Breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) is a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure. It involves breast size reduction by excising fat, skin, and glandular tissue. In general, it counteracts drooping of the breasts.

Breast reduction is oriented toward women with pendulous, large breasts, since the weight of their breasts causes various problems. Back pain in particular can be an issue for women with large breasts. Sometimes the discomfort is more emotional than physical due to disproportionately large breast size as compared to other body features. Reduction mammoplasty can provide the surgery recipient with smaller, lighter, and firmer breasts. The surgeon may also reduce the size of the areola or nipples.

If you have overly large breasts then you may consider them to be more a liability than an asset. This is where a breast reduction, technically known as a mammoplasty may help relieve you of the physical burden and physical complaints caused by breasts that are too large. Here are just a few of the main reasons why you might be considering a breast reduction.

• Your breasts look “top heavy” or out of proportion to the rest of your body
• Carrying the excess frontal weight is causing you to have back or neck problems
• The excess frontal weight caused by large breasts is hampering your breathing
• Your breasts are so heavy that bra straps cause chafing and indentations in the flesh of your shoulders.
• You want people to look at you instead of your breasts for a change

Fortunately all of the above reasons are perfectly legitimate justifications for having breast reduction surgery. The procedure involves removing fat, glands and skin from the breasts to reduce their size. The operation may also involve nipple areola reduction (the circle of darker flesh that surrounds the nipple.) In all breast reduction operations the repositioning of the nipple in its entirety is a necessity.

The best candidates for breast reduction are women who have back pain or other physical problems that may be caused by their large breasts. In this case, the plastic surgery may actually be covered by health insurance, especially if the doctor can confirm that the huge breasts restrict the individual from performing every day activities and are having a debilitating effect on health.

Breast reduction is not recommended for women who are still maturing, are pregnant or who intend to breast feed in the future. As it is major surgery, it is also not recommended for people who smoke or who have an underlying serious disease such as an immune disorder.

There are also certain risks that the candidate must know before undergoing breast reduction. These include bleeding, infection or a reaction to anesthesia. Also, many individuals develop small cysts and sores around the area of the nipple after this type of plastic surgery. Usually these sores are treated with an antibiotic cream.

Like the breast lift and getting breast implants, a breast reduction also leaves your breasts with a noticeable scar. There may also be permanent numbness in the nipple area. The operation can also leave you with slightly asymmetrical breasts or unevenly positioned nipples. The reason it is not recommended for women who are planning a pregnancy in the future is that such surgery also removes the milk ducts that supply milk to the nipples during nursing.

Your plastic surgeon will more than likely discuss your surgery with you before hand. After examining your breasts and considering your age, skin condition and general health, he or she will discuss what kind of breast reduction is possible in your case. As this surgery displaces the nipple, usually there will be a discussion about where you would like the nipple repositioned on your breasts as well.

As a breast reduction is very serious invasive operation, you need to make arrangements to take some time off work if you decide to have it. Your doctor will also probably advise you to have several units of your blood drawn before the surgery as the removal of breast tissue can cause a great deal of bleeding. Depending on how you respond to the procedure, you may be out of the hospital the same day or within two weeks.

During the operation itself, your plastic surgeon is most likely to make an anchor shaped incision that extends from the nipple to beneath the curve of the breast. The fat, tissue and excess skin are then removed and the plastic surgeon places the nipple and areola into their new position. In some cases, liposuction may be used to remove excess fat deposits from the chest area and beneath the armpits. If you experience a lot of bleeding during the operation a small tube called a shunt may be temporarily placed in each breast to drain off the excess fluid. Breast reduction recovery can take a considerable time. Heavy duty stitches are also used to sew up this type of wound and they are usually not removed until three weeks after the operation.

Be forewarned that breast reduction surgery can be very painful and you may find moving around, breathing deeply, hiccupping and coughing to be distressing. The plastic surgeon may prescribe heavy painkillers as well as an elastic bandage to minimize this initial discomfort.

You may also be instructed to avoid sex for a week or more as sexual arousal can cause the incisions around your nipple to swell. Some women also experience a loss of sensation in their nipple area which may be permanent or temporary. In most cases, nipple sensitivity is regained within a year.

As a breast reduction is major surgery that requires at least three hours under major sedation you may find yourself feeling fatigued for several weeks afterwards. The key to getting better quicker is to wear a good support bra, avoid strenuous activity and sex and to follow post-operative instructions for self-care as closely as you can.