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Breast Reduction Minneapolis
A breast reduction treats problems that result from uncomfortably large breasts. Symptoms may include neck and back pain, skin indentations from bra straps, pain in the chest, or skin rashes and chafing in the skin folds beneath the breasts. Some women may experience numbness and tingling that extends down their arms and into their fingers, because of poor posture.
The troubles associated with extremely large breasts vary from patient to patient, and they often range in severity. A breast reduction, offered for Minneapolis, Minnesota patients of Dr. Wire, is a well-established plastic surgery procedure. It consists of the removal and repositioning of breast tissue which results in less strain, or torque, on the upper spine, and relieves problems such as neck, back, and shoulder pain. To learn more about breast reduction surgery, contact our Chaska plastic surgery center today.
Breast Reduction Candidates
Candidates range from adolescent girls to women in their seventies who have endured the pain of large breasts for much of their lives. Any woman may be eligible for a breast reduction if she feels her breasts compromise her lifestyle. During your consultation with Dr. Wire, the discussion will focus on your concerns and motivations for wanting a breast reduction.
Breast Reduction Insurance Coverage
Depending on your circumstances and physical characteristics, you may be eligible to have your breast reduction covered by health insurance. Many major insurance providers cover the procedure if it is deemed medically necessary. Coverage is based on the amount of breast tissue that will be removed during a reduction surgery. If Dr. Wire feels that he can safely remove the recommended quantity, which is based upon a woman's height and weight, prior authorization from your insurance provider will need to be obtained.
Breast Reduction Preparation
Dr. Wire requires that you undergo a preoperative physical with your primary care physician prior to a breast reduction. This is to ensure you are in optimal health and not at risk for complications such as infections, bleeding, or adverse scarring. If you have medical conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, Dr. Wire will need to know about your history before surgery.
If you smoke, it is mandatory that you stop smoking four weeks prior to surgery. Smoking may result in a number of complications during surgery and recovery, including adverse reactions to anesthesia, infections, painful scarring, and delayed healing. In rare cases, patients with a history of heavy smoking have lost their nipples and areolas.
In addition, certain medications may interact with anesthesia and cause adverse reactions. In the weeks leading up to your breast reduction, we advise you to avoid taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory pain medications, as they are known to cause prolonged bleeding.
Breast Reduction Procedure
Since the procedure requires general anesthesia, Dr. Wire performs breast reductions at St. Francis Medical Center in Shakopee, MN. It is an outpatient surgery, and patients generally return home the same day of the procedure.
The procedure takes approximately two hours. You will awaken from anesthesia with your breasts wrapped in an oversize bra that contains soft surgical dressings for support. Your physicians and nurses at St. Francis will ensure that you are comfortable, and will monitor you until you are strong enough to return home.
Breast Reduction Recovery
After you convalesce at home for several days, you will have a follow-up appointment with Dr. Wire at his Chaska office. At this time, your surgical dressings will be removed for an examination and new dressings will be applied. Dr. Wire will advise you on how to care for the healing area in the weeks ahead. You will not need drain or suture removal, nor will you need to purchase any special bras apart from those which you find comfortable.
When you feel that you no longer need prescription pain medication, you may drive again (usually within three days). For the first week after surgery, you should refrain from lifting more than ten pounds and avoid activities that require prolonged shoulder movement. Most patients resume all of their normal activities after three to four weeks.
Breast Reduction Results
Most women heal completely within six months, at which point the breasts will have softened and settled into a natural position. Typically, they will appear as though they have been lifted to a higher position on the chest. They will also look smaller and more proportionate to your figure.
It is important to remember that all surgeries require incisions, which scar when they heal. The incisions made during a breast reduction are located in the fold beneath the base of the breasts, as well as along the circumference of the areolas. There will also be a small vertical incision that connects the two. The incisions are made in these locations so as to be discrete and easily concealed. When you see our before-and-after photo gallery, you will get a better sense of the placement of the incisions and resultant scars, which are acceptable to most women.
Risks or Side Effects of Breast Reduction
With any surgery, risks or complications may occur. Fortunately, breast reductions rarely result in serious problems that require further surgery or hospitalization.
The most serious complications that could affect a patient would be excessive bleeding during the hours, days, or weeks following the procedure. In the event that this setback occurs, you may need immediate surgery for treatment. Should you develop a problem that necessitates additional surgery, Dr. Wire would prefer that it take place at St. Francis Regional Medical Center.
Other problems that could occur might be thickened scars, asymmetries, or changes in nipple sensitivity. These are not severe complications, and Dr. Wire makes every effort to minimize risks of their occurrence. Each patient is unique, however, and individual characteristics often influence the healing process. To learn more about breast reduction surgery, contact our Chaska cosmetic surgery clinic today.
