Breast Reduction

     Large, sagging breasts can cause back pain and other discomfort. There are also psychological and practical problems when a woman has large breasts. The breast reduction removes fat, glandular tissue, and skin. Also as in mastectomy, there is repositioning of the nipples and remaining tissue. Drains are most often necessary for several days. This is sometimes a medical problem that is covered by medical insurance. Surgery can take up to four hours and is done under a general anesthetic. At times it can be performed in the surgeon's surgicenter. Otherwise, hospital surgery is required.
     Following surgery there will be bruising, some numbness, and swelling. Also, scarring remains. There is usually some shift in the size of breast after a few years, but not a great deal unless there is excessive weight gain. The initial recovery time is at least one to two weeks. A lesser procedure which removes the fat of the breast, decreasing the size, can be done with almost no scarring.