BREAST REDUCTION AND LIFT SURGERY

Summary
Women with very large, pendulous breasts may experience a variety of medical problems caused by the excessive weight-from back and neck pain and skin irritation to skeletal deformities and breathing problems. Besides breast reduction is an aesthetic surgical intervention, it is also an intervention performed for health reasons to improve the quality of life.
Breast reduction, technically known as reduction mammoplasty, is a reduction and lifting procedure of hormonally or congenitally large breasts. The operation is performed under general anesthesia and will last for 3 hours with a night of hospitalization. Usually it is performed with a technique called vertical mammoplasty.

This recently worldwide used technique will leave after the operation an incision line that circles the areola, extends downward, and follows the natural curve of the crease beneath the breast.

The scar tissue often remains lumpy and red for months, than gradually becomes less obvious within a year, sometimes eventually fading to thin white lines. Your doctor will demonstrate these scars on his computer for you. On the 4th day after the operation you'll be able to go back to work.

Detailed Information
The enlargement of the breasts according to developmental, pregnancy or weight gaining reasons is one of the frequent problems. This is not only an aesthetic problem, but also leads to a shoulder ache, a back ache, skeletal deformities, and skin irritation. Patients who are seeking solutions for such problems should read the following information:

• Investigate if the breast enlargement is due to a hormonal problem.
• Ask if the enlargement is a continuing problem.
• Investigate if there is a palpable mass with or without pain at the breast examination.
• Investigate if there is a previous breast operation or infection.

Your doctor will ask you several questions and inform you regarding the above mentioned items. Usually a surgical procedure is appropriate for enlargements not related to a hormonal problem or breast stopped enlarging for at least 6 months. For patients above a certain age and those with a mass in their breasts, a test like a mammography is relevant prior to the intervention. Afterwards, you and your doctor will decide for the appropriate technique due to the specifications of your skin and breast tissue.

Prior to the intervention you will undergo some laboratory investigations, a detailed physical examination, and a skin drawing of the operation plan according to the selected operation technique. The operation will be performed under general anesthesia. The operation period will last between 2-4 hours depending on the selected technique. You'll have to stay 1 or 2 days at the hospital. On the 4th hour after the operation you'll start to eat and walk. On the first couple of days there will be a suction bag called a drain placed into the operation area to collect excessive fluids and blood. Depending on the collected material, the drain will be removed in 1-2 days. It is appropriate to restrict excessive arm movements on the first days. At the first week you'll have a bandage wrapping your chest. This will be removed on the 7th day after the operation and replaced with only a thin strip covering the incision line, which will stay for an additional week.

Enlargement is usually together with pendulous breasts. If the shape of the breast is good but only the size is big due to fat accumulation, the breast reduction can be performed with only a liposuction method. If the surgeon has to reshape your breasts while reducing the size, the following steps are performed: