San Diego
plastic surgery -
La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre patient
Breast Reduction Plastic Surgery in San Diego
Most often when we think of breasts and plastic surgery, our minds jump to breast augmentation. We hear a lot about breast enlargement, but a significant number of women in San Diego and elsewhere have the exact opposite concern. Their breasts are too big - not too small. This physical characteristic can bring about body image issues and is often associated with actual physical discomfort and limitation in lifestyle choices.
Women in San Diego are not alone in their concern about overly large breasts - men have the same concern. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, it is estimated that "40 to 60 percent of men" think they have overdevelopment of their breasts. Men with "breasts" often experience body image issues. In warm climates like La Jolla and San Diego, they might feel too embarrassed to even take off their t-shirts when they go to the beach or to the pool. In women, the medical condition of large breasts is called Breast Hypertrophy and in men, Gynecomastia.
The treatment for Breast Hypertrophy in women is usually surgery. In a small percentage of cases, when the amount of skin is not excessive, liposuction can be used to remove excess fat. In men, liposuction has become the treatment of choice and breast reduction surgery is used only for the more serious cases. If you want to learn more about the surgical solutions for men, please refer to our article on Gynecomastia.
Women with very large breasts have a variety of complaints. Most of them are due to the excessive weight they carry in the breast area. Symptoms include back, neck, and shoulder pain, skin irritation under the breasts (chaffing), and even bra straps grooving the skin. It can also limit activities such as jogging and "working out." Many women are self-conscious about having large breasts and don't like the sagging that accompanies a larger breast size.
The best candidate for a breast reduction is a woman who understands that her body shape will undergo significant change and has realistic expectations about what the surgery can achieve. The procedure not only reduces the size of the breast, it also lifts the position of the nipple and breast. Some patients also have an areola reduction at the same time as the Mammaplasty. Please review the before and after pictures on our website of breast reduction patients, which will give you a good idea of the type of size and contouring changes that occur.
In many cases, breast reduction surgery is considered to be medically necessary and will be covered by insurance. "Prior authorization" from your insurance company can be obtained in some cases. If your case is not covered, you will need to pay for the procedure personally. If funding the procedure is a concern for you, look into our patient financing programs that are available for cosmetic procedures. Some even have an "interest free" option within their contract terms.
The actual breast reduction procedure is one that has been done for many years. The techniques used by surgeons are quite standardized. The incision areas are typically around the areola, with an incision line down from the middle of the areola connecting to a curved scar under the breast. A simple visual analogy is to think of an anchor shape. The points of entry afforded the surgeon through these incision points allow them to remove fat, extra tissue and skin, reposition the nipple, and lift and reshape the breast all in the same procedure.
The scars in this operation are visible, but are as well hidden as possible. They are usually (but not always) completely covered by your bra. While each surgeon does his best to hide the scars as much as possible, it is not guaranteed that you won't notice them or that it might not affect some of your choices in clothing styles. Interestingly, very large breasts are such a problem to women that "breast reduction" (surgical transformation to "normal" sized breasts that are in the correct position with better shape) is one of the "happiest" operations that plastic surgeons perform, so patient satisfaction rates are high.
As with other cosmetic surgery procedures, you and your doctor will discuss your health history and your lifestyle. If you are planning on having more children or breast feeding, you probably want to consider the surgery after those events. Also, since the size, shape and the amount of tissue will change with the procedure, it will probably be recommended that you have a base line mammogram done before the procedure. Then you will always have a point of comparison for any future mammograms.
As with all medical surgery, you want to be prepared before the procedure. If you smoke, it is recommended that you take the opportunity to quit altogether, but you must definitely stop smoking for several weeks before and after the surgery. Smoking constricts your small blood vessels and reduces your ability to heal. You want to be in as optimum health condition as possible whenever you have surgery. Also, it is very important that you share your full medical background with your surgeon so that it is part of your medical record. This assists all those who will be taking part in your care.
As with all cosmetic surgical procedures, there are risks. Some of the general surgical risks are bruising and swelling, inflammation and infection, hematoma, numbness, and discomfort or pain. Some of the specific surgical risks are loss of sensation, poor scarring, asymmetry, tissue loss, and interference with breast feeding. Other potential problems include allergic reactions, cardiac issues, pulmonary embolism, and hyperthermia. If you decide to have a reduction mammaplasty (or any other operation), the specific risks, general risks, and potential complications will be covered in detail before your surgery.
Breast reduction surgery is done in an operating room under general anesthesia. Therefore, you must plan on someone driving you home after surgery. It is always recommended that you have someone stay with you for at least the first twenty-four hours after a procedure under general anesthesia. Following the procedure, you will have dressings placed on the surgical area and wear a surgical bra. Sometimes drains are inserted.
There is some pain and discomfort following this procedure, and you will be given a prescription for pain medication. Rest promotes healing, so allow yourself a week or so of quiet time. Driving and getting out and about will depend on when you can stop taking pain medication and when the doctor allows you to resume those activities. By the end of two weeks, most patients have resumed their normal daily activities. Aerobic activities and lifting and pushing should be delayed for 4 to 6 weeks. It can take a period of months for the breasts to "settle in" to their new shape.
Once you decide a reduction mammaplasty is right for you, start by making an appointment with a board certified plastic surgeon. At La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, we have four excellent plastic surgeons. While at your consultation, talk to him or her about your specific goals and expectations. The more you share in a consultation with the surgeon, the more likely you are to be happy with your result.
At the time of the consultation, you should be able to view before and after pictures of real patients' results. This will help you in assessing the experience and skills of the surgeon. In summary, here's what to look for and what you'll find at La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre:
- Meet personally in consultation with an experience board certified plastic surgeon
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At the consultation, have an examination and discuss your desires and expectations and the specifics of the recommended procedure
- Receive information and materials that help you in the decision making process
- See before and after pictures of real patients of the surgeon
- Get a specific written quote detailing all the costs
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After scheduling surgery attend an individual "pre-op" appointment to discuss all surgical aspects and risks
With any cosmetic procedure, you want to be sure that the surgeon doing your surgery has experience and is a board certified plastic surgeon. At La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, you are assured that the doctors meet the following standards:
Besides these points, please refer to our article Ten Points To Ponder. When you shop for a breast reduction or any other cosmetic procedure, you'll want to know these ten important factors to consider. At La Jolla Cosmetic Surgery Centre, we are committed to educating patients, so we hope this information is helpful to you. Continue to browse our website at www.ljcsc.com for more information or call us at 1-800-946-2816 to make an appointment with one of our board certified plastic surgeons.
Note: The specific risks and the suitability of a breast reduction for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation with a surgeon. All procedures have some degree of risk. The information provided here is not a substitute for a consultation.
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