
Once a patient has reached six weeks from their surgical date, they can wear any article of clothing without restriction. We normally recommend that patients avoid any clothing that is causing them pain or discomfort. Again, this may be an indication of an improper fit and can lead to issues with the healing process. Many patients find that a comfortable sports bra is the most effective choice since it takes time to adjust to your new anatomy. Keep in mind that this is a generalized schedule and each patient may need a variation on this timeline. This timeline should be based on the procedure and how it was performed.
If this is a revision procedure, there are indications for patients to wear an underwire bra early in the recovery process as pocket surgery may need reinforcement. Your doctor should guide you with specific limitations and requirements through the entire course of your recovery.