ON THIS PAGE
What is a Breast Reduction?
Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure designed to reduce the size of one or both breasts by removing excess breast tissue and skin while also reshaping them to create a more proportionate body silhouette. Many women with overly large breasts experience back, shoulder, and neck pain and find it difficult to exercise or find clothes that fit well, meaning breast reduction can be a life-changing procedure. Breast reduction can also help to improve your self-confidence for a better quality of life.
Who is a Candidate?
Many women with very large breasts experience back, shoulder, or neck aches, skin irritation under the breasts, difficulty breathing, or grooves in their shoulders from bra straps. If you experience any of these symptoms, are in good health, have good skin elasticity, and are finished having children and breastfeeding, a breast reduction procedure may be right for you.
Even in the absence of symptoms, some women may desire a smaller breast size and perkier breasts. Women who have not yet had children may wish to undergo breast reduction and often are able to successfully breastfeed after surgery since the nipple is rarely manipulated. Puberty and weight can both influence the size of the breasts, so women considering breast reduction should be stable in their cup size beyond puberty and should have finished any desired weight loss prior to proceeding with surgery.
Many women who consider breast reduction surgery report that the weight of their breasts gets in the way of daily activities such as sports or exercise and having smaller breasts after surgery gives them freedom. Candidacy can be determined during an in-office consultation with Dr. Sweat.
Jeffery A.Sweat, M.D.
“Bringing out inner confidence and helping the patient through their own personal journey makes what we do so fun and rewarding.”
Meet Doctor Sweat
What our patients say
View Testimonials
The Procedure
Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient surgery. A breast reduction is often done along with a breast lift to remove excess skin and ensure the best results. How much breast tissue can be safely removed will be determined during a breast reduction consultation. There are a selection of incision patterns that can be used during this procedure, including:
The Vertical (Lollipop) Incision
This incision is created around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease. It’s ideal if you have a mild to moderate amount of breast ptosis. When performed in combination with a breast implant, this is the most common type of lift pattern that Dr. Sweat performs. While you may be understandably concerned about the associated scarring with a lift, the improvement in breast shape often outweighs this concern, and the vertical incision tends to heal and fade extremely well with time.
The Inverted-T (Anchor) Incision
This incision is created around the areola, vertically down to the breast crease, and then horizontally along the breast crease. It’s best if you have a significant amount of breast sag. While more commonly used for breast reduction in selected circumstances, this extensive scar pattern is rarely necessary for breast lift procedures performed at J. Sweat Plastic Surgery in Sacramento.
The Peri-Areolar (Donut) Incision
This incision is created just around the areola and is ideal if you have a mild amount of breast sag. While the lift associated with this procedure is minimal, so is the associated scarring. However, this technique tends to flatten the projection of the breast and can stretch the nipple significantly.
Benefits
of Breast Reduction
Breast reduction can offer perhaps more benefits than any other breast procedure. Dr. Sweat can discuss them at length during a consultation.
The Results
Drains may be placed in incisions to collect any excess fluids during your breast reduction recovery, though drains are rarely necessary. You’ll need to wear a special surgical bra to minimize swelling and support the breast tissue during healing. Swelling and bruising will be present, and any discomfort can be controlled with pain medication. Sleep in a reclining position with your torso elevated. Strenuous activities and exercise must be avoided during recovery. Your breast reduction results will gradually appear as swelling subsides, with final results after three to six months.
Contact Us
Contact J. Sweat Plastic Surgery today if you’re seeking more information about our services or want to schedule a consultation. Fill out the form, and our friendly team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Reach Out
