Why would a woman want to reduce her breast size?
These days, breast augmentation is one of the top two cosmetic surgery procedures in the United States year in and year out. So, it could be counterintuitive to think a woman would want to purposefully make her breasts smaller.
But overly large breasts can be a burden. The weight alone can cause back and neck pain, even leading to a hunched posture. Bra straps become torture devices as they dig into the skin. The breasts can keep a woman from participating in certain types of exercise. And the undue attention they attract can make a woman avoid social situations.
What is breast reduction?
Dr. Kearney performs what is known as reduction mammaplasty. The procedure involves the removal of excess skin, fat, and tissue from the breasts. The goal is to make the breasts more proportionate to the rest of the figure and to eliminate any discomfort they cause.
How is the procedure done?
Dr. Kearney usually makes an “anchor” incision with reduction surgery. This incision circles the nipple-areolar complex, drops down vertically from the nipple to the crease at the bottom of the breast and then extends horizontally along the bottom of the breast. This incision is necessary to access the amount of tissue needed. Excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are then removed. Dr. Kearney may reduce the size of the areolae, and the nipple-areolar complex is moved upward to match the smaller, higher breasts.
What is recovery like?
After reduction surgery, the patient will wear a surgical bra to decrease swelling and support the breasts. After the initial week, a support bra will need to be worn 24 hours a day for at least one month. Most patients can return to work in five days and resume most activities within one month. Strenuous exercise, particularly jogging or aerobics will probably need to wait six weeks.
Tired of your breasts getting in the way of your life? Call Dr. Kearney at (858) 677-9352 and set up a consultation for breast reduction surgery.
