Breast reduction surgery is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of the breasts, by means of the removal of fat, breast tissue and skin, making them smaller, lighter and firmer.
The size of the areola can also be reduced. Until not long ago, the breast reduction technique left a scar in the shape of an inverted T which spoiled the finished result.
Currently, techniques have been developed that leave practically no scar.
If the amount to remove is low, the intervention can be performed by means of a small excision that only leaves a scar around the areola. For older women with a higher body fat composition, liposuction could be an alternative which doesn’t leave scars. If there is more volume and the breast is sagging more, a technique is used which leaves only one vertical scar that is practically invisible.
It is only in very large breasts that require a significant reduction in the volume is it necessary to leave a scar in the shape of a T. Although the resulting shape is not ideal, it has several advantages: recovery is faster and scarring is minimal.
The technique to be used will be evaluated with the patient during the first consultation, where they will also be able to see similar cases to their own and the results achieved.
Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anaesthetic. Breast reduction takes between 2 and 4 hours. It requires admission to the clinic for one or two days. After breast reduction it is recommended that you don’t do any exertion or pick up weights for 15 days. Furthermore, a bra will need to be worn for the first month to keep the breast in its new position and allow the scarring to retract.
After breast reduction surgery, there are often bruises and swelling in the postoperative period. In some cases there could be a reduction or loss of sensitivity in one or both areolas which is normally recovered over time.