Am I An Ideal Candidate For Breast Reduction Surgery?
The ideal candidate for breast reduction in Atlanta is in generally good health and a nonsmoker. If you experience back, neck, and/or shoulder pain as a result of overly large breasts, breast reduction surgery may be right for you.
Our Atlanta breast reduction experts will explain the different options for breast reduction surgery and will discuss your medical history, as well as any medications you currently take that might affect the outcome of your surgery. It is important that you are open and honest with your answers, and our plastic surgeons will make sure that you are aware of every aspect of the breast reduction procedure. We will inform you about the risks and possible complications of breast reduction surgery and the long-term effects of undergoing this procedure. By being so thorough, we can evaluate which procedure is right for you and propose a plan that will meet or exceed your expectations.
What Are My Breast Reduction Options In Atlanta?
During your consultation for breast reduction surgery, Dr. Killingsworth and his plastic surgery team will ask you what breast size you would ideally like to be, and then will make a determination of how to best achieve that goal.
There are several techniques available for breast reduction surgery. Breast reduction typically takes 2 to 4 hours to perform on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia (depending on your circumstances). Patients usually return home the same day. The size and shape of your breasts, as well as the desired amount of reduction, will determine which technique is right for you.
Traditional Breast Reduction Surgery:
The traditional breast reduction surgery technique involves either an anchor pattern reduction or wise pattern reduction. During your surgery, the incision is made horizontally beneath the breast in the crease before extending the incision vertically up to the nipple. The incision is then extended around the nipple, which creates an anchor pattern. Your breast reduction surgeon will remove skin, fat, and tissue from the lower breast area to reduce the mass of the breast and, in most cases, the nipple will be moved to a higher position (although it remains attached to the nerves and blood vessels).
For extremely large breasts, however, the nipples may need to be moved and grafted to a completely new location; in this situation, the patient will lose sensation in the nipple and areola. After the nipple is moved to its new position, the skin above the nipple is brought down and around the swell of the breast and stitched back to close the original incision. Patients with extremely large breasts may benefit most from the traditional method of breast reduction, as this technique can remove more excess skin and tissue than with other methods. This also makes traditional breast reduction the most invasive method, as it entails more scarring. However, these scars usually fade, and they can often be hidden under clothing.
Vertical Incision Breast Reduction Surgery:
The vertical incision technique is sometimes referred to as a short scar breast reduction. During this method, our plastic surgeon will make a lollipop-shaped incision around the areola and extend the incision vertically down the breast. Our surgeon will remove excess skin and tissue, and then fold the excess skin over itself to stitch the incisions. The vertical breast reduction method allows for slight repositioning of the nipple. Patients with moderately-large breasts may benefit from vertical breast reduction. Unlike the traditional technique, the short scar method does not involve a horizontal incision across the breast crease, resulting in less scarring and downtime. However, the vertical method removes less breast tissue than the traditional technique.