Frequently Asked Questions Before Breast Reduction Surgery

How much will it cost?
What can I do for my enlarged breasts?
Will this reduce my shoulder and back pain?
Will this help the irritation under my breasts?
Is it abnormal to have different breast sizes and shapes?
Will I ever be exactly the same on both sides?
Will there be scars after surgery?
Will my bathing suit hide the scars?
How much breast tissue will be removed?
What cup size will I be after surgery?
Will this lift my breasts?
What are the risks of breast reduction surgery?
Will I lose feeling in my nipples?
I have heard about so many bad things on television, is it safe to have breast reduction surgery?
What can you tell me about this new technique I saw on television?
How old do I have to be to have this surgery?
How long must I wait after breast-feeding before I can have breast reduction surgery?
Will the breast tissue removed be examined for cancer?
Will breast reduction surgery increase my risk of breast cancer?
Do I need a mammogram before surgery?
Will breast reduction interfere with mammograms?
Should I stop smoking?
What other choices do I have?
What additional procedures can I consider that will enhance the result?
Am I a good candidate for the surgery?
How many times can I have the surgery done?

How much will it cost?

The fee for any surgery can be located in the suggested fees . Please call my office for an accurate price quote or make an appointment for a personal consultation to discuss your specific concerns. My suggested quotes include professional fees, anesthesia fees, operating room costs, house calls, before care and after care. They do not include hospitalization costs, prescriptions, home nursing care, preoperative history and physical examination, laboratory costs, or pathology fees. If you compare prices, make sure that you consider all these costs. In addition, breast reduction surgery requires some time off work for a safe recovery. I require complete payment two weeks in advance of all cosmetic surgery.

What can I do for my enlarged breasts?

Women with large breasts can suffer from headaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, and inflammation beneath the breasts due to the heavy breast weight. Breast reduction surgery is one choice to reduce the weight and volume of the breasts.

Will this reduce my shoulder and back pain?

The shoulder and back pain is caused by the weight suspended from your chest. Once this weight has been removed, your pain should be improved.

Will this help the irritation under my breasts?

The irritation beneath your beasts is caused by the chronic moistness of overlapping skin beneath your breasts. This skin will dry normally once your breasts have been reduced in size and the nipples have been repositioned.

Is it abnormal to have different breast sizes and shapes?

It is not abnormal to have differences in breast size and/or shape. In fact, most women have some asymmetry. It is common for women to be self-conscious about this. Some women are so self-conscious that they are always covered except when bathing. Fortunately, breast reduction can be considered to improve these differences.

Will I ever be exactly the same on both sides?

It is normal to have differences in breast size and shape. Surgery can reduce these differences but not eliminate them. It is possible to remove different amounts on each side to reduce volume differences. It will be necessary for you to adjust to some breast asymmetry after your surgery.

Will there be scars after surgery?

Scars are part of all surgery. It is important to understand where breast reduction scars will be placed. Breast reduction scars are located around the nipple, straight down to the fold beneath the breast and in the fold itself. They are the shape of a keyhole. They are inconspicuous and easily covered with clothing.

Will my bathing suit hide the scars?

My goal is to place the scars in a position that can be covered by the bathing suit of your choice. However, fashion always offers bathing suits that may reveal some of the scars.

How much breast tissue will be removed?

The amount of breast tissue removed will depend on what size your breasts are before surgery and what size you want to be after the surgery. An estimation can be made during your personal consultation.

What cup size will I be after surgery?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict exactly what bra cup size you will be after surgery. Cup size varies with bra manufacturer, bra style and chest size. It is important for you try to understand how much breast tissue will be removed. You will have an opportunity during your consultation to examine breast implants with the same volume as the breast tissue that will be removed. This will help you to conceptualize how your figure will change.

Will this lift my breasts?

Yes. Breast reduction not only reduces the size of the breasts but also repositions the nipples to a more flattering or normal position (above the fold beneath the breast).

What are the risks of breast reduction surgery?

There are risks with any surgery. Infection, excessive bleeding, abnormal scarring, poor healing, slow healing, skin loss, changes in skin sensation, muscle or nerve injury, although uncommon, can occur with any surgery. Wound separation, skin loss, and nipple loss are also possible. Fortunately, most problems that result from such complications are correctable with additional surgery. You must understand your risk of complications completely before you choose to have breast reduction surgery.

Will I lose feeling in my nipples?

Although rare, complete loss of nipple feeling can occur due to nerve injury. This may interfere with sexual arousal and breast-feeding. Ten to fifteen percent of patients experience some change in breast feeling. This can include loss of nipple sensation.

I have heard about so many bad things on television, is it safe to have breast reduction surgery?

There are always risks with breast reduction surgery. When severe complications are combined with inexperienced surgeons, poor results can occur. I believe that breast reduction can be done safely with a high degree of patient satisfaction. Serious problems are usually related to excessive surgery and/or medical problems. Most poor results can be improved with additional surgery.

What can you tell me about this new technique that I saw on television?

Everyone in America wants the latest in medical care. This is not always the best medical care. At times media presentations will leave out critical information about potential complications, quality of result, and FDA regulation. I am open minded when it comes to new technology but I would rather not use my patients to try out the newest techniques. New techniques trying to improve upon breast reduction surgery have focused on reducing the number of scars on the breast. I believe that the breast shape after these techniques is not as natural as the traditional keyhole pattern surgery. Liposuction can also be used to reduce the volume of the breast provided the nipple position is satisfactory.

How old do I have to be to have this surgery?

Breast development can continue into the early twenties. When surgery is done before this time, there is a chance the surgery will have to be repeated. In addition, it may be emotionally difficult to adjust to the surgery during teen years. I generally suggest that surgery be postponed until eighteen years of age. However, exceptions can be made for teenage girls who have massively enlarged breasts that have been wearing the same bra size for six months to a year.

How long must I wait after breast-feeding before I can have breast reduction surgery?

You must wait for three to six months after breast-feeding before you can proceed with breast reduction surgery. Reasons for this are increased risk of blood and/or milk collections. In addition, it is impossible to predict what the size and shape of your breasts will be once all the milk has passed.

Will the breast tissue removed be examined for cancer?

Whenever breast tissue is removed, it should be examined not only for breast cancer but also precancerous conditions. The laboratory results usually take about two to three days.

Will breast reduction surgery increase my risks of breast cancer?

No. Breast reduction surgery does not increase your risk of developing breast cancer. However, all women are at risk for breast cancer. If you have family members that have had breast cancer, your risk is increased. Remember that breast cancer can occur at any age and a physician must properly evaluate all breast lumps.

Do I need a mammogram before surgery?

I recommend that you have a preoperative mammogram if you are thirty-five years old or older. I also recommend that you have a mammogram if you have any significant breast problems or breast lumps. Breast cancer can occur at any age and a physician must properly evaluate all breast lumps.

Will breast reduction interfere with mammograms?

All breast surgery can interfere with the interpretation of mammograms. It is important that you continue with monthly breast self-examinations. When you do have a mammogram, be sure to tell the physician or the x-ray technician that you have had breast reduction surgery so they can do extra x-ray views, if necessary.

Should I stop smoking?

For general health reasons, I recommend that all my patients stop smoking. It is clear that smoking increases your risk for developing all sorts of cancers. Breathing problems like emphysema and circulatory problems including heart attacks are also linked to smoking. Smoking can increase the risk of coughing after your surgery that can lead to unwanted bleeding. Smoking also reduces blood flow that can result in skin loss during the healing period. When this reduced blood flow is combined with breast reduction, skin and nipple loss can occur. The deformity of the nipple and breast can be difficult or impossible to repair. It is always best to stop smoking.

What other choices do I have?

There are always other choices when it comes to breast reduction surgery. These include acceptance of a deformity or changes in clothing styles. There are alternate surgery techniques including reduced skin scars on the breast. I believe that the breast shape after these techniques is not as natural as the traditional keyhole pattern scar. If you are comfortable with the position of your nipple, the volume of the breast can be reduced with liposuction alone. Always understand all your options before having breast reduction.

What additional procedures can I consider that will enhance the result?

Surgeries can be combined to yield dramatic and complimentary results. For safety reasons, I recommend the length of surgery be limited to six hours and no more than two areas of the body be treated at the same time. Surgeries commonly combined with breast reduction are tummy tuck, liposuction, and thigh lift.

Am I a good candidate for the surgery?

This is a question that can only be answered after a personal consultation. Breast reduction surgery is suggested to women with large beast size. Breast reduction surgery is not a treatment for obesity. Obesity increases the risk of complications and detracts from the aesthetic results. The surgery is designed to not only reduce the breast volume but also reposition the nipples higher. There are other things to consider as well including psychiatric conditions, life stress, medical illness, obesity, and motivation. You should be a healthy nonsmoker, within twenty pounds of your ideal weight. Major life stresses (i.e. grieving a death and divorce) must be absent in your life. The ideal candidate is motivated by internal desires to look better.

How many times can I have the surgery done?

Each time surgery is done, scar tissue is created in the surgical site. This scar tissue detracts from the natural result. For this reason, I recommend that breast reduction surgery not be repeated more than two or three times at prescribed intervals. It is unusual to need this surgery more than once.