In general, breast reduction is advised for patients above 18 years of age. However, some adolescent girls feel overburdened by overly large breasts and seek the surgery, due to several reasons, including: Neck and shoulder pain. Irritation under the breast fold.
The ideal time for a breast reduction is once the breasts have stopped growing, usually between 16 and 18. There is a condition known as Juvenile Virginal Hypertrophy in which the breast demonstrate rapid growth at a much earlier age.
Most surgeons do not dictate or require a particular size to qualify you as a candidate for breast reduction. The most vital factor they consider is if the breast size causes you mental and physical health problems.
Some insurance companies will deny breast reduction surgery unless the BMI is <30, others <35, while others need to see documentation that the patient has attempted to lose weight in the past through diet, exercise or weight loss surgery.
Most plastic surgeons require the patient to be at least 18 years old.
Medicare only covers breast reduction surgery if it is medically necessary. Medicare does not cover elective cosmetic breast reduction. Patients can get coverage under Medicare plan if it is deemed as a medical necessity, you have a valid referral and meet strict criteria.
The cost of breast reduction in Sydney typically ranges from $12,000–$20,000. This range includes purely cosmetic reductions as well as reductions for patients with medical concerns. Please note that the costs outlined above are general estimates only.
Your weight should be stable. If you plan on losing weight it is better to do so before surgery. Your BMI is 35 (based on your height and weight) it is considered best practice to operate on a patient that has a BMI of less than 30. A weight of 190 or less would be a BMI of less than 30.
On the basis of published data and results from this study, it is recommended that patients with a cup size>or=D or a bra size>or=18 could be categorized as having large breasts, with all other patients considered average in size.
It has been previously suggested that female breast morphology arose as a result of sexual selection. This is supported by evidence showing that women with larger breasts tend to have higher estrogen levels; breast size may therefore serve as an indicator of potential fertility.
Is the breast reduction procedure painful? Anesthesia will be given during the procedure, but you should expect to feel sore for two to three days after surgery. You will be prescribed pain medication, and your surgeon may advise placing wrapped ice packs gently over sore areas to help with pain and swelling.
Typically, most women drop one or two cup sizes with breast reduction surgery. This is usually sufficient to alleviate the many problems associated with overly-large breasts, while still maintaining an attractive and proportionate body shape.
Most women who get breast reduction are very satisfied with the results. Men with conditions such as gynecomastia (in which male breasts are abnormally enlarged) may also have it. Because it's major surgery, you should know the benefits, potential complications, and what's involved in recovery.
Timing breast reduction surgery
Patients often decide to have this surgery during the colder months because people spend more time indoors and wear bulkier clothing, meaning there's less sun exposure and it's easier to conceal swelling and other temporary side effects.
One of the many questions that patients ask our breast reduction surgeon here at Cold Spring Surgery is if the breast will grow back after surgery. The simple answer is, “no.” The reason for this is that the breast tissue will no longer regrow or regenerate if you undergo this procedure as an adult.
The breasts can enlarge after menopause due to the hormone oestrogen levels going down. When the breasts go through an " involution " process, the milk glands shut down, and the tissue is replaced with fat.
While reducing breast size through surgery can produce better results for many patients, it may be possible to accomplish noticeable results through diet and exercise. However, reducing one's breast size or losing weight through a healthy lifestyle oftentimes proves more difficult than people realize.
While you won't lose much weight from a breast reduction surgery, your appearance will change, and you will look slimmer. Large breasts tend to change the proportion of your figure and make you appear bigger. When the breast size is altered, it has a slimming effect.
You breasts may get slightly smaller in size and you may lose some firmness if you lose that much weight following surgery. Discuss your goals with your surgeon. Losing weight after a reduction will impact your size depending on how much weight you lose and where the weight comes off of you.
For a couple of weeks after breast reduction surgery, you may notice that your abdomen looks larger than usual. This is mostly because of constipation or swelling of the upper body. Once the early complications of the surgery go away, your stomach will look much smaller.
Breast Reduction Post-Op Instructions
You will need at least 1 to 2 weeks to recover after surgery. Do not lift anything heavy during this time. You can resume light exercise 5 to 6 weeks after surgery. Avoid strenuous exercise for 6 – 8 weeks after surgery.
The procedure typically takes 3 to 4 hours to perform, followed by a 2 to 3 hour recovery period in the hospital, after which patients complete their recovery at home through self-care . Most often, a breast reduction involves three incisions. The first will circle around the areola, or the dark skin around the nipple.
Breast reduction scars don't completely disappear. They may change in size and blend in with your natural skin tone over time. While your scar won't go away completely, it can fade enough to where you don't even notice it on your skin. Surgeons will hide incisions to minimize the appearance of scars.