The Benefits of Breast Reduction for Women’s Health and Lifestyle

Not all women dream of having bigger breasts. Sometimes women who already have big breasts experience physical and emotional discomfort, pain in the spine, inconvenience in choosing underwear and clothes, and during physical activity because of the large size of their mammary glands. 

Reduction of mammaplasty helps to improve the quality of life for such women. It’s a breast reduction surgery to remove a part of adipose tissue and skin. 

Indications for the Breast Reduction Surgery

• The large volume of the mammary glands cause aesthetic discomfort to the patient;
• Childbirth and breastfeeding due to the breast prolapse that occurs after these processes;
• Frequent rash and inflammation in the fold under the breast due to its large size and the difficulty of hygienic care;
• Deformities of the spine, displacement of the vertebral discs due to gigantomastia;
• Difficulties in passing necessary health examinations (ultrasound of the mammary glands, mammography);
• Sagging (ptosis), loss of shape of the breast as a result of age-related changes in the skin and subcutaneous fat;
• Breast prolapse after a sharp rapid weight loss (on a slender body, a large sagging chest looks disproportional and disharmonious)
• Asymmetry in the development of the mammary glands - one breast is 1-2 sizes larger than the other.

Contraindications to the Breast Reduction Surgery

The desire and indications for this kind of surgery may not be enough to consider it an option. Like any other surgical intervention, breast reduction has its contraindications:

• Acute bacterial and viral diseases;
• Chronic illnesses in the acute stage;
• Uncompensated diseases of the endocrine system (for example, diabetes mellitus);
• Obesity III-IV degree;
• Severe chronic diseases (renal, liver, cardiovascular insufficiency);
• Cancer;
• Arterial hypertension with high-pressure figures;
• Pathology of blood coagulation;
• Severe mental illness.

Stages of Breast Reduction

Reduction mammaplasty is performed in several stages:

1. Preparation

Before the surgery, the following tests are required:

• General analysis of blood, urine
• Biochemical blood test
• Blood test for glucose, Rh factor, and group
• Test for viral hepatitis B and C, syphilis, HIV
• Coagulogram

In addition, an ECG and ultrasound exam of the mammary glands will be required.

2. Pain relief

Often for general anesthesia, the gas is used during this type of surgery. It is an advanced system for dealing with pain during surgery. Its advantages are that the risk of premature recovery from anesthesia is eliminated, the time to recover from anesthesia is minimized and the process is easier and gentler as the psycho-emotional comfort for the patient is maintained.

3. The actual breast reduction surgery. 

Depending on the volume of the lift, the surgeon chooses the necessary incision (periareolar lift, vertical incision, T-shaped, anchor lift). A part of skin and glandular tissue is excised and the nipple-areolar complex is transferred to a new position.

The approximate time of the surgery is 2-3 hours, depending on the anatomical features.

4. Recovery period.

Within 2-3 days after the intervention, it will be necessary to stay in the clinic. 

The main recommendations for a reduction and a smoother process of rehabilitation:

• Wearing a special compression bra up to 1.5 months;
• Proper sleep position - in the first 3 weeks it is recommended to sleep on your back with a pillow raised at an angle of 30 degrees;
• Hygiene - warm showers are allowed from the first day after surgery, and hot baths are not recommended until 4 weeks after it;
• Sports - you can resume your usual activity from day 1, but sports will have to be postponed for 6 months;
• Sexual activity is not recommended for 1 week after surgery;
• Pregnancy - you can plan a pregnancy in a year after surgery;
• Examinations - be sure to visit the doctor in the first 6 months and a year after surgery.