Overview One of the most satisfied clients in plastic surgery is the one who has had a breast reduction. People who don't have large breasts don't understand the tremendous inconvenience and pain associated with them. The average person thinks that large breasts are a blessing; something that most women want. Little did they know that large breasts could actually be a significant handicap. Often, they prevent the woman from wearing normal clothing, cause back and neck pain, make it difficult or impossible to exercise, and a whole host of other problems. After a breast reduction, the client feels as if a burden has literally been lifted off of her shoulders. Gone are the bra strap marks across the shoulder, the rashes, and the burden of carrying around all that extra weight. It is a tremendous relief. Not uncommonly, the client with large breasts can also be overweight. It is best for these clients to try to lose as much weight as possible for several reasons. Not only because losing weight is healthy but also because it makes the operation technically easier. Another reason is that an insurance company may not pay for a breast reduction in a client who is significantly overweight. Often, an insurance company will refuse to pay anyway and the client is forced to pay for it herself. The only way to find out is to have the procedure pre approved prior to the operation. It is safe to say, though, that if the procedure is mostly cosmetic, insurance will not pay for it.   Before After   Breast Reduction Female - 10 weeks after breast reduction surgery. Marked reduction in size and improvement of breast shape. Nipples are correctly located on top of breast mound compared to before picture. There are several ways to perform a breast reduction. We advocate what is called the "short scar " breast reduction. This type of breast reduction is somewhat more technically difficult but has the huge advantage of leaving a shorter scar and it also creates more breast projection and cleavage. It is important to point out that this procedure is not just a reduction procedure but it is a cosmetic procedure as well, or at least it should be. Breasts are very important to most women and it is important to add an artistic quality to the reduction so that a sexy, feminine result is obtained. Despite being able to perform breast reduction with a shorter than normal scar, a scar is inevitable. The scar goes completely around the areola and then travels down the breast to the level of the fold underneath the breast. If your breasts are exceptionally large a short scar within the fold may be necessary. This is very unusual. The scar usually becomes quite red the first 2 months after the operation but fades within 1 year. The client considering breast reduction must be prepared to accept the scar as a trade off for lighter, perkier, more attractive breasts. The reality is, these scars are not noticeable even when wearing highly revealing clothes. Our philosophy regarding Breast Reduction Female To put it bluntly, large breasts can be a significant handicap. Their sheer weight makes them very difficult to carry around and prevents many women from doing the things they want to do. They cause neck and back pain, rashes, and a myriad of medical problems. In addition to this, they cause significant psychological problems as well. Here you have a body part that is supposed to be sexy and feminine, yet the bearer of large breasts sees them as no more than a burden. The problems from this paradox are beyond the scope of this web site. Suffice to say, we feel very strongly that something should be done soon so that problems do not snowball. In our practice breast reductions are as much cosmetic as they are reconstructive. There is no question that excess weight in the breasts is the primary cause of the physical problems, but if the breast reduction is done in a sexy, cosmetically pleasing way the client benefits in both a physical and psychological fashion. This is why we perform our breast reductions the same way we perform our breast lifts except, of course, we also remove breast tissue in the process. We perform what is known in the plastic surgery literature as a "short scar" breast reduction. We believe that breast surgery, whether it is breast reduction or breast lifting, is art work as much as it is surgery. This is why we have developed this technique. It is more technically demanding but it achieves more sexy, feminine breasts with more projection and cleavage than the standard breast reduction, yet it is done with a shorter scar. Anyone considering breast reduction must realise that the cost of removing breast tissue, elevating the nipple, and making a more appealing breast causes a scar. This scar travels around the nipple, down the breast, and, in rare cases, forms a T underneath the breast. It is true, that even with revealing clothes the scar is not visible but the person considering undergoing this procedure must still be aware that scars will be created. Other cosmetic procedures such as liposuction or abdominoplasty can be done at the same time in certain clients.   Before After   Breast Lift Reduction on a 39 year old mother of two. Bra size before 38DDD, after 38C. Five months after surgery. Benefits The benefits of breast reduction are physical, mental, and cosmetic. If done properly, breast reduction can simultaneously remove excess breast tissue and provide you with breasts that you can have a pride in instead of being a burden. There are many reasons for breast reduction. Here are a few. Relieves back and neck pain. Relieves rashes underneath the breast. Reduces weight so that exercise and other activities are easier. Improves breathing and bad posture. Removes shoulder grooving from bra straps. Makes clothes fit better. Repositions nipple into a more youthful location. Provides a breast lift as well as breast reduction. Possible complications The most common complication after breast reduction is asymmetry. It must be pointed out, however, that all breasts have some asymmetry. A breast reduction, in fact, can do a lot to correct asymmetry but it is unreasonable to expect both breasts to be exactly identical. Another potential complication is inadequate reduction or over reduction. We spend a great deal of time before the operation finding out exactly what size you would like to be to avoid this. Some women would like to be as small as possible. There is a limit to how small they can be made without compromising blood supply and safety. We have considerable experience in both cosmetic and reconstructive breast surgery and will do all that is possible to provide you with the size and shape of breasts you desire. A complication that has already been discussed but must be emphasised is really not a complication. It is the fact that a scar is a requirement in order to achieve breast reduction. Over time the scar will fade but will never go away completely. After breast reduction, there is a significant likelihood that breast-feeding will not be possible. Also possible is the loss or a decrease in sensation to the nipple. Usually sensation does return but this cannot be guaranteed. Other complications that must be considered, but are possible with any operation, are the risks of infection, wound healing problems, fluid or blood collection, and contour irregularities.   Before After   Breast reduction of 700 grams from both breasts. Client no longer complains about back pain. Not only is the breast reduced in size but its shape is markedly improved. Are you a good candidate? In general, clients that are good candidates for breast reduction know it before even reading this web site. They are plagued with the problems outlined above. Quite often the biggest question is whether a breast reduction or a breast lift is needed. Both procedures involve lifting and shaping the breast. The reduction also involves removal of a significant amount of tissue as well. This will be evaluated during your consultation. Usually, however, the client knows whether or not the procedure is a cosmetic one. In order to qualify as a breast reduction, the insurance company usually requires a certain amount of breast tissue be removed. Here is a summary of problems plagued by clients who need a breast reduction. Do you have back or neck pain caused by large breasts? Do you have persistent rashes below the breasts? Are you unable to exercise because of your large breasts? Do you have grooves in your shoulders from bra straps? Are your breasts out of proportion to the rest of your body? Are your breasts large and droopy? Are you self-conscious and/or unhappy about your large breasts? If you answered yes to any of the above questions a breast reduction is probably worthwhile.