What should I know if I'm considering breast-reduction surgery?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:If you're a woman who's especially well endowed and have an extra five pounds of breast dragging on your neck and shoulders, it may be a great relief to lighten the load. So breast reductions are useful for both functional and cosmetic reasons. And men themselves are not immune to growing large breasts (it's called "gynecomastia"). Almost half of men have some degree of breast growth around puberty, though most settle down by the time they're 20. This problem is rising because so many of our drugs, including blood-pressure medicines and steroids, can cause breast tissue to grow. Men usually have breast-reduction surgery for cosmetic issues, as you might imagine. Breast reductions in men and women are usually outpatient procedures with a high satisfaction rate.
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If you're a woman who's especially well endowed and have an extra five pounds of breast dragging on your neck and shoulders, it may be a great relief to lighten the load. So breast reductions are useful for both functional and cosmetic reasons. And... More -
Tara Whitworth answered:If you have extremely large breasts that cause pain in your neck and back, you may be a candidate for breast reduction surgery. This surgery involves making an incision around the nipple, down the breast, and in the crease under the breast, similar to an anchor shape. In some cases, the entire nipple must be removed and sewn back in place after the desired amount of breast tissue is removed. Wound healing issues are the most common complication of breast reduction surgery, so it is important to keep your follow-up appointments with your surgeon. Breast reduction surgery is painful, and it produces a large scar, but if you ask any woman who has had this procedure, she will likely tell you that it was well worth it.If you have extremely large breasts that cause pain in your neck and back, you may be a candidate for breast reduction surgery. This surgery involves making an incision around the nipple, down the breast, and in the crease under the breast, similar... More -
Dr. Michael A. Howard of NorthShore University HealthSystem answered:Breast reduction surgery does have the standard risks associated with any surgery but is usually well tolerated with minimal recovery time. Learn more from Dr. Michael Howard on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem about breast reduction surgery.
Breast reduction surgery does have the standard risks associated with any surgery but is usually well tolerated with minimal recovery time. Learn more from Dr. Michael Howard on behalf of NorthShore University HealthSystem about breast... More -
Dr. Stuart Linder answered:In general women who have bilateral breast hypertrophy or gigantomastic breasts do extraordinarily well with a bilateral breast reduction procedure. Statistics from the American Board of Plastic Surgery have indicated that breast reduction patients are the most satisfied patients of any of our patients having any cosmetic surgical procedures. In my practice the breast reduction patients are very happy with the results because they have a significant amount of pain reduced from the symptoms of the heavy breasts with neck pain, back pain, relief of grooving around the shoulder blades, and removal of rashes or intertriginous hygienic problems under the creases. A breast reduction is normally performed for functional reasons in order to reduce those symptoms and can also concurrently allow for cosmetic improvement. The scarring, usually an anchor scar referred to as Wise-pattern technique is certainly a trade off for a breast reduction procedure. However in my experience with breast reduction surgical patients they are very willing to trade the scarring with a much smaller, lifted breast reducing all of those symptoms as well as to be able to fit into normal clothing.
In general women who have bilateral breast hypertrophy or gigantomastic breasts do extraordinarily well with a bilateral breast reduction procedure. Statistics from the American Board of Plastic Surgery have indicated that breast reduction patients... More -
Healthwise answered:Keep in mind that breast reduction surgery may make breast-feeding difficult or impossible in the future. Some women may still be able to breast-feed after having reduction surgery.
If you are thinking about having a breast reduction, contact your insurance company. Some insurance companies cover some or all of the costs of breast reduction surgery if surgery is being done to relieve back pain, skin problems or other medical problems caused by large or heavy breasts. They typically will not cover breast reduction surgery being done solely to change the appearance of the breasts, because it is not considered a medically necessary procedure when done for this reason.
Keep in mind that breast reduction surgery may make breast-feeding difficult or impossible in the future. Some women may still be able to breast-feed after having reduction surgery. If you are thinking about having a breast reduction,... More
