North Carolina Breast Reductions - North Carolina Breast Augmentation

Breast Reduction

OVERVIEW
North Carolina Breast reduction, or reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure performed by the Blue Ridge Plastic Surgery Group used to help women with unusually large, sagging breasts to achieve smaller, firmer breasts that are more proportionate to their bodies. Sometimes larger breasts can cause certain complications like neck and back pain, skeletal deformities, skin irritations, and indentations in the skin caused by bra straps. Our facility provides women, who have a harder time doing physical activities and are self-conscious, with the option of a North Carolina breast augmentation. By having a breast reduction these women will be more comfortable and have a better quality of life.

The best candidates for beast reduction are mature women who have abnormally large and sagging breasts. In most cases, doctors advise to wait until the breasts have fully matured and developed.

Dr. Anagnos, our North Carolina Plastic Surgeon, will take into account your body type, size, structure, and desires in order to ensure full happiness with the final outcome.

SURGERY
Patients are almost always put under a general anesthesia prior to the actual breast reduction surgical procedure. The procedure can be done in any setting, and most people prefer the outpatient setting, as it generally costs less. The entire procedure can take anywhere from 2 to 4 hours, with more complicated procedures taking longer.

During the procedure Dr. Anagnos will make a small anchor shaped incision that circles around the areola (the dark skin around the nipple) and follows down the crease underneath the breasts. After making the incision Dr. Anagnos will then remove the extra grandular tissue, fat and skin. After removing all the tissues, the doctor will then move the nipple and areola into their new positions. After positioning the nipple and areola, he will then take the skin from both sides of the breast and move it down and around the areola, shaping the contours of the new breast.

Generally, during the surgery the nipples are kept intact with their blood vessels and nerves. In certain cases, if the patient has very large or sagging breasts, the nipple and areola may have to be removed and put into a higher place, due to the amount of tissue and fat being removed. If the nipple and areola have to be detached during the surgery, nerves will be damaged, therefore there will be a loss of sensation in the nipple area.

After removing all the fat and tissues, stitches are put in around the areola, and in a vertical line that goes down to the crease underneath the breast.

RECOVERY
Immediately following the breast augmentation surgery you will be wrapped in gauze or be given a surgical bra to wear. In some cases, drainage tubes will be put in each breast in order to help the fluid drain and not build up. In the days following the surgery you will experience some pain and discomfort around the chest area, and will see swelling and bruising in the breast and arm areas. The bandages can be taken off a day or two after surgery, however patients must wear the surgical bra for weeks after the surgery. After the swelling and bruising subsides, patients are allowed to stop wearing the bra. Patients are advised not to push on the breasts or engage in highly physical activities in the weeks following surgery. Most women are able to return to work and their normal daily routine two weeks after the surgery.

In the months after the surgery, some patients report sharp pains that shoot through the breasts during random times. Most patients also have some loss of feeling in the breast and nipple area, however as time goes by most regain feeling in these areas.

RISKS
As with all surgical procedures, a breast reduction carries the same risks of infection, bleeding, and the usual complications associated with surgery. In some instances, women can develop small sores on the nipples, which are treated with antibiotic creams.

Of course, there will be some scarring, however, scars are usually well hidden by undergarments. Many women experience a loss of feeling in the nipple and areola area, or in rare cases these tissues can actually die due to a loss in blood supply. If this happens, the nipple and areola can be reconstructed. However, a new procedure will need to take place.

In most cases, breast feeding after this procedure is not possible because during surgery many of the tissues and fat removed contains the milk ducts that lead to the nipple.

<back

If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact us at 828-268-0082, email us, or use our online request form.