There's really no upper limit to the weight that can be removed in a breast reduction and operation. In most cases, the average weight removed will be between 400 and 800 grams of tissue.
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.
What is significantly overweight? Once you get beyond 10%- 15% over your ideal body weight you would be much better off to delay any proposed breast reduction procedure. There are technical and common sense reasons for this.
Choosing the final size is dependent on a combination of what the patient wants the outcome to be and the existing shape and size. Typically, most reductions bring the cup size down one to two sizes, though in cases of extremely large breasts, more drastic results may be achieved.
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. This is because breast size may decrease with weight loss. 3.
It is certainly possible to reduce your breast size, regardless of size.
Being at or near your ideal weight is crucial before undergoing breast reduction. Losing weight will give you a better chance of loving your results and make matching your ideal bust size to your new body shape easier.
Conclusions: Reduction mammaplasty is a safe surgical procedure, even when performed on obese patients. However, patients with higher BMI have a greater risk of surgical site complications.
You May Sabotage Your Breast Reduction
If you just lose a litte, this might not be an issue. But, if you end up losing a lot of weight, you may lose the breast shape you gained in the reduction. Remember, if you lose weight first, it's much easier to match your ideal bust size to your new body shape.
A benefit of reducing breast size is that it seems like you've lost a lot of weight, even when you haven't. This effect is especially marked in women who have a smaller frame and a bigger bust. Many women report others commenting on how much slimmer and taller they look after reduction surgery.
Because of the changes in the skin after major weight loss, the cosmetic outcome of a previous breast reduction can change. In some cases, women who lose their excess weight first find that they simply need a breast lift instead of a reduction.
You will probably be able to go back to work or your normal routine in 2 to 3 weeks.
How long should I wear a supportive bra? Everyone recovers at different rates, and your unique procedure will determine your length of recovery. However, you should plan to wear your bra for around 6 weeks after surgery. You should wear it as much as possible (even while sleeping), but can remove it to shower.
You might go down a shirt size.
After surgery, clothes likely won't fit you the way they did before.
Sutures close the incisions, giving the breast its new contour. Scars around the areola, below it, and in the crease under the breast are permanent, but can be easily concealed by clothing. With smaller, better proportioned breasts, you'll feel more comfortable and your clothes will fit better.
With that said, a healthy BMI range is in the 25 to 29 range, and a good candidate for plastic surgery should have a BMI of 30 or below, and though some plastic surgeons may agree to operate on BMI's as high as 35 to 39, they draw the line at BMI 40 and above.
However, there are no official age restrictions currently set in place for breast reduction. The same applies to women later in life. Breast reduction is common among mature women 50-60 years old due to hormone changes and possible weight gain from menopause.
With larger breasts, a woman's torso and hips actually appear smaller. When breasts are reduced, it can actually make the hips and torso appear larger. It is important to note that after breast reduction surgery, the ratio between the breasts, hips, torso, and waist have fundamentally changed.
Yoga, Pilates, and other core strengthening exercises will help prepare your body for the shift in the center of balance that occurs when the breasts are reduced in size and lifted to a more physiologic position. Specific exercises to bring the shoulders back into a good position are also important.
If you have your procedure during the winter months, you'll be fully healed and ready to show off your new body shape in time for summer and swimsuit season.
Will Medicare help fund breast reductions? Yes if you meet the criteria outlined below. The rebate itself is around $1000 but importantly, you must be entitled to the Medicare number to ensure that your private health insurance to kick in. The Medicare item number to check with your health fund is 45523.
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.
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.
Do not try to exercise, diet or do anything more than rest and recover. You will need to sleep on your back for at least 2-3 weeks. If you are a stomach sleeper or side sleeper, this can be the most difficult part of your recovery, so consider purchasing a body pillow or sleeping in a recliner.