Breast Reduction in Manchester, Chester, Preston

Breast Reduction

Breast Reduction Surgery or Mammoplasty is a procedure used to remove excess fat, tissue and skin from the breasts. Breast Reduction is an operation which reduce the volume and improve the shape of the breasts. Many patients with large breasts experience symptoms such as grooving in the shoulders from their bra, rashes under the breasts, skin irritation, poor posture, neck, shoulder pain. Breast Reduction Surgery might also helps to improve your self-image and ability to participate in physical activities.

Surgical Breast Reduction is performed under a general anaesthetic. Patients will often have a drain in either breast immediately after the procedure and these will be removed prior to discharge. The biggest advantage of a breast reduction is that your surgeon is able to completely change the shape of your breasts and lift them.

Types of Breast Reduction Techniques

There are several breast reductions techniques available that can produce beautiful results and allow you to live life to the fullest. The technique used is determined by the amount of sagging or excess skin and tissue, and the experience of your surgeon. There are five main types for standard breast reduction procedures.

• Anchor, Inverted-T, or Wise Pattern Breast Reduction
  
  An anchor scar is the most common breast reduction technique. With this technique Dr Siddique will make an incision around the areola and then continues down the center of the lower half of the breast, then an incision is made horizontally along the breast crease. The incisions form the inverted-t or anchor shape that this option is named after. This is the most common breast reduction procedure because the skin can be moved vertically and horizontally on the breast. It allows your surgeon the greatest control of your breast shape and proportion because excess breast tissue can be removed from any part of the breast. This is the most versatile breast reduction technique available.
  The one major drawback to consider when looking at this option is that it produces the longest scars. However, the scar in the breast crease is usually barely noticed by patients because of its location.


• Vertical or Lollipop Breast Reduction
  
  Another very popular option with both surgeons and patients is the vertical breast reduction. An incision is made around the areola and then continues vertically down the center of the lower half of the breast, giving this option its nickname, lollipop. An additional short, horizontal incision may be needed at the breast crease in some cases.
  The vertical breast reduction can improve long-term breast shape and projection and is a great choice for some women and it also produces shorter scars. This technique may be for you if you have mild to moderately large breasts. This is not a good option for women with extremely large breasts.


• Donut or Benelli Breast Reduction
  
  If your breasts are only mildly enlarged, the donut breast reduction may be a good option for you. As implied in the name, this option requires an incision around the perimeter of the areola. This means you'll only have one, short scar that can be somewhat hidden by the dark skin of the areola.
  This is not an effective technique for women with large, heavy breasts. The areola will end up stretched and flattened, meaning wider scars and an unattractive, flat shape. With the lack of additional incisions, there is not much access to the breast tissue. This may lead to distortion of the breast shape. Women who are seeking a breast reduction rarely qualify for this technique.


• No Vertical Scar Breast Reduction
  
  The "no vertical scar" breast reduction is performed with an incision around the areola and another incision in the breast crease. There is no vertical incision from the areola down to the breast crease. This option eliminates the most visible scar and utilizes the two incisions that are easiest to hide.
  This technique comes with its disadvantages. Because the skin can't be moved in the horizontal axis, the ability to reshape the breasts is limited. The breast shape ends up being overly wide and results are not optimal, lacking in breast projection. If you're willing to accept a less optimal breast shape for the sake of losing the vertical scar, then this reduction option may be worth of your consideration. This technique is only used on women who have severe breast drooping.


• Virtually Scarless Breast Reduction
  
  The virtually scarless option is achieved by using liposuction. Woman who only needs a mild breast reduction surgery, Dr Siddiqui may opt to use liposuction for your procedure. This option is especially good for women who have fatty breast tissue and good skin elasticity.
  Two small incisions are made in the breast crease and are well-hidden under the breast. The recovery time following this technique is shorter than standard breast reduction procedures.
  Liposuction only reductions also eliminate the option for lifting the breast after the removal of excess tissue. With less weight, the breast skin typically retracts upwards but the extent to which this occurs is not predictable.

Preparing For Your Breast Reduction Manchester Surgery

The majority of the Breast Reduction require a general anaesthetic. Your health is a prime importance and any cosmetic surgery should be postponed if you are unwell for any reason. It is important that if anything changes with your health that you make contact with us. You should ideally stop smoking 6 weeks prior to surgery and stop taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements before surgery. You may need preoperative tests prior to surgery, which we will arrange if requireds.

Do’s and Don’ts after Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast Reduction or Mammoplasty is a major surgical procedure and requires some preparation to ensure everything goes perfectly. Your doctor may provide a list of dos and don’ts to be followed after surgery to recover:

Do’s:

• Do start moving around after surgery by doing light walking once you feel ready.
• Do arrange for someone to drive you home from surgery.
• Do clean your incisions as instructed by your doctor and take sponge baths as needed.
• Do get help around the house at first, as your range of motion may be limited.
• Do contact your doctor if you have any concerns of infection or other complications.
• Do come in for your scheduled follow-up appointments to check your progress.

Don'ts:

• Don’t resume rigorous exercise until your doctor tells you, about 4-6 weeks.
• Don’t drive until you feel ready and have stopped taking a narcotic, about 1-2 weeks.
• Don’t shower for 2-3 days, and avoid soaking in baths and pools for at least 2 weeks.
• Don’t lift over 5 pounds or bend over to lift objects for several weeks.
• Don’t smoke or use tobacco products, since they are known to impede healing.
• Don’t expect to see your final results immediately, as residual swelling can last for months.

Advantages of Breast Reduction Surgery(Mammoplasty)

The advantages of breast reduction surgery or mammoplasty include:

• Relief from skin irritation under the breast
• Better health
• Active participation in physical sports
• Increases self-confidence
• Better posture
• Better sleep
• Reduces shoulder, back and neck pain

What can go wrong after breast reduction?

There are few things which can go wrong after breast reduction:

• excess skin left around the scars, which may need to be surgically removed
• thick scarring
• bleeding inside the breast tissue – this generally happens within the first 24 hours after the operation
• red or lumpy breasts if the fat dies
• unevenly shaped breasts or nipples
• wound healing problems

What happens during breast reduction surgery?

• Anesthesia – The breast reduction surgery is done under general anesthesia puts you in a deep, sleep-like state and keeps you comfortable throughout the procedure.
• Incisions -Before surgery, your plastic surgeon will determine which type of incision is best for you to reduce your breast size and achieve your goals. Your surgeon will make incisions around your areola (circular area of skin around the nipple) and vertically down the breast or horizontally around it.
• Tissue removal - Your plastic surgeon will remove excess skin, fatty tissue, and breast tissue. The surgery requires resizing the areola and repositioning your nipple. The surgeon will make cuts around the edge of the areola, from the areola to the breast crease, and along the crease underneath the breast.
• Closing the incisions - Your surgeon will close the incisions using sutures, tape, and adhesives and cover the surgical site and your chest with bandages.

What to wear after breast reduction surgery?

For breast reduction surgery, post-operative care is essential. Once the gauze and dressings are removed, you will need to wear a breast reduction bra (compression garment) for several weeks to control swelling and keep your breasts secure.

After a breast reduction, wearing a post-surgical bra provides many benefits that help you heal and recover faster. For starters, a post-surgical bra compresses the area, promoting proper blood circulation. Proper blood circulation has several advantages in itself, both decreasing inflammation and reducing fluid, which helps prevent the formation of hematomas.

What are the risks of breast reduction surgery?

As with all surgeries, a breast reduction involves possible risks and complications. The decision to have breast reduction surgery is your personal choice.

Common breast reduction surgery risks include:

• Changes in nipple or breast sensation, which may be temporary or permanent
• Anesthesia reaction, such as an allergic reaction and problems with breathing
• Blood clots
• Infection
• Potential inability to breastfeed
• Large scars that may remain visible
• Change in color of nipples and areola, which may be permanent

How to prepare for Breast Reduction surgery?

You need to be in good physical shape to be sure you heal the way you should, so follow your surgeon's instructions before and after breast reduction surgery.

Before the surgery, get your home ready for recovery. Have these things on hand:

• Plenty of ice
• Gauze and clean washcloths and towels
• Loose, comfortable shirts
• Special ointments or creams as recommended by your surgeon for the incision sites

What to eat before Breast Reduction Surgery?

There are few things which you should eat before Breast Reduction Surgery:

• Protein- Women should eat 1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. Protein is vital for a strong immune system. It is also the essential nutrient in the creation of new blood cells and collagen. You can also eat eggs, fish, chicken, beef and nuts which are all good sources of protein.
• Fruits and Vegetables- Eat fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamin A, vitamin C, selenium, and manganese. All of these nutrients fight what are known as free radicals. Free radicals appear in your body which can cause tissue damage and slow the healing process.
• Water-Drink at least 64 ounces of water a day. 70 to 100 ounces is even better.

What to eat after Breast Reduction Surgery?

After Breast Reduction surgery the stress of surgery usually interferes with digestion, so you have to eat soft, easily digestible foods for at least 72 hours after surgery. Foods like apple sauce, chicken broth, scrambled eggs, and yogurt are all good choices. You can also eat fruits like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries, these have anti-inflammatory properties and are high in antioxidant.

What to avoid after Breast Reduction Surgery?

After Breast Reduction surgery you should avoid salt, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates for at least a month. After three days you can resume any vitamin or herbal supplements.

How many cup sizes you can lose in a Breast Reduction surgery?

Several factors affect how many sizes you can expect to lose with a breast reduction. These include how much volume you have to lose, the composition of your breasts and what incision technique is used, among other factors.

In general, you can expect to lose around one or two cup sizes. During your initial consultation, we will evaluate your aesthetic goals and breast composition to give you a good idea of what results you can realistically expect.

Am I a Candidate for Breast Reduction?

Overly large or heavy breasts can lead to health issues such as back pain, breathing constriction, sleeping issues, neck and shoulder pain. Women with large breasts, feel self-conscious to a point where they face many difficulties and insecurity in her life. Breast reduction surgery (or reduction mammoplasty) can decrease both the size and weight of the breasts and also remove excess fat, skin, and glandular tissue.

Symptoms which may indicate that you are a good candidate for breast reduction are:

• Trouble sleeping due to breast discomfort when lying down
• Breasts that are too large in proportion to one's body size
• Inability to participate in athletic/physical activities due to breast size
• Back, neck and shoulder pain caused by heavy breasts
• Breathing issues when lying down on your back
• Development of rashes or other irritations along the skin under the breasts

Surgical Breast Reduction is ideal for those whose breasts contain more glandular tissue than fat. If you have sagging or empty breasts, or are unhappy about the shape of your breasts, a Mammoplasty and Mastopexy procedure may be the best way forward. Other patients may require both breast reduction and augmentation using implants.

Post Operative Activities

• No stretching arms for the first 6 weeks.
• Normal daily activities like driving etc are allowed after the first week.
• Body exercises can be starts from the 6 week onwards.

For more suggestions and better guidance you may contact our expert Mr Aftab Siddiqui, a consultant cosmetic and plastic surgeon in Manchester, Chester, Preston.

Book a session with Mr Aftab Siddiqui today at Breast and Body Clinic UK - Consultant led and individually focused Cosmetic surgery clinic at Manchester.