Breast reduction is a surgical procedure performed for women with large and heavy breasts. The goal of the procedure is to relieve both physical and psychological discomfort. Large breasts can lead to back, neck, and shoulder pain, postural issues, and difficulties in daily activities. Breast reduction can improve the patient’s quality of life and provide a more proportionate aesthetic appearance.
Reasons for Breast Reduction
Breast reduction is typically preferred for the following reasons:
- Physical Discomfort: Large breasts can cause back and neck pain, skin irritation, and postural problems.
- Psychological Discomfort: Having large breasts may negatively affect a woman’s self-confidence, leading to discomfort in social situations.
- Difficulty in Daily Activities: Engaging in sports, physical activities, or daily dressing may cause discomfort.
Surgical Process
Breast reduction is typically carried out with the following steps:
- Consultation and Planning: The first step involves evaluating the patient’s expectations and health condition. The surgeon then recommends the most suitable methods and techniques.
- Surgical Procedure: Performed under anesthesia, the procedure generally takes 2-4 hours. Excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are removed to create smaller and more proportionate breasts. The incision methods may vary depending on breast size and sagging:
- Periareolar Incision: This method, which makes an incision around the areola, leaves the least visible scarring.
- Lollipop Technique: A vertical incision made from the areola downwards, used when more tissue needs to be removed.
- T-Incision: A technique involving both vertical and horizontal incisions, typically used when a significant amount of tissue needs to be removed.
Recovery Process
- Patients are generally discharged the same day, but resting for a few days is recommended.
- The recovery process varies from person to person but typically lasts 4-6 weeks.
- Swelling and bruising are normal; sutures are usually removed within 1-2 weeks, and scars will gradually fade over time.
