Breast reduction surgery removes some of the tissue and skin from the breasts. This reshapes and lifts the breasts and reduces their size. It can also make the areola (the colored area around the nipple) smaller.
To remove tissue and skin from the breast, the surgeon first makes one or more cuts in the breast. After the excess tissue and skin have been removed, the skin is closed with stitches. Sometimes the nipple and areola need to be removed and repositioned.
Overview
Breast reduction surgery removes a lot of the breast tissue and skin from the breasts. This reshapes and lifts the breasts and reduces their size. It can also make the dark area around the nipple smaller.
Your doctor makes a cut around the dark area and down to the crease under the breast. The cut is called an incision. To reduce the breast size, the doctor removes extra skin and breast tissue. The doctor sews the remaining skin together. This tightens and lifts the breasts. The surgery may pull the nipples and the area around them into a different spot on the breasts. Your doctor may need to move your nipples higher. You may lose some feeling in them because of this. The doctor closes the incisions with stitches.
After surgery, your breasts will weigh less. But you may have lasting scars on your breasts. And you may have less feeling in your breasts and nipples. Breast reduction may make it hard to breastfeed.
Breast reduction surgery is usually done in a hospital or surgical center. You will likely be asleep for your surgery. You will probably be able to go home the same day. Depending on the type of work you do, you should be able to go back to work or your normal routine in 2 to 3 weeks. The incisions leave scars that usually fade a lot with time.
Your recovery
Breast reduction surgery removes some of the breast tissue and skin from the breasts. This reshapes and lifts the breasts and reduces their size. It can also make the dark area around the nipple smaller. After surgery, you will probably feel weak. You may feel sore for 2 to 3 weeks. You also may feel pulling or stretching in your breast area. Although you may need pain medicine for a week or two, you can expect to feel better and stronger each day.
For several weeks, you may get tired easily or have less energy than usual. You also may have the feeling that fluid is moving in your breasts. This feeling is normal and will go away over time.
Stitches usually are removed in 5 to 10 days.
Your new breasts may feel firmer and look rounder. Breast reduction may change the normal feeling in your breast. But in time, some feeling may return.
Keep in mind that it may take time to get used to your new breasts. You will have swelling at first, but the breasts will soften and develop better shape over time.
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