Breast reduction surgery with an augmentation at the same time is contrary to what one would normally expect. After all, if the goal is to reduce breast size, why would one want to add an implant? Although this may not seem to make sense initially, there are valid reasons women would opt for this very choice.
Why do women choose a breast reduction?
Breast reduction may be a solution for women who have lived with years of chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain due to the size and heaviness of their breasts. Exercise, daily activities, and even sleeping may be uncomfortable for them. They may have developed grooves in their shoulders from bra straps and have a rash or skin irritation under the breasts. Their large breast size makes finding the right bra or fitting into clothing a challenge.
What happens during breast reduction surgery?
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. Incisions are made that allow the surgeon to remove excess breast tissue and fat. The nipple and areola can be reduced, if necessary. The remaining tissue is reshaped into smaller breasts. Most patients will see immediate results following surgery. The breasts are smaller and neck, back, and shoulder pain should be greatly diminished.
Why add an implant?
A breast reduction alone does not guarantee quality shape and fullness. Sometimes there is not enough breast tissue following a reduction for the surgeon to reshape the breasts for a natural look. Better results may be achieved with implants, which can provide needed lift and shapelier breasts. Implants provide upper pole fullness and prevent the upper breast hollowness that sometimes occurs following a reduction.
Can both procedures be done together?
Some patients may prefer to wait on making an implant decision. Their surgeon may also recommend a breast reduction along with a breast lift. A benefit of having a reduction and implants together is avoiding multiple surgeries and recoveries. Women who elect to have separate surgeries will need to wait 6-9 months to allow the scars from the first surgery to heal. Women who have their surgeries together will just have the one recovery period, and it is not substantially different than having the reduction alone.
What is recovery like?
The first week post-surgery will be rest and recuperation. Compression garments are worn to help reduce swelling and bruising. Depending on job duties, patients may return to work in 1-2 weeks. Strenuous activity should be avoided for 6-8 weeks.
Next Steps
Dr. Cristina Keusch, board certified plastic surgeon, has been performing breast surgeries for many years with amazing results at Boca Raton Plastic Surgery Center. Dr. Keusch is happy to discuss various options based on patient needs. The first step is to contact us today to schedule a consultation.
