What You Need to Know Beforehand
Surgical techniques and scars
There are numerous novel as well as established techniques in breast reduction surgery. Choosing the right method must be tailored to you. This all depends on your anatomy, size of the breasts, degree of sagging, laxity of the skin, position of the nipple, etc. These, and many more factors, would be addressed by your surgeon within the decision process. Furthermore, additional liposculpturing, is often an integral part of the operation - remodelling the surrounding areas (such as lateral thorax, armpits, back, etc…), resulting in optimal body contouring.
Our goal is to create minimal scars whenever possible.
Light breast hypertrophy (expected resection volume under 350g): Tin the case of light to moderate breast hypertrophy there are breast lifting techniques which can be used alongside removal of breast tissue. Scars circle the areola and, if necessary, with a vertical extent (lollipop shape).
Moderate breast hypertrophy (expected resection volume over 350g): When a more excessive degree of hypertrophy is present, we pre-dominantly opt for the ‘Hall-Findlay’ technique - a modification of the widely used ‘Lejour’ method. The scars are, as described above, in a lollipop shape, and sometimes an additional short scar in the sub-mammary fold is necessary (short anchor or inverted-T).
Extremely heavy breasts, ‘gigantomastia’ (expected resection volume over 1000g): The scars are more extended along the sub-mammary fold, resulting in a full-length inverted-T. Sometimes a free nipple graft is inevitable.
After Surgery and Beyond
Breast reduction aftercare
The Ocean Clinic is dedicated to avoiding any unnecessary pain. We routinely perform a temporary, local nerve block of relevant sensory nerves, thus considerably lowering the pain in the early post-operative period. With an additional combination of one or two painkillers, you should be pain free. Our suturing is absorbable so there is no need to remove stitches. Postoperative, lymphatic drainage is advisable after this kind of procedure.
We will provide you with a special garment to be worn for about 4 to 6 weeks. Do not lift any objects above 5kg and avoid sports involving weights during this period.
Breast reduction procedure - related risks
There are non-specific risks that are connected to any kind of surgical procedures such as hematoma, infection, and seroma. When choosing the right technique for shaping the pedicle perfusing the areola, the restriction of blood supply (necrosis) to the nipple or areola is extremely rare. Avoiding smoking for 1 month prior to surgery and 4-6 weeks post surgery enhances the wound healing process and minimizes risk of nipple necrosis. The impairment of lactation in case of future pregnancy is a possibility.
Breast reduction - alternative treatments
In cases of a predominantly saggy breast with only some degree of hypertrophy, a breast lift with limited removal of breast and fat tissue could be an option.
However, most cases will require a full breast reduction in order to cure the symptoms and result in a proportional, attractive and adequately smaller breast.
Ocean Clinics experience in breast reduction
In 2004 Dr Elizabeth Hall-Findlay published her modified and novel approach for breast reduction. In 2007, we began operating on large breasts using this method resulting in a growing number of satisfied patients and long-term outcomes. It became our standard breast reduction procedure.
We perform our specially developed peri-areolar suture technique (if necessary) in order to minimize the appearance of scars. Our after treatment relies on an inter-disciplinary program for post-operative scar treatment. We often perform simultaneous liposuction in the surrounding areas, such as the rest of the chest, flanks and the area frontal to the axilla for a better aesthetic result. Drains are not required in most cases.
