While many women seek out breast augmentation to increase the size of their breasts, there are also many women who are looking at reducing their breast size. Many conditions can cause a person to undergo a breast reduction. Large breasts can cause shoulder, back and neck pain, skin irritation and sometimes restrict your daily activities. Sometimes the breasts are too large for your body type or one may be larger in size than the other. Some women are simply too self-conscious about the size of their breasts. All of these instances can be addressed with a breast reduction.

In breast reduction surgery, excessive breast tissue, fat and skin are removed through three incisions made around the breast. The nipple and areola are moved to a higher position on the breast. Many times, the areola will need to be resized since it was likely stretched out of proportion due to the breast’s size. The skin that used to be above the nipple is relocated below it to help reshape the breast. Our plastic surgeons are careful to keep the tissue underneath the nipple and areola intact, so there is no permanent nerve damage.

After surgery, you should rest in bed but you are encouraged to get out of bed for short periods of time and move around. Any physical activity should be avoided until you start to heal. The swelling that occurs following surgery may also bring discomfort. In this instance, your doctor will prescribe some pain medication to minimize pain while you recover. In a couple of weeks, you should be able to return to work.

As with breast lifts, your results should stay relatively consistent unless you become pregnant or experience significant weight gain or loss. The natural aging process may alter your breasts’ shape and firmness in later years, so you may choose to undergo other cosmetic breast surgeries in the future to maintain a youthful appearance.