If you’re like many women, you may suffer from oversized breasts that impact your quality of life. Bigger breasts can develop due to pregnancy, fluctuations in weight, or genetics.
Having larger breasts can lead to back and neck pain, problems finding bras that fit, and difficulty during exercise. Fortunately, breast reduction surgery can address these concerns and help women feel more comfortable in their skin.
Breast reduction surgery is a procedure that involves the removal of excess fat, skin, and glandular tissue from the breasts to reduce their overall size. It can also involve repositioning the nipples to make the breasts appear perkier. This surgery may eliminate many of the physical issues associated with having heavy breasts.
What Are the Benefits of Undergoing a Breast Reduction?
Breast reduction surgery carries several benefits for those who are seeking relief from the discomfort and inconvenience of larger breasts.
Reduction of Back Pain
Women with larger breasts often incur back pain as a result of the weight that they carry. This can be very uncomfortable and only gets worse with age. Undergoing breast reduction surgery can keep back pain at bay and help improve the quality of your life.
Establish Better Proportion and Balance
Larger breasts may make the body appear out of proportion, especially for women with thinner frames. Breast reduction surgery can help correct this issue and give the body a more proportional shape. This can improve a silhouette and make it easier to fit into conventional clothing sizes.
Easier to Engage in Higher Impact Sports and Activities
Breast size can affect the ability of women to exercise. Even well-fitting sports bras aren’t always able to protect the breasts from bouncing and causing issues during high-impact sports. Breast reduction surgery can help alleviate issues associated with having larger breasts when exercising.
Better Posture
Having heavy breasts is often associated with rounded shoulders. This can affect your posture over the long run and result in curvature of the spine. Less weight on your chest often means better posture, which can help alleviate back pain and improve how you feel and look when standing or sitting.
Eliminate Skin Irritation
Exceptionally large breasts often have skin folds underneath that can trap dirt and irritants. This can lead to rashes or chafing. These folds also increase sweating underneath the breasts. Breast reduction surgery can help to decrease friction and sweating between skin folds and lead to easier hygiene routines.
More Clothing Options
Many women with larger breasts may feel uncomfortable wearing form-fitting outfits, such as tank tops or bikinis. Reducing breast size can open the door to more clothing choices.
In addition, most women who undergo a breast reduction can purchase smaller bras. This can be financially beneficial; most of the time, larger bras are more difficult to find and more expensive than smaller bras.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery?
A good candidate for breast reduction surgery is someone with larger breasts who wants to experience a better quality of life.
Prospective patients who are interested in breast reduction surgery should speak to Dr. Karol Gutowski to determine whether the surgery makes sense for them. They can also discuss any concerns about the treatment and gain a full understanding of the surgery itself and the breast reduction recovery process.
What Happens During a Breast Reduction Surgery?
Before undergoing breast reduction surgery, you’ll meet with Dr. Karol Gutowski for a full consultation. You’ll discuss the goals you’re seeking to achieve through breast reduction, as well as any concerns that you have about the procedure. Consider this meeting a chance to bring up any questions and resolve any issues before the surgery.
You’ll be asked for your full medical history and a list of any prescription medications that you are taking. Dr. Gutowski will then proceed with an examination of the area to determine the best strategy for reducing the size of your breasts.
There are several different breast reduction techniques. The most common is the lollipop reduction, which involves making an incision directly below the areola so that the areola and the incision have the shape of a lollipop. This is typically used for patients who are seeking a moderate reduction.
The anchor breast reduction involves making the initial incision from the areola to the crease of the breast, combined with a cut in the crease of the bottom of the breast. For patients with larger breast sizes or who have more sagging, this technique may be best.
On the day of your breast reduction surgery, you’ll receive general anesthesia so that you don’t feel the impact of the surgery as it is completed. The surgery usually lasts up to four hours.
This surgery may be an outpatient procedure, after which you can return home after a brief breast reduction recovery period in our office. Alternatively, you may choose to stay overnight for observation.
Dr. Gutowski will provide you with the instructions you need to ensure that your recovery period is as seamless as possible. Following the surgery, we are always able to immediately assist you if you have questions while undergoing breast reduction recovery at home.
Are You Considering Breast Reduction Surgery in Glenview, IL?
If you’re thinking about undergoing a breast reduction, reach out to Karol Gutowski, MD, to schedule a full consultation and learn more about the procedure. During the consultation, Dr. Gutowski can describe how a breast reduction can benefit you, as well as determine whether you are a good candidate. To get started, contact our office today.