Breast Reduction

If you are considering breast reduction surgery, you should clearly communicate your expectations during the initial consultation. The doctor will inquire about your personal medical history and family medical history, and then examine you. Based on the examination results, factors such as the size and shape of your breasts, the condition of your skin, your age, marital status, whether you plan to have children, and the new position of the nipple will be discussed with you.

It is important to inform your doctor whether you have recently given birth and whether you intend to have more children. If you have recently given birth, you can undergo breast reduction or breast lift surgery after 3-6 months following the cessation of breastfeeding. If you wish to have another pregnancy and breastfeed after the surgery, your doctor will perform a suitable surgical technique to accommodate that.

Having large breasts can cause health problems such as poor posture, back and neck pain, and skin wounds. Therefore, breast reduction surgery can be considered a health procedure for women. Since a portion of the breast tissue is removed during the surgery, the risk of breast cancer is reduced. Additionally, with less breast tissue, future diagnosis through imaging techniques becomes easier. Moreover, the breast tissue removed during the surgery is sent for pathology, providing an important chance for early diagnosis.

Different breast reduction techniques are employed based on factors such as breast size, the possibility of future childbirth, and scarring concerns. It is not correct to say that one technique is the best among all. The size of the breast plays a significant role in determining the appropriate technique. The most commonly used technique is called the “Inverted T” method. Another frequently used technique is the Lejour method, which leaves an “I” or keyhole-shaped scar underneath the nipple. Although the Lejour method leaves less visible scarring, some patients may experience a slight tightening appearance in the lower part of the breast. This should be explained to the patient before the surgery, and it should be emphasized that it can be corrected under local anesthesia at around the 6-month mark.

During breast reduction surgery, the following steps are typically involved:

1. You will have a preoperative consultation with your doctor. The desired breast size and the breast size that suits your body will be discussed. The appropriate breast reduction technique for you will be determined.
2. The surgery date will be scheduled. You will be advised not to take aspirin for one week prior to the surgery.
3. On the morning of the surgery, you will come to the hospital on an empty stomach as instructed. Necessary blood tests, breast ultrasound or mammography will be performed, and the anesthesiologist will examine you.
4. After your test results, your doctor will come and make markings and take photographs. The purpose of taking photographs is to compare your preoperative and postoperative images and show them to you. Under no circumstances will your images be shown to any other patient or published on the internet without your consent. After the markings and photographs, you will be taken into an operation that lasts approximately 2-3 hours.
5. You will stay in the hospital for one night after the surgery, and your doctor will come to see you in the morning and discharge you. There will be a dressing on your breast that is not noticeable under your clothes. Antibiotics and painkillers will be prescribed.
6. One frequently asked question after the surgery is whether there will be a lot of pain. The pain relief medications provided after the surgery are sufficient to alleviate your pain. Due to advancements in techniques, breast surgeries are no longer highly painful procedures. It is not like the old days where you had to stay in bed for days. The threshold for pain varies from person to person, but your pain will decrease within two to three days.
7. For one month after the surgery, you will need to wear a supportive sports bra provided by your doctor.
8. Swelling will gradually decrease within the first month, and within six months, your breasts will take on their final shape, and the scars will fade.
9. Within 3-4 days after the surgery, you will be called in for a dressing change. The stitches used are usually self-absorbing. The decision regarding when you can take a shower will be made during the first dressing change.
10. Your doctor will determine when you can resume physical activities during your follow-up appointments, usually within 1-2 months.