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Large breasts can cause back pain, shoulder pain for bra straps, improper posture, irritating rashes, breathing problems, skeletal deformities, and low self-esteem. Breast reduction surgery is usually done to provide relief from these symptoms.
Performed under general anesthesia, the two- to four-hour procedure removes fat and glandular tissue and tightens skin to produce smaller, lighter breasts that are in a healthier proportion to the rest of the body.
Breast reduction surgery can bring many improvements to your life. Resizing and reshaping your breasts will make your clothes fit better and feel more comfortable. Participating in sports and other physical activities will become much easier. You will reduce strain and pain in your back, neck, and shoulders and improve your posture. You may even find that you experience fewer headaches after the procedure.*
For information on breast reduction for men, please visit our page on gynecomastia to learn more about enlarging male breast tissue.
Breast Reduction Surgery with Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group
With BHPSG, you will have the benefit of two board-certified plastic surgeons and undergoing your procedure in our on-site Stitch Surgical Center. Because Dr. Layke and Dr. Danielpour work in tandem during your breast reduction surgery, you will have reduced surgery times and reduced risk associated with anesthesia.
Breast Reduction Incision Techniques
- Lollipop Technique – Sometimes called the vertical incision technique, the lollipop technique uses a single vertical incision without a horizontal incision under the breast. The operation not only reduces breast size but reshapes them, creating a natural-looking, aesthetically pleasing shape. This type of operation doesn’t disrupt glandular tissue and sensation to the areola is maintained. Most patients are still able to breastfeed after the operation. The “lollipop” scars fade over time. During recovery, there will be a small amount of wrinkling of the skin under the breast that resolves itself over time. Your recovery time will be much shorter than with a traditional breast reduction surgery. Most patients can return to their daily activities within a few days.
- Periareolar Incision – Sometimes known as the Benelli incision. This technique is best for smaller breast reductions. The periareolar incision technique uses the natural skin color change to hide scars. Instead of a horizontal cut below the breasts, the incision is made around the bottom perimeter of the areola. Periareolar incision can be used for both breast reduction and augmentation. This incision allows for high degree of visibility as the operation is being performed. The only limitation on this procedure is the size of the areola. Large areolas may be reduced in size during this type of procedure.
- Anchor Technique – traditional method for extremely large breasts. It is one of the most common types of mammoplasty operations performed today. The procedure involves a three-part anchor-shaped incision pattern. This allows us to remove more tissue than in other methods to maximize reduction results. The horizontal and vertical incisions allow for the removal of excess skin. The excess skin is removed, creating a smooth appearance within a month of the operation.*
After the incision is made, our surgeons remove excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin, relocate the nipple and areola, and reshape the breast using skin from around the areola before closing the incisions with stitches. This creates a lighter and tighter breast profile. Liposuction may be needed to remove excess fat from the armpit area, and in some cases when only fat needs to be removed from the breasts, liposuction alone is used for breast reduction.
What To Expect After Breast Reduction Surgery
For a few days after surgery, the breasts are bound with an elastic bandage or surgical bra and you may be given surgical drainage tubes for fluid removal. Stitches come out in a week and the surgical bra must be worn for about a month.
A little pain is normal after surgery, whether it’s mild discomfort, swelling during menstruation, a measure of numbness or sensitivity, or random, shooting pains that may last for a few months. Swelling, bruising, crusting and slight changes in breast size are also common. Most patients return to work in about two weeks, although you should avoid heavy lifting for three to four and only gentle contact with the breasts should occur for six weeks. Scars fade with time with the assistance of Embrace Scar Therapy and following your surgeon’s post-care instructions.
Breast Reduction Costs and Insurance Coverage
Because large breasts can cause pain and postural problems, breast reduction is generally covered by medical insurance. If you have medical insurance, but are unsure of your coverage, our BHPSG team will be happy to help you inquire about your coverage. We are here to help you!
In addition, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group accepts many forms of payments, including cash, personal checks, and most major credit cards. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.
We also offer the option of financing your procedures. Payments can be broken down into low monthly amounts to fit comfortably into any budget. In many cases, no down payment is needed. We offer financing through CareCredit and Prosper Healthcare Lending. You can apply to either one quickly and securely online, and there is no application fee.
What Are The Risks of Breast Reduction Surgery?
Risks are rare and usually minor but may include bleeding, infection, reaction to the anesthesia, small sores around the nipples, slightly mismatched breasts or unevenly positioned nipples, and permanent loss of feeling in the nipple or breast. If there are scars that harden around the breast, a capsular contracture procedure may be recommended.
Who Should Not Get Breast Reduction Surgery
Breast reduction surgery is not recommended for women who intend to breast-feed, since many of the milk ducts leading to the nipples are removed.
Travel Concierge for Breast Reduction Surgery
We believe that an exemplary plastic surgery experience extends beyond the operating room. The widely acclaimed Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Group enjoys bringing in patients from all over the country and even the world.
Whether you are a local or visiting us from afar, we want you to be comfortable. We offer a range of travel services to make your visit as smooth as possible. We will make all your arrangements during your visit so you can enjoy your stay.
Our concierge staff can book you into a local hotel, which provides luxurious and relaxing environments for medical travelers to begin their recuperation. We can book flights and arrange transportation for you to LAX, Burbank, or any of the other airports in our service area.
We offer transportation services both to and from your hotel or airport throughout the Los Angeles area. As with our surgical services, we realize everyone’s needs are unique. We can tailor our services to meet your exact needs.
We want to offer you the best medical travel experience possible. To learn more about the benefits of our concierge services, contact our office and schedule a consultation.