How to determine if Breast Reduction Surgery is Right for You

Patients that undergo breast augmentation surgery have the procedure to provide a greater volume and size to the breasts as well as a better shape and contour to them. In order to achieve the desired look to the breasts, many patients have breast implants placed to enhance the appearance of the breasts. Even if patients are happy with the look of their breasts after the breast implants are placed in the body, there might come a time that a person decides that the larger size and greater volume to the breasts are not what they desire anymore. In these cases, patients often turn to breast reduction surgery to make the desired changes in the size and look of the breasts. Let’s take a look at breast reduction surgery to see the how the procedure is performed.

Breast Implant Surgery – How it is Performed

Before taking at a look at the breast reduction process, it is important to understand how breast implant surgery is performed.

Breast implants are made of either saline or silicone and both contain an outer silicone shell. The main difference is the fact that silicone breast implants are pre-filled with silicone gel before they are put in place while saline breast implants are first inserted into the breasts and then they are filled with sterile salt water to reach the desired size.

Doctors have multiple options when it comes to the location of the incision where the breast implants will be inserted:

• Inframammary Incision – This is an incision made in the inframammary fold AKA the horizontal crease where the breast meets the breast fold. The resulting scar could be hard to hide for the surgeon.
• Periareolar Incision – This incision is made halfway around the lower circumference of the areola and any scar is hidden by the darker pigment of the edge of the areola.
• Transaxillary Incision – This is an incision that is made in the armpit. A tunnel to the breast is created in order for a pocket to be formed so the implant can be inserted into the body. Any scar will be located in the armpit area.
• Transumbilical Incision (TUBA) – This incision is made in the belly button so any scar is hidden in the folds of the belly button. The surgeon will have to tunnel to the breasts to gain access to them to place the breast implants,

Finally, a decision will have to be made about placing the breast implants under (subpectoral) or over (subglandular) the muscle. In general, patients with a moderate amount of breast tissue are better candidates for breast implants being placed over the muscle.

Breast Reduction Surgery Explained

There are multiple reasons that patients decide to have their breast implants removed during breast reduction surgery:

• The size and shape achieved by the breast implants might not be the look that the patient desires anymore when it comes to the appearance of the breasts.
• The patient might want a smaller size of breast implants or simply want the breast implants to be removed completely so the patient can enjoy the original look to the breasts.
• The size of the breasts might be too big which means they might be causing back pain or making it uncomfortable for a person to wear certain clothes or participate in certain activities such as sports.
• The breast implants might have moved out of their original position in the body which can make having them uncomfortable for the patient over a long period of time.
• The size of the breast implants might be out of style (such as overly large breast implants that were popular 10-15 years ago).
• Capsular contracture might be an issue and this is when, after the breast implants are placed in the body, the scar tissue around the breast implants forms a thin, protective layer. This thin layer can start to squeeze the implant as well as cause tenderness, pain and stiffness until the implants are removed
• Breast implants can rupture and, if the implants are saline implants, the shape and size of the breasts will instantly change. The shape of a ruptured silicone implant does not change as dramatically and any shrinking or sagging of the breast implant might not be noticeable for quite some time.

When to Consider Breast Reduction Surgery

Patients that are no longer happy with the size of their breasts should schedule a consultation appointment with a board-certified doctor that is experienced in performing breast reduction surgery. The patient can discuss the desired changes to the breasts so the surgeon will have a better idea of how to treat the issue. Some of the most popular breast reduction surgery solutions include:

• Removing the existing breast implants in order to place a smaller size in the body of the patient
• Removing the breast implants completely if the patient is not happy with the size of them or the pain and discomfort of living with them on a daily basis

The decision to have breast reduction surgery is a personal one and patients should take their time and consider their options before making the final decision to have breast reduction surgery.

MA