What To Know About Breast Reduction Surgery
Breast reduction surgery is an operation to make the breasts smaller. Most patients request breast reduction for medical reasons and to improve their overall quality of life, for instance, to ease back and neck pains or to be able to exercise with ease. Here is a look at what the main reasons for having the procedure are, and what it involves.
How is breast reduction surgery carried out?
The procedure involves removing excess tissue, skin, and fat, from the chest area. The remaining breast tissue will be reshaped, and the nipple and areola will be repositioned higher up the breast to give a better shape and appearance. The surgery normally takes two to three hours, and is carried out under general anaesthetic.
Reasons for having a breast reduction
Women with large breasts may find that it causes them back ache, or pain in the neck and shoulders, leading to poor posture. Rashes and skin infections may occur underneath the breasts, which are difficult to treat, and bra straps can cut into the skin. The weight and bulk of the breasts may also make exercising difficult for many women.
Women with large breasts may also have mental health problems, such as poor body image and depression. Smaller, higher breasts can open up more clothing choices, because it helps to create a more in-proportion body shape. This can boost self-esteem, and lead to a better all-round sense of wellbeing, improved sleep, and happier relationships.
Who is suitable for breast reduction?
Anyone considering surgery will be assessed by a medical professional, to assess whether they are a suitable candidate. The candidate should ideally be a non-smoker, and not clinically obese.
A history of severe heart disease, uncontrolled diabetes or other major medical ailments may mean that the procedure is advised against as a reason why the candidate may not be fit enough to undergo surgery.
If you are planning to have children after surgery, you may be advised that the breast size could temporary increase again during pregnancy and breast feeding. It is also possible that you may not be able to fully breast feed, so it is important to discuss this in advance with the surgeon.
If you are having the surgery for cosmetic reasons, it’s important to ask yourself why you want it done. It should not be because you feel under pressure from others to look a certain way, or because you think that it would resolve deeper problems in your life.
Bear in mind that all surgery carries risks, and it may not be the shortcut to changing your life that you hoped it might be.
Choosing a surgeon
If you are certain of your reasons for going ahead, make sure that you choose a surgeon who is suitably qualified, registered with the General Medical Council, and ask what previous experience they have. They should provide a full pre-op assessment, explain to you how the surgery is carried out, what the risks are, and what the recovery process is.
If you would like more information about breast reconstruction in Yorkshire or Lincolnshire, please get in touch today.