Breast reduction surgery (Mammoplasty)

Breast reduction is known as a cosmetic surgical procedure, which is used by some women and men to reduce the size of their breasts so that they appear more consistent with their bodies, and breast reduction often involves the resort of cosmetic surgeon to get rid of some breast tissue, glandular tissues, fat in addition to excess skin in the breast.

Breast reduction surgery is a procedure that has satisfactory results for people who have decided to perform this type of cosmetic surgery.

Some people may resort to breast reduction for several and different reasons, including:

• Obtain breasts that are more consistent with the overall body size.
• Improve the shape of the body and raise the level of self-confidence.
• Raising the level of ability to participate in various sports competitions.
• Get rid of pain in the neck or back caused by high breast size.
• Elimination of breast enlargement for some men.

Before undergoing breast reduction surgery, the patient should talk with the doctor and inform him of the exact body health in general; also the doctor must be informed if the patient had undergone a surgery to remove a lump from the breast and he must know the medical history of the family, in addition to other tests and examinations which include:

• Examination and measurement of breast size, and take some pictures to compare with the results after the operation.
• Breast Mammograms.
• Blood tests CBC.
• Comprehensive chemical tests.
• Liver and kidney functions tests.
• Urine test.
• Electrocardiogram (EKG).
• X-ray for the chest.

Depending on the patient's condition, your surgeon may order some other tests.

Breast reduction surgery may involve several risks and complications, which the patient should be aware of after discussing the plastic surgeon, these risks and complications include:

• Loss of sensation of the nipple area of the breast or the surrounding areola.
• Allergic reaction with
• Infection.
• Pain.
• Difficult breastfeeding and sometimes full loss of the ability to do.
• Bruising on the skin.
• Asymmetric breast size after surgery may require a re-operation to repair the defect.
• Scars on the skin.

This surgery includes three main steps:

• Preparing for the surgery:

Patients are advised to stop smoking for about two weeks before surgery to improve the chances of recovery and wound healing, as well as to stop any medications includes blood thinners such as aspirin, NSAIDs or herbal supplements to control and avoid bleeding.

• During the surgery: 

The patient is given general anesthesia, and then the plastic surgeon begins the procedure with the following steps:

1. Make an incision around the nipple and then down toward the bottom of the breast.
2. Remove fat, tissue and skin to minimize breast size.
3. Place drainage tubes to remove blood and accumulated fluids in the incision site.
4. Reshape the breast before closing the incision, and hold the nipple in place (often the nipple remains in place, but in some cases of large breasts the nipple are separated and re-installed in a higher place to fit the new shape of the breasts).
5. Close the incision and wrap it with a piece of gauze or bandages.

Breast reduction surgery may take 2 to 5 hours.

• After the surgery: 

During the following week of breast reduction surgery, the patient often feels some pain, especially when the breasts are pressed, in addition, breasts appear to be swelled and bruised, which are natural symptoms that follows the procedure.

To alleviate the pain, the surgeon recommends some analgesics and antibiotics and to wear a flexible compression bra. Some tubes remain attached to the breasts under the arm to drain blood and fluids, removed after a period of time agreed upon by the surgeon and patient, which may also include removal of sutures if they are not absorbable.

During the first period after breast reduction surgery the patient cannot return to normal activities, as some of the usual habits may increase the period of healing and slow it down, so the patient have to adhere to the surgeon's instructions by not doing any physical activities for about a month and avoid lifting any heavy loads or wear tight bras during this period.

The plastic surgeon usually explains how to take care of the patient's health during the recovery period after breast reduction surgery, as well as prescribing a range of analgesics, antibiotics and ointments that are used topically on the incision sites, the patient may notice some scars on the breasts which usually disappear with time.