WHAT IS IT AND WHO IS IT FOR?
Breast Reduction Surgery aims to decrease or reduce breast volume. Overly large breasts are not only an aesthetic problem but a primary medical issue due to the overload on the spine of many women, causing frequent pain and accentuating dorsal kyphosis. In other cases, especially in young women, it can cause serious personality alterations.
The dysmorphia caused by large breasts can turn a young woman into someone self-conscious and shy, unable to socially integrate and incapable of achieving full emotional maturity. In addition, women with large breasts tend to adopt a hunched posture to partially hide their problem, which further aggravates the overload on the cervical-dorsal spine.
SURGICAL PROCEDURE
The goal of surgery is to reduce glandular and skin volume and correct the position of the breast, areola, and usually sagging nipple. There are different surgical techniques that the surgeon can perform. One technique used by many surgeons worldwide for decades is the Pitanguy operation.
This operation can be considered the standard against which new techniques should be compared. The surgery leaves anchor-shaped scars. One of the problems with this operation is that it leaves relatively visible scars. In all techniques, excess skin, glandular tissue, and fat are removed, while trying to maintain the blood supply to the areola and nipple, which are repositioned to a more aesthetically pleasing location.
ANESTHESIA AND SURGERY DURATION
This operation is usually performed under general anesthesia. At Clínica Luso Espanhola, we use local anesthesia infiltration to complement the general anesthesia and facilitate dissection. The duration of this surgery is approximately 70 to 90 minutes per breast.
POST-OPERATIVE CARE
The operated woman should rest for a few days, and it is normal to feel somewhat tired. The pain is easily controlled with some analgesics. Dressings are applied every 48 hours and then less frequently. The stitches are removed after 2 weeks. In most cases, the woman can resume an autonomous and normal life within a few days.
We also recommend avoiding heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for 3-4 weeks. It is normal to experience a slight reduction or increase in breast sensitivity, which is temporary and rarely permanent. Swelling or breast edema subsides after a few weeks. Bathing or showering is allowed only with the doctor’s approval.
The resulting scar will depend primarily on the individual patient’s healing quality. Each person has a unique healing process.
RESULT
There should be harmony between breast volume, chest size, and body mass. In cases of very large breasts, achieving perfect symmetry may be difficult, and a later touch-up may be necessary. The final result can only be seen after several months.
The results may be less favorable in cases of extreme gigantomastia or in smokers. Therefore, it is advised that the patient stops smoking for at least 20-30 days post-surgery. The most modern reduction techniques aim to create a breast reduction that leaves a beautiful breast shape, with enough residual volume, adequate projection, and the smallest possible scars.
However, healing is a personal characteristic and varies from patient to patient. The final result becomes visible after 6 months.
POST-OPERATIVE CARE
After the operation, the patient will wear a specific bra, which should be worn for approximately 30 days. During this period, the patient should always wear the bra both day and night, and after this period, it should be worn whenever practicing sports. Bathing or showering is allowed only with the doctor’s approval.
The resulting scar will depend primarily on the individual patient’s healing quality. Each person has a unique healing process.
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON PROBLEMS THAT CAN OCCUR IN A BREAST REDUCTION?
Breast reduction surgery should be considered a safe technique, as long as it is performed by a properly trained medical team. As with any surgery, complications can arise, such as infection, tissue necrosis, loss of the nipple-areola complex (very rare), asymmetry, reduced sensitivity, etc.
Breast reduction surgery will permanently leave scars. Keloids (thick and red scars) and hypertrophic scars (wide scars) can occur, especially in women with dark skin. Breastfeeding may be affected in some cases, particularly when a large reduction is performed.
