A breast reduction or a reduction mammoplasty surgery is performed to bring down the volume and weight of breasts. Women prefer undergoing the procedure when the size of their breasts are not proportional to that of the remaining body. This can occur due to hormones, genetic factors, or weight issues.
When should you undergo a reduction mammoplasty?
A reduction mammoplasty can help in altering the breasts’ shape, size, firmness, or weight. You can choose to undergo a reduction mammoplasty if:
- Your breasts are heavy and large, and tend to cause pain in the back and neck. The heavy breasts weigh down the bra strap leaving painful indentations on the shoulders.
- They limit your performance in athletic activities, making it either awkward or painful.
- They are relatively large when compared to the rest of your stature, and draw attention from others, or make you feel self-conscious.
Recovery post breast reduction cosmetic surgery
During a breast reduction procedure, the plastic surgeon removes fat and glandular issues in the breasts, following which he reshapes the breasts and repositions the nipples. The plastic surgeon may attach plastic tubes after the operation to drain excess blood, while securing the operated area with bandages. The drain tubes are removed by the cosmetic surgeon within a day or two. Any surgical dressings that are applied will be removed once the wounds have healed. Surgical stitches are either removed at a medical outpatient facility or in some cases, dissolve by themselves.
Many women experience pain in the operated region in the days folloing the surgery, explains Brian J. Parker MD, a cosmetic surgeon in Las Vegas. However, you can consult your plastic surgeon in case you experience pain, so he/she can prescribe pain killers to relieve you off it. The breasts may appear lumpy and swollen after the reduction plastic surgery. They may feel slightly tender post surgery, and the expected results start to appear within a few months, or sometimes even weeks.
Red surgical scars typically appear in the initial six weeks. They then switch to a purplish tone for the following three months, after which they begin to fade. While most of these surgical scars heal with time, there have been a few cases reported where they have remained lumpy and red, showing little to no improvement in their appearance.
Resuming your daily routine
On returning home after the reduction cosmetic surgery, you will have to keep you activity at subdued levels for the next 2-6 weeks. This again depends on your how fit you are and your age. During the follow-up appointment, you can talk to your cosmetic surgeon about the ideal time to get back to your daily routine and work. Depending on the how strenuous (physically) your work is, you may have to take an off for anywhere between two and four weeks. Even so, steer clear from activities like stretching, lifting heavy objects, or other physical exertions for a minimum of six weeks. Your surgeon will advise you to wear a support bra for about three months following the plastic surgery.
If you would like to learn more about the plastic surgery procedures and treatments performed by Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Brian J. Parker by contacting us at (702) 240-9500.