Just like many women choose breast augmentation when they feel their natural breasts are too small for their physique, other women seek cosmetic surgery when they feel their natural breasts are too large. The procedure, called a breast reduction surgery, removes excess breast fat and tissues to create smaller, symmetrical and proportional breasts.

Breast reduction can be life-changing for women whose breasts are too large. Not only can large breasts make a woman feel self-conscious or limit her clothing options, but they can also cause severe pain and discomfort in the back, neck and shoulders and prevent a woman from being as active or fit as she would like. With breast reduction surgery, women can be free to feel confident and pursue the lifestyle they have always wanted.

For women interested in breast reduction surgery in Boca Raton, FL, and the surrounding areas, Daniel Man, M.D., offers expert cosmetic surgery and services in a comfortable, welcoming and compassionate environment. Dr. Man is a board-certified plastic surgeon, internationally recognized for his craft and highly sought after for his expertise and bedside manner. His experience in plastic surgery for the face and body, including breast reduction, is unparalleled in the Boca Raton area and beyond. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and discover how a breast reduction can help you look and feel your best.

*Disclaimer – Results will vary.

 

Dr. Man’s Patient Gives a Live Review of Breast Reduction Results!

Breast reduction is ideal for women who have overly large breasts, heavy breasts with areolas and nipples that point downward due to sagging, asymmetrical breasts, or feel self-conscious or unhappy with the attention they receive because of their oversized breasts.

What Is a Breast Reduction?

Breast reduction is a cosmetic surgery that is specifically intended to decrease the size of female breasts, while also improving breast symmetry and shape if needed. Breast reduction is also called reduction mammoplasty.

At our practice, we empower women to make choices for their body based on their own preferences and comfort. Thousands of women pursue breast reduction every year because they are unhappy with their breast size, because their breasts are disproportionately large or because the weight of their breasts is causing them physical pain. The procedure can create beautifully shaped breasts that are proportional and comfortable, providing relief from the problems that overly large breasts often cause.

Benefits of Breast Reduction

Breast reduction provides a solution for women who are unhappy with their breasts and who wish to enhance their figure, regain lost firmness and volume or restore balance to their bodies. The highly customizable procedure allows patients to choose how much breast volume they would like to remove, to address concerns with symmetry or sagging and to create breasts that better complement their body type. Breast reduction also offers the following benefits:

  • Relieves breast-related back, shoulder and neck pain
  • Allows clothing to fit better
  • Makes finding well-fitting undergarments and swimsuits easier
  • Can improve breast shape and symmetry
  • Improves self-confidence

Is Breast Reduction Right for Me?

Breast reduction is ideal for women who have uncomfortably large breasts, asymmetrical breasts or heavy breasts with areolas and nipples that point downward due to sagging, or for women who feel self-conscious or unhappy with the attention they receive because of their breast size. Breast reduction can especially help patients who:

  • Constantly experience neck, shoulder and back pain
  • Have poor posture due to the weight of their breasts
  • Notice numbness in their breasts and upper chest due to the strain
  • Experience shoulder pain from bra straps
  • Want a figure that is more balanced or better proportioned
  • Wish that clothing fit better and was more comfortable
  • Feel self-conscious wearing a swimsuit or revealing tops
  • Receive unwanted attention because of their breast size
  • Can see that one breast is much larger than the other

Patients seeking a breast reduction should be in overall good health, non-smokers and able to understand and accept the risks and limitations of cosmetic surgeries. If you are in the midst of weight loss efforts, Dr. Man may ask that you are within 10 to 15 pounds of your goal weight before undergoing surgery to ensure that your results are optimal and long-lasting. In addition, patients with extremely large breasts may require their nipples and areolas to be detached and shifted higher for best results. In these cases, the ability to breastfeed will be lost along with some sensation, so patients in this category should not plan on becoming pregnant in the future.

The best way to find out if you are a candidate for a breast reduction is to schedule an in-person consultation with Dr. Man at our comfortable offices in Boca Raton, FL. During this appointment, Dr. Man will work with you to evaluate your concerns, learn about your aesthetic goals and determine if a breast reduction is the best procedure for you at this time.

Watch Dr. Man’s Actual Breast Reduction Results

How involved is a Breast Reduction Procedure

Each patient receives a custom surgical plan based on Dr. Man’s evaluation of their body type and the results they want to achieve. The most common type of breast reduction we perform uses a traditional approach of three incisions in the shape of an anchor: one incision around the areola, one from the areola down the vertical face of the breast and one along the inframammary fold where the breast meets the chest wall. This type of breast reduction does leave visible scarring, but all scars are easily hidden by undergarments or swimsuit tops, and most patients’ scars fade well and heal flat over time.

Other incision patterns may be used depending on the size of the patient’s breasts, how much breasts sag and where the nipples and areolas are positioned. These may include:

  • A donut incision (periareolar) is a simple circle around the areola
  • A keyhole incision (or lollipop incision) combines the areola circle with two diagonal lines running vertically down from the areolas to the breast crease

Some patients may be able to have a reduction solely using liposuction, which removes excess fat via a cannula through a micro-incision. Candidates for this kind of procedure are usually post-menopausal, have fatty breasts rather than fibrous ones and do not have significant sagging. Liposuction can also be used to correct asymmetrical breasts.

Patients with significant breast sagging may choose to combine their breast reduction with a breast lift to redistribute breast volume and reposition a drooping nipple-areola complex. This portion of the surgery does not require any incisions other than those already created for the reduction portion.

The breast reduction procedure is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia with IV sedation, depending on the patient’s preferences and surgical plan. During the surgery, Dr. Man removes excess breast tissue, fat and skin, and carefully shifts the nipple and areola to a higher position. The areolas can be reduced in size if desired. Skin located above the nipple is pulled down and sutured precisely together to reshape the breast. Liposuction may also be used to improve the contour under the arm.

In most cases, Dr. Man places drains in the breasts to collect excess fluid. At that point, he closes breast incisions with sutures that hold the deeper layers of breast tissue and the superficial layers of skin together to create youthful, firm looking breasts.

Most breast reduction procedures will take between three and five hours. The procedure may take longer if a breast lift is performed at the same time.

Preparing for Breast Reduction

Your consultation appointment will be your first step in the breast reduction process. Dr. Man will examine, measure and photograph each patient’s breasts during their consultation to evaluate their candidacy and needs. He considers the following before making a recommendation:

  • The current breast shape and size you have
  • The breast shape and size you want to have
  • The quality and quantity of your existing breast tissue
  • The location of your areola and nipple
  • The quality of your skin

If Dr. Man determines that you are a candidate for this procedure at this time, he will provide you with detailed instructions on how to prepare in the days leading up to your surgery. These instructions may include, but are not limited to:

  • Having a complete physical
  • Having a mammogram
  • Losing some weight
  • Ceasing smoking at least 6 weeks before surgery
  • Stopping aspirin or other NSAIDs that can cause bleeding
  • Staying hydrated
  • Buying clothing that is easy to get into and out of without raising your arms
  • For mothers with infants or toddlers under five years of age, arranging for childcare for the two weeks following your surgery
  • Establishing a no-fail support system (you will not be allowed to drive a car, clean, do laundry, or lift anything for two weeks)

After Breast Reduction Surgery

Immediately following the procedure, patients are moved to a recovery room to rest comfortably until the anesthesia begins to wear off. Any necessary medications are administered to prevent infection and minimize discomfort. Patients will be able to return home to begin their recovery in the care of a pre-arranged friend or family member who will stay with them for at least 24 hours after surgery.

Patients may also opt to stay at our comfortable, private surgical center for the first 24 hours, where they can be monitored and cared for by our staff. Our nurses are all ACLS certified, and our facility has specialized recovery options including chest wall cooling methods to reduce pain and swelling, a hyperbaric chamber and oxygen treatments to speed healing.

How is the Recovery from Breast Reduction Surgery?

Dr. Man and our team will supply you and your caretaker with detailed instructions on the recovery process. You will be able to ask Dr. Man any questions you may have about recovery before your surgery, and we are always available to address any concerns that arise during the healing process.

Immediately following your surgery, your breast tissue will feel tender and somewhat tight. The first 48 hours are usually the most intense regarding limited range of motion and pain levels. We recommend having someone at home with you for about a week to take over usual daily tasks, especially for childcare or other household responsibilities. You will not be able to lift your arms or lift heavy objects, and you should rest as much as possible. We recommend sleeping on an incline, taking short walks around the house to promote blood flow and following a nutritious recovery diet.

A surgical bra with gauze inserted to cover the incisions must be worn for the first three days. Dr. Man does not normally require a compression wrap for breast reduction, but most patients do have surgical drains that will require some care and bandaging. Low-compression support garments must be worn for several weeks to hold the breasts in place during the healing process.

Breast reduction is a significant surgery with a longer recovery than that of a breast lift or augmentation. You should plan on being away from work for at least three to four weeks, depending on the nature of your job. You cannot lift more than five pounds or anything over your head nor engage in any strenuous activity until Dr. Man has cleared you to do so. You will have regular follow-up appointments scheduled so Dr. Man can monitor your progress and advise you on when to resume various activities.

By 6 to 10 weeks after surgery, patients should start feeling much more comfortable with range of movement, and any discomfort should be almost completely gone. It usually takes about six months for a patient to become fully accustomed to their new breasts. If you have any questions or concerns during the recovery process — especially if a high temperature develops, or if one or both of your breasts are excessively swollen, tender to the touch, painful, red or inflamed — please reach out to us to talk to one of our team members or to schedule a follow-up appointment with Dr. Man.

How Long Do Results Last?

Under normal circumstances, breast reduction results can last for years. However, the procedure cannot stop natural changes in your body over time, and several factors can lead to a need for additional procedures. Situations that can lead to changes in your breasts include:

  • Pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing
  • Aging and gravity
  • Weight gain or loss
  • Hormonal changes

How Much Does Breast Reduction Cost?

The cost of breast reduction is different for each patient and is based on several variables including the extent of the procedure, the type of breast reduction performed, and whether it is done in conjunction with another procedure. Dr. Man will discuss costs with you during your consultation and can explain the financing and payment options we offer to make breast reduction available to all. In some cases, breast reduction may be eligible for insurance coverage based on a woman’s physical symptoms and the details of her surgery. Please check with your insurance provider for more information.

What Do I Do Next?

The first step towards a breast reduction is scheduling a consultation with Dr. Man. At this appointment, he takes time to get to know you and your goals, evaluate your breasts, and discuss possible treatment options with you. Some of the information he requires includes:

  • A full medical history
  • Any past or present medical conditions
  • Medical treatments you have received in the past
  • Past surgeries or hospitalizations
  • Allergies or sensitivities
  • Current medications
  • Current mammogram results
  • Family history of breast cancer
  • Any plans for weight loss
  • Any plans for pregnancy

When you work with Dr. Man for your breast reduction, you will be an active participant in developing your plan of treatment. You will be well educated about your options and carefully guided through the procedure and recovery process, ensuring your safety and your satisfaction. When you choose Dr. Man for your breast lift, you gain access to a top surgeon, expert surgical staff and exceptional surgery resources. We can help you achieve the breast size and shape that you desire so that you can feel confident and free to pursue the lifestyle you choose. Please contact us to set up your consultation today.

*The information about breast reduction was reviewed by Dr. Daniel Man. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.