What You Don’t Know About Breast Reduction
Breast reduction surgery may not be as popular an option as breast augmentation or breast lift surgery, but that doesn’t make it any less beneficial to the patients who request it. A breast reduction can alleviate strain to the neck and back, improve mobility, reduce chronic pain, and even help to improve self-image. Still, many prospective patients have misconceptions about what breast reduction surgery entails and what it can do for them. Read on to discover what facts about breast reduction you might not have known before you decide to have your own surgery.
Cup Size Isn’t Predictable Before Breast Reduction
Many patients expect that they will be asked to specify what cup size they would like to have during their breast reduction consultation. Instead, they’ll likely be told not to start shopping for new bras until after their surgery and recovery. Cup size is not easy to predict before the surgery begins and it is not a measurement that your surgeon will use when planning your surgery. Instead, your consultation will involve an evaluation of your frame, your breasts, and what changes would make these two factors more proportionate to each other. During the procedure itself, your plastic surgeon will focus on achieving a balanced look for your body and breasts that are more even with each other. Cup size isn’t as important as the benefits that your reduction surgery will provide you, so don’t get hung up on what it says on the tags of your new bras and shirts.
Breast Reduction Is Covered by Medical Insurance
Initially, most breast reduction surgeries are considered cosmetic in nature and not covered by medical insurance. However, if your breast reduction is considered medically necessary, coverage should then be available to you. So what makes breast reduction a medical necessity? You must be able to show that your overly large breasts are impacting your health and well-being. If you’re seeking breast reduction because of problems with chronic pain, you should start with your general practitioner and get a referral in network for a plastic surgeon. By using the right channels, you can show the insurance company that your breast reduction can improve your health by alleviating pain and related symptoms. Communicate any concerns with your insurance company if they deny your claim. Your plastic surgeon might also be able to offer advice based on previous patient experiences, so don’t be afraid to speak up during your consultation.
Recovering from Breast Reduction Doesn’t Have to Be Painful
When patients think about any breast enhancement surgery, they often anticipate that recovery will be extremely painful. That would make sense, especially considering how much tissue will be removed or manipulated during a breast reduction. Still, most patients experience mild pain and discomfort for only a few days, with pain medication available to control it. While every patient is different and some will experience more pain than others, the pain following breast reduction seems to reach moderate levels at its worst. The recovery period is also very manageable, with patients required to rest for a few days up to two weeks before returning to work and resuming most daily activities.
Lost Nipple Sensation Isn’t a Common Side Effect of Breast Reduction
Because the nipples are surgically repositioned during a breast reduction, the assumption is that the nerves are damaged and all sensation to the nipples is lost. In reality, most patients retain most, if not all, of the sensation in their nipples after breast reduction surgery. When performed correctly, any damage to the nerves should be minimal. While it is common to experience tingling and numbness in the nipples during the recovery period, the sensation should return gradually as the breasts and nipples heal.
Nursing Can Be Possible After Breast Reduction
Like sensation in the nipples, the ability to breastfeed is something most patients assume will be lost after a breast reduction surgery. The truth is that nursing can be possible for many women once they are fully recovered from this procedure. It is important to note that the milk glands and milk ducts are sometimes cut, removed, or damaged during breast reduction surgery, so the inability to breastfeed is always a possible side effect of this procedure. If you are hoping to have children and breastfeed in the future, be open about this with your plastic surgeon. He will be able to evaluate the needs of your surgery and give you a better answer based on your individual case. If it’s likely that breastfeeding won’t be possible, keep the benefits of your surgery in perspective and make the decision that is right for you.
Breast Reduction Results Are Better With an Expert Surgeon
Choose a reputable board certified plastic surgeon to perform your breast reduction procedure in order to minimize your potential risks and maximize your results. With his extensive experience, Dr. Ronald Lohner is a board certified plastic surgeon based in Philadelphia who offers facial surgeries such as chin implants, otoplasty, eyelid surgery, facelift, forehead lift and rhinoplasty to his patients. He completed his undergraduate education at Dartmouth College and medical school at UMDNJ-Rutgers. Currently, Dr. Lohner is Chief of Plastic Surgery at Bryn Mawr Hospital and holds a faculty appointment at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. His peers have selected him as a Philadelphia area Top Doctor for the last 8 years. His office is located at [primary_address] in [primary_city], [primary_statefull], on the Main Line. Please call his office at [primary_phone] to schedule a consultation for your liposuction procedure.