Overly large breasts are worrisome, both functionally and aesthetically. Neck and back pain, bra indentations on the shoulders, skin irritation, improper posture, and difficulty exercising are some of issues associated with heavy breasts. Breast reduction surgery or reduction mammaplasty can address the problem. The procedure involves removing excess fat and glandular breast tissue, and contouring it to match overall body proportions.

For optimal results, it is important to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience.

The Consultation Experience

During the consultation process, the surgeon will:

• Examine patient’s general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
• Examine the patient thoroughly and take detailed measurements of its size, shape, and position of the nipples
• Discuss the expectations of the patient
• Recommend a customized course of treatment
• Convey the likely outcomes of the procedure and care to be taken after the surgery

Stages in Breast Reduction Surgery

• Step 1: Intravenous sedation or general anesthesia is administered
• Step 2: The next step is to plan the incision. Incisions patterns vary and may be circular, keyhole or racquet-shaped, inverted T or anchor-shaped.
• Step 3: This stage involves tissue removal and repositioning; the extra skin, tissue, and fat is removed, and the nipples are repositioned.
• Step 4: The incisions are closed. They are brought together and stitched.

Techniques Used for the Procedure

There are different types of reduction mammaplasty techniques. During the consultation, the surgeon will determine the most suitable technique based on breast composition, extent of reduction desired, and the patient’s personal preferences.

• Wise Pattern: This procedure is applicable in cases when large amount of breast tissue has to be removed. Incisions are created along the inframammary fold, one from the fold up to the areola, and another around the border of the areola. Then the skin, fat, and tissue are removed from the lower breast area, to reduce the overall size.
• Vertical: For smaller to medium size reductions, surgeons usually prefer vertical incisions (short scar reduction). This produces desired results without extensive tissue removal and with less scarring.
• Liposuction only Breast Reduction: Those who are in need of mild or moderate deduction are ideal candidates for this option. In this method, the size is reduced by removing the fatty volume, with minimal or no visible scarring.

A breast lift may be recommended for patients with sagging issues.

Undergoing treatment in an accredited medical facility is important to ensure safe, standardized procedures. Houston in Texas is an ideal place for breast reduction surgery as it is relatively easy to find a board-certified plastic surgeon with expertise in this cosmetic surgical procedure.