Breast Reduction

Located in Kirkland, WA to serve the Eastside Seattle area

What Exactly is a Breast Reduction?

This is a commonly requested procedure for patients that experience discomfort, inconvenience, or even embarrassment due to their breast size. The goal of this surgery is to remove excess tissue, reshape the breasts to be more proportional to your frame, and lift the breasts into a natural position.

Am I a Candidate for Breast Reduction?

Patients undergoing breast reduction are often symptomatic, having chronic back or neck pain, shoulder grooving from bra straps, or rashes/irritation under the breasts. Having larger breasts can also limit participation in physical activity and exercise – this can make attempting weight loss quite challenging. Disproportionate breast size can make fitting into clothes more difficult and even affect proper posture.

What Else Should I Know?

Having a breast reduction involves trading your larger size for smaller, more lifted breasts, however, there will be visible scarring on the breast. The way that plastic surgeons think about breast reductions can be divided into two categories: the skin excision pattern and the pedicle (the tissue under the skin that maintains blood supply to the nipple-areolar complex).

The Scars

The skin excision patterns are similar to those seen for breast lift (mastopexy) procedures. A short-scar, vertical, or “lollipop” technique can be used for smaller reductions, resulting in a scar around the areola and down the center part of the lower breast. On the other hand, the inverted-T or “anchor pattern” scar is used for larger reductions, yielding the same scar pattern as the previously mentioned approach but with an additional scar along the inframammary fold (where the lower breast meets the chest).

The Pedicle

In designing a breast reduction, it is critical to maintain blood and nerve supply to the nipple-areolar complex. This can be accomplished through a variety of techniques that Dr. Austin Remington and Dr. Brad Remington will discuss with you. Your anatomy and physical examination typically suggest the most appropriate, safe choice.

Surgical Details

This procedure usually is performed under general anesthesia and takes approximately three hours to complete. The incisions are made, the pedicle is defined to maintain blood and nerve supply to the nipple, breast tissue and excess fat are excised, and the breast is reshaped and lifted to a favorable position on the chest wall. The excised tissue is always sent for pathology examination. The incisions are closed with absorbable sutures that do not need to be removed.

Consultation Process

When you meet with Dr. Remington, your symptoms and medical history will be reviewed. A physical examination is necessary to determine the precise surgical approach, which will be illustrated and thoroughly described. Liposuction can be performed simultaneously to improve the contour of tissue around the breast itself. The risks, recovery, and cost of the procedure will be reviewed. It is important to note that insurance sometimes can provide reimbursement for a breast reduction procedure – our team will help facilitate this for you.

Recovery and Results

Before and after surgery, it is important that patients avoid smoking or nicotine use, as this can significantly affect wound healing. Patients go home on the same day of surgery and will wear a surgical support bra for at least two weeks. Swelling and bruising will decrease over the first few weeks, but surgical swelling can last for several months. Heavy lifting and strenuous activity are limited for about one month. Despite this recovery, many patients report that their symptoms of back pain are gone very quickly after surgery. Breast reduction patients are some of the happiest patients in the world of plastic surgery.

 

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