Breast reduction, also known as a reduction mammoplasty, is a custom surgery designed to remove excess skin and breast tissue, creating smaller, more uplifted breasts. Many women undergo breast reduction to alleviate back pain, shoulder pain, neck pain, or other symptoms, as well as for cosmetic reasons.
Breast reduction is a surgical procedure to safely remove excess tissue and skin from your breasts to reduce size and weight and reshape the breast tissue. Unlike most cosmetic procedures, breast reduction is often covered by health insurance when excessive breast tissue leads to physical pain and discomfort.
After a breast reduction, your rejuvenated breasts will be of a pleasing shape, natural-looking, and balanced with your figure. If you have painful symptoms due to overly large, heavy breasts, removing breast tissue can alleviate back pain and increase mobility. Dr. Khalifeh performs custom reduction surgeries to remove excess skin and tissue to produce aesthetically pleasing, balanced breasts.
A breast reduction typically requires three separate incisions:
The recovery after breast reduction is relatively short with most patients returning to work or other activities within a week to ten days. A drain is not usually required, but that decision is made based on the amount of resection and surrounding lymphatic tissue. The use of your arms will be limited during the healing period, and no heavy lifting is allowed. A sports bra or surgical bra must be worn for two weeks, and an antibiotic and pain medication will be prescribed.
A breast reduction is typically an outpatient surgery, performed at our accredited, private surgical facility. You will be free to return home following your procedure, under the care of another adult. You will be wearing a surgical bra or bandages (gauze dressing) around your chest and breasts. You will need to wear the surgical bra or a soft, supportive bra for several weeks. Within two weeks, much of the bruising and swelling will have dissipated.
You may temporarily experience a loss of sensation to your nipples or breasts in general. Over time, the sensation typically returns. The stitches will be removed a couple of weeks after your breast reduction procedure. Most women experience an increase in their self-esteem following breast reduction surgery. They may also be able to participate in activities that were previously uncomfortable for them.
As with any surgery, there is a slight risk of complications. Breast reduction procedures are, however, one of the safest procedures available. Dr. Khalifeh is happy to address any concerns and answer any questions you have about your breast reduction surgery at our Washington DC office. Some of the known complications include: Infection, bleeding, loss of nipple skin or sensation, scarring, negative reactions to medications, breathing problems (pneumonia), heart problems, scars that take a substantial amount of time to heal, differences in the size of the breasts, and uneven nipple position.
You will see results immediately following the procedure, though your final look will require several weeks, as swelling fades. The surgical scars fade with time, and most patients report that after one to two years, the scars are barely detectable.
Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia, so you will be asleep the entire time and experience no pain during the surgery.
