Breast reduction surgery, or reduction mammoplasty, not only reduces the size of the breasts but also provides an aesthetic lift and reshaping, leaving your breasts rounder, lighter and more proportioned to the rest of your body. Our patients who have had this procedure are some of the most grateful; A breast reduction improves general health and comfort, and can be a life changing procedure.
Large breasts can lead to significant back, neck and shoulder pain, skin irritation, and bra strap indentations. Carrying heaviness in your breasts can leave you feeling disproportionate, and hold you back from enjoying athletic activities to the fullest. Many women feel that a reduction in their breast size would provide a more harmonious fit with both their natural proportions and their lifestyle.
Heavy breasts cause a constant strain on back and neck musculature, and can pull on bra straps leaving painful indentations on a woman’s shoulders. These symptoms tend to improve significantly or even resolve completely with a breast reduction, which is why this procedure has one of the highest satisfaction rates of any surgery.
It can be a challenge to find clothing and supportive bras that fit well.
When breasts are out of proportion to a woman’s height and weight it can significantly affect self-image. This is especially true for teenagers and young women, who often feel self-conscious wearing swimsuits or other clothing. A breast reduction can address these issues by creating symmetric and more proportionate breasts.
Large, heavy breasts can place limits on women and keep them from participating in sports and other activities.
A breast reduction is a surgical procedure to reduce breast size and weight, while aesthetically reshaping the breasts creating a more lifted, round appearance. Breast Reduction surgery is one of the most common procedures Plastic Surgeons perform, which comes as a surprise to many people.
A breast reduction can be performed using either an “Anchor pattern” or a “Vertical pattern” to reduce and reshape the breast.
| Type | Anchor or “Wise Pattern” | Lollipop or “Vertical Pattern” |
|---|---|---|
| Incisions | With the Vertical Pattern technique, incisions are placed on the breast in the following locations:
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With the Vertical Pattern technique, incisions are placed on the breast in the following locations:
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| Results | The Anchor technique allows for the most dramatic lift and reshaping of the breasts, and is the best technique for many patients requiring a significant breast reduction. |
The Vertical technique allows for a substantial reduction in breast size with fewer incisions. Your surgeon will be able to examine your unique anatomy and determine which technique will provide you with the best results. |
With the Vertical Pattern technique, incisions are placed on the breast in the following locations:
The Anchor technique allows for the most dramatic lift and reshaping of the breasts, and is the best technique for many patients requiring a significant breast reduction.
With the Vertical Pattern technique, incisions are placed on the breast in the following locations:
The Vertical technique allows for a substantial reduction in breast size with fewer incisions. Your surgeon will be able to examine your unique anatomy and determine which technique will provide you with the best results.
A breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia. All excess skin, tissue and fat are removed. The remaining breast tissue is lifted and reshaped, and the nipple and areola are repositioned and centered on the new breast mound. Sutures are placed in layers, deep within the tissue, in order to support the newly shaped breasts. Finally, bandages will be placed over the incisions. The procedure will take approximately 2 hours depending on the amount of surgery required.
For optimal aesthetic results, in addition to removal of the excess breast tissue, your surgeon will also perform liposuction to sculpt the breast and remove excess fat from the side of the chest and under the armpit which cannot be adequately addressed through the incisions of a breast reduction. Ontario government health plan (OHIP) doesn’t consider this extra fatty tissue part of the breast (and therefore its removal is not covered under the provincial health plan) however it is unsightly if left behind after the breasts have been reduced in size. Your surgeon will also utilize a delicate and precise deep suturing technique to create an “internal bra” to support the lift and reshaping of your breasts for optimal long term aesthetic longevity.
Following your surgery you will be able to leave the recovery room as soon as you are fully awake, which can take about 1-2 hrs after the surgery. You will see the team the following week at the clinic for a reassessment.
Here is a great video put out by Cosmopolitan magazine and Lindsey Pelas explaining why you may benefit from a Breast Reduction:
Costs will be adjusted according to anesthetic used and potential customization to the procedure.
You will be able to see the results of your surgery immediately, but there will be some swelling and bruising that may last for 3 – 4 weeks. There will also be some discomfort, which you can control with the pain medication prescribed for you.
While it varies from patient to patient, you will be able to return to work or school in about 1 week. Avoid bending over or lifting anything above 5 pounds. This includes your children! You will be able to resume regular exercise in 6 weeks.
Swelling, pain medication
Back to work
Bruising and swelling dissipates
Resume regular exercise
Fully healed
Although complications following breast reduction are infrequent; the following may occur:
Bleeding, which in rare instances could require hospitalization and blood transfusion. Blood clots may form under the skin and require drainage.
Skin irregularities, lumpiness, hardness and dimpling may result; some problems disappear with time and from massage, other problems may persist and additional treatments may be necessary.
Infection is rare but may occur and treatment with antibiotics and/or drainage may be required.
Infection of loss of blood supply can lead to partial or complete nipple/areola loss, requiring reconstruction.
Wound dehiscence (wound opening) may occur and is generally allowed to heal on its own.
Outpatient nursing may be required to assist with the wound care.You may be required to travel to a local clinic for daily wound care.
No patient has perfectly symmetrical/identical breasts. Patients must understand that the surgery will not create two identical breasts. Sometimes a procedure may even increase the visibility of an existing asymmetry.
Numbness or increased sensitivity of the skin over treated areas may persist for months. Localized areas of numbness or increased sensitivity may be permanent.
Objectionable scarring is rare, but possible and most often related to a family or personal history of hypertrophic or keloid scarring.
Dizziness may occur during the first week following breast reduction surgery particularly upon rising from a lying or sitting position. If this occurs, extreme caution may be exercised while walking. Do not drive a car if you are experiencing dizziness.
Deep Venous Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism and Fat Embolism may occur. If left untreated they may be fatal.
Our fee for a cosmetic Breast Reduction is $9,100 - $11,100. Some patients may qualify for OHIP coverage for a breast reduction. In this case there is a charge of $2,500 for the liposuction and aesthetic components of the surgery.
There is no need for a referral for a cosmetic breast reduction. Referrals are only required for OHIP covered breast reductions.
Patients who have large, heavy breasts that cause shoulder, back or neck pain along with skin irritation and posture problems are good candidates for breast reduction surgery. You should also be in good health and with a BMI under 30.
Breast reduction surgery takes from approximately 2 hours, depending on the amount of surgery required.
Carefully planned incisions are made, and excess skin, tissue and fat are removed to reduce and reshape the breasts.
Whether or not you are a candidate for OHIP coverage depends on your breast size and your associated symptoms
A study published in 2007 looked at the ability of women to breastfeed after a breast reduction procedure. They compared different types of breast reduction surgery and found that there was no difference in the outcome, nor was ability to breast feed different from other women with large breasts who did not have a breast reduction surgery. It is possible however, that any breast surgery will affect your ability to breastfeed.
Most patients return to work within 1-2 weeks after breast reduction surgery. You should avoid bending over, and avoid lifting anything above 5 pounds for several weeks. You can resume vigorous exercise at 6 weeks.
Pain and discomfort is generally managed by the pain medication prescribed by your surgeon, but most patients use over the counter pain medication after the first several days. Sleeping in an upright position with pillows for the first week or so will help with swelling and discomfort as well.