The surgeon usually: Makes an incision around the nipple and areola and down each breast. Removes excess breast tissue, fat and skin to reduce the size of each breast. Reshapes the breast and resets the nipple and area around it, also known as the areola.
For a breast reduction, the surgeon removes some of the breast tissue and skin. Your nipples may be moved higher to reposition them for cosmetic reasons.
Breast reduction surgery always involves changing the position of your nipples. This causes loss of normal sensation in the nipple and areola which can be permanent. Rarely, the nipples may become over-sensitive. The nipple and areola, or part of them, may die due to poor blood supply.
As with size, it is rare for the position of the nipples and areolas to change significantly after breast augmentation. If one nipple sits a bit lower than the other, it will likely stay that way after surgery, too. If one nipple points slightly to the left, it will remain that way after surgery.
The condition is usually painless, and some women's breasts simply develop that way. Nipple inversion can develop as a result of inflammation in the ducts under the nipple, after removal of breast tissue during a biopsy, or even after breast reduction.
In a total mastectomy, the nipple and areola (the darker area around the nipple) are removed.
Most women say that it takes 3-4 months for all of the swelling to go away and there may be some firm spots or bumps that you can feel. Usually, this is a normal part of healing.
Breast Reduction, or Reduction Mammoplasty, involves the removal of fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts and makes them appear smaller, lighter and firmer. Reduction of the size of the areola, the darker skin around the nipple, can also be done.
Typically, most reductions bring the cup size down one to two sizes, though in cases of extremely large breasts, more drastic results may be achieved. For example, a woman who is a DD but wants a reduction to reduce discomfort, especially during physical activity and exercise may be able to go down to a B-C cup.
Lifting your arms over your head can place strain on incision sites which in some cases can cause wound breakdown and delay recovery. This can worsen the appearance of breast reduction scars and damage the final results of your surgery.
Is the breast reduction procedure painful? Anesthesia will be given during the procedure, but you should expect to feel sore for two to three days after surgery. You will be prescribed pain medication, and your surgeon may advise placing wrapped ice packs gently over sore areas to help with pain and swelling.
After weight loss, your breasts may develop laxity, causing them to sag. Weight loss in itself can be a tremendous benefit, so you should try your hardest to accomplish the weight loss part of your aesthetic journey first and then consider breast reduction.
One of the most significant advantages of weight loss after breast reduction surgery. Most women report feeling much more capable of exercising and maintaining their weight after the operation. It's common for women to lose between 10 and 20 pounds in the months following surgery.
During your recovery, your activity level will be significantly reduced. This decrease in movement can lead to fluid retention, increasing your swelling and bloating symptoms. Without being able to engage in the physical activity you usually would, you may even recognise a small weight gain. This is completely normal!
The pain from the surgery will be highest during the first few days after surgery. However, you will most likely be on pain medications so the pain should be moderate at worst. During week one the pain will reduce and should be mild to moderate.
The areola is the circle of darker skin that surrounds your nipple. The areola is a natural feature on the human body, so, much like the rest of the structure of your breast, it can be restored as part of the larger reconstruction procedure.
You will see very little side or bottom rounding of the breasts, often looking square, with little outward projection and minimal bottom fullness. Have no fear! This is all normal. At this stage of augmentation recovery, you still have swelling and may even experience mild to moderate bruising.
What will I look like after surgery? Immediately after surgery your breasts will be swollen, quite high on your chest, and cone-shaped. The nipples may also appear to be too low. In the first three months the shape changes significantly.
It is critical that patients wear their supportive unwired medical bra at all times for the first 1 – 2 weeks after breast lift surgery. At this point, you may be able to sleep without a bra, though most patients find it more comfortable to continue wearing an unwired bra around the clock for several more weeks.
Don't lift, push, or pull objects heavier than 5 to 10 pounds (2.3 to 5.4 kilograms) for 6 weeks after surgery. Keep this in mind when grocery shopping, lifting children, or doing laundry. Don't do strenuous exercises (such as running, jogging, or jumping) for 6 weeks after surgery.
The best diet to help reduce breast size is one that actually reduces overall body fat. This means a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and protein (fish and chicken are best). Carbohydrates should be minimized as much as possible, along with fried, fatty, or processed food.
Know that your breasts will continue to age – right along with the rest of your body – even after surgery. Even so, your breasts will be smaller and in a better position. They won't sag as they would without the surgery.