Breast Reduction NorCal Plastic Surgery

Breast Reduction

Heavy breasts can cause back pain, even in younger women. A breast reduction can positively impact a woman’s self-image and comfortability if she struggles with larger breasts. Women of almost any age can benefit from a breast reduction.

Large breasts typically begin to develop during adolescence and can lead to back pain, headaches, shoulder grooving from bra straps, difficulty finding bras, and chronic skin rashes. In addition to the physical manifestations, larger breasts can cause a woman to have low self-esteem and feel that her body is not proportional to her breasts.  

Reduction mammaplasty, commonly called breast reduction, is a procedure that removes some breast fat along with excess skin and glandular tissue. During a breast reduction, Dr. Rankin also changes the breast shape and the position of the areolae. Because larger breasts tend to sag more, reducing the size of the breasts and reshaping them can help them look more youthful.

Before a breast reduction, an anesthesiologist will put you under general anesthesia. Surgery typically takes around 3-4 hours to complete, depending on the extent of the procedure. 

Dr. Rankin first starts the procedure by making one of two incisions: 

  • Vertical Breast Reduction/ “Lollipop Lift”: The shape of this incision is often called a lollipop because it circles the areola and goes vertically down the middle of the breast. This type of incision is more popular but is mainly suitable for those with smaller to moderate-sized breasts. 
  • Wise Pattern/ “Anchor Technique”: The anchor technique is similar to the shape of a lollipop lift, except it extends under the breasts in the breast crease, making the traditional anchor shape. While an anchor incision may leave more scarring, this technique can be helpful for women with severely oversized breasts.  

Dr. Rankin will remove the fat, excess skin, and glandular tissue with either incision, and will not detach the areola from the breast.

After your breast reduction, we will give you a surgical bra to wear for about one month. Generally, total recovery can take up to eight to twelve weeks. Dr. Rankin will use dissolvable sutures, meaning that the sutures do not require to be removed after your surgery. We will make follow-up appointments to ensure you are healing well. 

Breast reduction surgery is an outpatient procedure, and at NorCal Plastic Surgery, it’s common for our patients to have their surgery on Friday and then return to work on Monday. We like to use a long-acting local anesthetic that will last for up to 3 days. Pain medications can lead to constipation and other undesirable side effects that can make your recovery feel uncomfortable. 

After a month of wearing the surgical bra, Dr. Rankin can clear you to wear a sports bra for another two weeks to a month. Wearing traditional bras with an underwire can irritate the surgical sites and delay healing, so you avoid these types of bras until given instruction by your surgeon. You may resume some exercise within 2 weeks, and more intense activities a month to six weeks after your surgery. 

It can take up to a year to see the final results of your breast reduction. During that time, your breasts will start to settle into a more natural shape.

Almost anyone who has larger breasts that irritate them both physically and emotionally can be a good candidate for breast reduction. Ideal candidates: 

  • Should not be smokers
  • Are physically and mentally healthy overall 
  • Have realistic goals about breast reduction surgery 
  • Are bothered by their breasts size 
  • Have back pain from the weight of their breasts

The cost of breast reduction will be based on different factors, including location, your surgeon’s experience, hospital fees, and more. The average cost of a breast reduction is $17,000 to $18,000. We will note that this is the cost for cosmetic patients and not for those who get a medically-necessary breast reduction where insurance covers the procedure.

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Want to learn more about how Breast Reduction can help you gain more confidence in your appearance? Schedule your consultation with a NorCal Plastic Surgery provider by calling (925) 856-4800 or filling out the consultation request form below. We look forward to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals.

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