Breast Reduction: Is it Right for You?

Large breasts are not just a fact of life for some women. They can negatively affect self-esteem, health and overall quality of life.

A breast reduction is more than removing excess tissue and fat. The breast itself needs to be sculpted into a smaller shape, and this can only be done through incisions on the breast. "While an important goal of surgery is to have as few scars as possible, it is not the single most important factor," says New York City plastic surgeon David Hidalgo, MD. "Using a minimal scar on the wrong candidate can result in inadequate reduction or poor shape." Incision placement may include all, or any combination of these incisions:

• Concentric or donut-shaped around the areola
• Vertically down from the areola to the breast crease
• Horizontally at the breast crease

Breast fat and tissue are removed through these incisions. The nipple is repositioned (while remaining attached to its nerve and blood supply), and the entire breast is reshaped. The overall breast skin is reduced, and the size of the areola (the dark skin surrounding the nipple) will likely be smaller to match the shape, position and proportion of the new breast. In some cases, liposuction may be used as part of breast reduction to remove fat in and around the breast.

The results of breast reduction are seen and felt immediately but are not always permanent: After reduction, significant weight gain or loss and pregnancy can affect breast size and the results of your surgery. When timing a breast reduction, there are a few considerations to keep in mind. Many women experience difficulties with breast-feeding, but a breast reduction can make it even more difficult. Be sure to tell your doctor if you anticipate having children, and together you can determine the best timing for your breast reduction. Dr. Sweis states that breast reduction is not for postpartum women alone. "More people are recognizing the health and quality-of-life benefits of breast reduction, including pediatricians who refer 15- to 17-year-old girls for reduction due to the stress that excessively large breasts place on the back and neck of a young woman."

Insurance reimbursement for breast reduction is defined by the individual insurance companies, says Dr. Spear. However, many doctors are finding that coverage is arbitrary at best. "Breast-reduction coverage is not threatened across the board, but can be rejected despite recognized standards for coverage relative to a woman's physical build and the amount of breast tissue reduced," he says.

pain

Whether you have your reduction scheduled or you're just starting to think about it, these tips can help alleviate back pain caused by large breasts.

• Soak in a hot bath, which can relieve tension and ease muscle pain. Try adding menthol, a natural anti-inflammatory, to the bath water.
• Avoid squeezing into a small bra. This is not only painful, it's unhealthy for your breast tissue, back and shoulders.
• Invest in a support bra to distribute your breast weight across your shoulders and back.
• Walk--don't run--on a treadmill wearing well-cushioned sneakers to minimize bouncing. Sand or soft dirt are better surfaces than asphalt for outdoor walking.
• Stretch as much as possible to open up the back muscles. Try this simple exercise: Hold a can of soup in each hand, keeping your arms straight by your side. Lift your shoulders straight up toward your ears for a count of two. Pull the shoulders back, pinching your shoulder blades together. Relax and repeat 8 to 12 times.

Post Breast Reduction Scars: What Can You Do?

Most patients heal well after breast reduction, but normal, visible scars on the breast are a tradeoff for better proportion between your breasts and body and for an improved physical and emotional quality of life. Scars usually improve and fade over a matter of months, but you must accept that they will always be present. Unsightly scars--those that are raised, red, wide and misshapen--are a risk of surgery but in many instances can be controlled. Smoking can greatly reduce oxygen in the body and result in poor healing that produces unsightly scars. Poor postoperative breast support and wound care, hereditary factors and even significant weight gain or loss can cause less-than-desirable scars.

source from http://beauty.ivillage.com