Breast Reduction Operation

Breast reduction operation, which is referred to as reduction mammaplasty in the medical literature, is an operation performed in cases where the breast is larger than the ideal size and sagging.

Breast reduction operation is performed by aesthetic and plastic surgery specialists to eliminate both aesthetic concerns and medical problems.

What is Breast Reduction Operation?

Breast reduction surgery is an operation known as an aesthetic operation, but has many functional benefits to the breast organ. In this respect, breast reduction operations are surgical operations that aim to make the external appearance more aesthetic, but also, unlike many other aesthetic operations, may be necessary for health and have functional benefits.

Breast reduction surgery is usually performed due to the large size of the breasts, such as sagging, unaesthetic appearance, and not being symmetrical. For medical reasons, it is done to relieve shoulder, neck and back pain or to prevent hunchback due to the size and weight of the breasts. The prevention of diaper rash, fungus, infection or wound formation under the breast due to the size of the breast is among the reasons for breast reduction surgery performed for medical reasons.

We can say that breast reduction operations are the most applied surgical operations both in our country and in the world.

Main Causes of Breast Complaints

Breast sizes seen in adolescence are called virginal hypertrophy, growth or sagging of the breast in adulthood and later are called macromastia. In this direction, we can say that undesirable and uncomfortable breast sizes are very common in women, but they can occur due to various factors.

The basis of breast reduction operations is that women have large breasts. First of all, there are many reasons for having large breasts that can cause complaints.

We can list the reasons why breasts are large in general as follows:

• Genetic Factors: A number of genetic factors can be effective on the basis of women having large breasts. Women may have hereditary large breasts and if this situation causes complaints, they may apply for breast reduction operations.
• Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes that cause many bodily changes in women can also affect breast size and cause breasts to grow in a way that can cause complaints.
• Weight Changes: In case of excessive and rapid weight gain, breast enlargement is experienced and complaints brought about by large breasts arise.
• Breastfeeding: The female body, which undergoes postpartum changes, causes breast enlargement more specifically due to breastfeeding.
• Gravity: It is the factor that most affects the breast area. Considering that we live under the influence of gravity for life, the result that the effect of gravity is great in sagging breasts comes with it.
• Unknown Causes: Breasts may grow or sag for unknown reasons. These reasons are mostly the effects that occur with the effect of many factors over time.

What are the Reasons for Performing Breast Reduction Operations?

Breast reduction operations are surgical applications performed on women with large breasts. Complaints that develop in case of having large breasts and cause breast reduction surgery are as follows:

• Large breasts can cause constant or intermittent pain in the back and neck regions in women.
• Large breasts can lead to hump over time.
• Numbness can be seen in the arm as a result of the large breasts and the pressure of the bra, and the constant pressure of the bra strap on the arm nerves.
• Under the breasts; Infections such as fungus and diaper rash may occur and wounds may open.
• Due to the size of the breasts, daily activities may be limited.
• Choosing clothes can be difficult due to the large breasts.
• Social and psychological problems may arise due to the fact that women are not satisfied with their appearance.

Evaluations Before Breast Reduction Surgery

• The breast size should be measured and it should be acted upon considering how much breast size should be relative to the body.
• Considering the shape of the nozzle, it should be acted according to the existing shape deformations, if any.
• The skin condition factors should be taken into consideration, the skin condition, which can be affected by many factors, should be determined and the route to be followed should be drawn accordingly.
• It should be examined whether there is a high blood pressure disease, and if there is an existing high blood pressure disease, this situation should be taken into consideration.
• It should be examined whether there is a smoking habit.
• Diabetes control should be done.
• It should be determined whether there is drug use, and preparation for the operation should be made by considering the current drug use.
• Chronic diseases, as it should be done before every operation, should be determined whether the patient has chronic diseases and the treatment should be carried out in line with this evaluation.
• A family history of breast cancer should be known. It should be evaluated whether there is an inherited predisposition to breast cancer.

Things to Do Before Breast Reduction Surgery

• Herbal teas used at least ten days before the breast reduction operation should be discontinued.
• Vitamin pills and aspirin used should be discontinued.
• Alcohol intake should be stopped 48 hours before the operation.
• If there is smoking, smoking should be stopped 3 weeks before the operation.
• The patient should not eat anything at least 8 hours before the surgery.
• The patient must have breast control (ultrasound, mammography) before the operation.
• You should be in the hospital 2 hours before the operation time.

How is Breast Reduction Surgery Performed?

The aim of breast reduction surgery is to reduce the volume and aesthetic appearance of the breast by providing the symmetry of the breast and lifting it up. In this direction, in breast reduction operations;

• General anesthesia is applied.
• An incision is made around the nipple and the nipple is moved to where it should be. Thus, the image due to sagging is eliminated.
• Another inverted T-shaped incision is made down the lower middle part of the nipple. Scar formation can be seen as a result of this incision. This scar has an uncomfortable appearance at first, but gives good results over time.
• Excess tissue and skin on the breast are removed due to various reasons.
• Breast skin and mammary gland are shaped separately.
• The nipple and areola are placed in their anatomical position so that the blood supply is not damaged and the senses are preserved.

Breast reduction surgeries may take 2-4 hours depending on the technique used. The hospital stay after surgery is 12 days. Dressing is applied 2 days after the operation, and the stitches are removed within 7-10 days. A sports bra is used for 3-4 weeks after the surgery.

After breast reduction operations, a return to normal life is ensured within 1 week at the latest, and all activities can become free from the 2nd month.