When is the best time to have a breast reduction?
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Breast reduction removes fat, breast tissue and skin from the breast to ease discomfort and improve appearance.
Breast reduction surgery, (also known as a reduction mammaplasty), removes fat, breast tissue and skin from the breasts. For women with large breasts, breast reduction surgery can ease discomfort and improve appearance.
Breast reduction surgery can also help improve self-image, allow you to wear the clothes you want, and give you the ability to take part in physical activities.
“I just wanted to thank you (and your team) for the life-changing result of my breast surgery. This will provide me with the freedom that I’m excited to enjoy, including being able to go swimming and actually stay cool in summer! All jokes aside, you have helped to mark a new chapter in my life, for which I am incredibly grateful.”
Why undergo breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery is aimed at women who have large breasts that cause any of the following issues:
- Chronic back, neck and shoulder pain
- Shoulder grooves from bra straps
- Chronic rash or skin irritation under the breasts
- Nerve pain
- Not being able to take part in some activities
- Poor self-image due to large breasts
- Trouble fitting into bras and clothing
When is the best time to have a breast reduction?
The first thing we suggest for any type of breast surgery, but for breast reductions, in particular, is to wait until your breasts have stopped growing naturally. This usually happens around the age of 22 years old.
We would recommend our patients to be at a stable weight, if you are currently working out to lose excess weight then it is best to wait until you are at your ideal weight before having surgery.
What are the benefits of breast reduction?
The most notable and life-changing benefit of breast reduction surgery is to relieve pain in the back, neck and shoulders.
If your breasts are particularly heavy your neck muscles can also be affected. Reducing the weight of breast tissue relieves the pressure on the muscles in the back and neck and can restore a good posture.
Other benefits of breast reduction include:
- Ability to exercise – Having larger breasts can make physical activity, such as running, swimming and jumping painful and uncomfortable. Breast reduction surgery can improve your ability to move and undertake your favourite activities.
- Reduces chafing, rashes and infection – Breast reduction surgery can help to reduce chafing, rashes and infection by reducing friction and heat between and under the breasts.
- You can wear the clothes you want – Breast reduction surgery can help you to feel more confident in your chosen outfits, even a swimming costume!
- A boost of confidence – Smaller breasts can provide a boost to your confidence as you will feel that people are not looking at your chest.
How many bra sizes can you drop with a breast reduction?
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 drop one or two cup sizes with breast reduction surgery. This is usually sufficient to alleviate the problems associated with overly large breasts.
What you need to know about having a breast reduction
- You must meet certain criteria – Mr Fitton will always wish to consult his patients a minimum of two times before undertaking treatment.
- You might not get the exact cup size you would like.
- You can have a reduced sensation in the nipple area which may be permanent.
- Whilst it is possible to breastfeed after a breast reduction you should expect that the volume of breast milk produced may be reduced.
- The recovery time can be up to 6-8 weeks.
- You will appreciate the full effect of the final result when the scars have settled, which can take between 12 to 18 months.
Am I suitable for a breast reduction?
You will be considering breast reduction surgery if:
- You are dissatisfied with large heavy breasts and suffer from low self-confidence
- Your breast weight causes neck, shoulder or back pain and discomfort or poor posture
- Suffer from numbness or tingling
- You find it difficult to find underwear or clothes that fit
- You suffer from rashes under your breasts
- Your bra shoulder straps are digging in
- Exercising is painful or prohibitive
If you suffer from any of these problems you could potentially benefit greatly from breast reduction surgery. It has a very high satisfaction rate, but it also has significant side effects and is not suitable for everyone.
How long will my breast reduction last?
The results of a breast reduction should be permanent. However, over time, your breasts can change due to ageing, weight fluctuations, hormonal factors such as pregnancy or menopause and of course, gravity can change breast shape and size.
How long does it take to recover from a breast reduction?
Much of your breast reduction recovery happens in the first six weeks. The residual swelling can last four months or more meaning it can take as long as nine months to see complete results and up to 18 months to see the full effect of the breast reduction.
Remember that breasts heal at different rates. As such, they may look asymmetrical in the initial few months of recovery.
What are the risks of breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery can sometimes result in problems, including:
- nipple necrosis
- haematoma
- infection
- fat necrosis
These are rare but more likely in patients who smoke or who suffer from certain diseases such as diabetes. Other risks can include:
- A degree of asymmetry or irregularity
- Thick, obvious scarring – it is hoped that the surgical scars will heal to produce a fine line, in some patients scars can stretch or become very red (hypertrophic) and thick. The use of a moisturising cream will help scar maturation. See our article on ‘minimising scars’ for more tips.
- A loss of nipple sensation
- Being permanently unable to breastfeed
- Losing blood supply to part of the skin, fat or nipple, causing problems such as lumpy breasts if the area dies (necrosis)
- Excessive bleeding
- An allergic reaction to the anaesthetic
- A blood clot forming in the deep veins
Mr Fitton will explain how likely these risks and complications are, and how they’d be treated if they happen.
For a no-obligation quote
For a no-obligation quote, tailored specifically to you, please book in for your consultation with Mr Fitton. Your requirements will be discussed in full confidence in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
Following your consultation, the price you are quoted includes everything and there are no extra or hidden costs. Advice, treatment and aftercare are all part of our package to ensure your experience is positive from beginning to end.
Summary
Managing your expectations about plastic surgery is important regardless of which procedure you wish to have done. It’s critical to have realistic expectations about plastic surgery but to also ensure you are on the same page as your surgeon.
To find out more about having a treatment, book your no-obligation consultation. You will meet with Antony Fitton and receive expert advice tailored to your needs.
Please call us on 07494 250277 or book your consultation using our online form.
About your Plastic Surgeon: Mr Antony Fitton
MB, BS(hons)., MD., FRCS(eng)., FRCS(plast).
Mr Antony R Fitton qualified at the Royal London Hospital in 1989 with distinction in Surgery. He holds a MB, BS(hons)., MD., FRCS(eng). and FRCS(plast). (Fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons).
He is a member of BAPRAS (British Association for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons), BAAPS (British Association for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons), BSSH (British Society for Surgery of the Hand).
Mr Fitton has received the Paton & Masser Award and the CM Matthews Award from the Royal College of Surgeons of England or his research in nerve injury.
Mr Fitton is licensed as Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon by the GMC.
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