BREAST REDUCTION

The women who have great breasts can experience a series of problems derived from the weight and size of the breasts, like neck, shoulders and back ache, as well as cutaneous eccema. Breast reduction is performed in order to lessen these symptoms and the aspect of the breasts. Some girls undergo an excessive development of the breasts that is denominated pubertal gigantomasty, requiring their volume reduction.

ANAESTHESIA

The procedure is carried out under general anaesthesia.

TECHNIQUE

Until very recently the reduction technique left an inverted-T scar that disfigured the result obtained. Although the result regarding shape was good, the scar was very conspicuous. The current trend is to reduce as much as possible the number and length of the scars.

If the volume to extirpate is little, we perform it through one only scar around the areola.

If there is more volume and the breasts sag more, we perform a technique that leaves a single vertical scar, eliminating the one that was in the submammary fold. The breasts are lifted to their natural position, the form is excellent and a unique vertical and periareolar scar is left.

However in large breasts the needed reduction makes impossible to perform this technique and an inverted-T incision is mandatory.

POSTOPERATIVE CARE

Hospital admission is required for one or two days. After the surgery it is recommended to avoid strenuous exercise and efforts or lifting weights during 15 days. It is necessary to wear a bra 24 hours a day during the first month in order to keep the breast in its new position and allow the scar to fade away.

SOME QUESTIONS ON BREAST REDUCTION

A temporal reduction of nipple-areola sensitivity may happen, although with the vertical scar technique it is very rare, since we keep the nerves responsible for the sensitivity of the areola and nipple undisturbed. In cases of very large breasts this sensitivity can be already diminished before the operation.

Lactation is not recommended since the mammary gland has been severed and the ducts have been sectioned. There is a potential risk for cysts or mastitis.

The development of breast cancer is unrelated to surgery.