Breast Reduction

Breast Reduction

Women with very large breasts may experience a variety of medical problems caused by the excessive weight of their breasts. Breast reduction surgery can relieve neck and back pain, skin irritation, skeletal deformities and breathing problems. Bra strap indentations in the shoulders may disappear following a breast reduction.

Breast reduction, technically known as reduction mammaplasty, is indicated for women with large, heavy breasts that cause neck and back pain and interfere with normal daily activities. Breast reduction can alleviate the aforementioned problems.

A breast reduction can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The goal is to give the woman smaller, better-shaped breasts in proportion with the rest of her body.

The breast reduction procedure removes fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts, making them smaller, lighter, and firmer. It can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The goal is to produce a smaller, better-shaped breast in proportion with the rest of the body.

The Breast Reduction Surgery

Techniques for breast reduction vary, but the most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision that circles the areola, extends downward, and follows the natural curve of the crease beneath the breast. Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Douglas Senderoff, MD, FACS, removes excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin, and moves the nipple and areola into their new position. He then brings the skin from both sides of the breast down and around the areola, shaping the new contour of the breast. Liposuction may be used to remove excess fat from the armpit area.

In most cases, the nipples remain attached to their blood vessels and nerves. However, if the breasts are very large or pendulous, the nipples and areolas may have to be completely removed and grafted into a higher position.

Stitches are usually located around the areola, in a vertical line extending downward, and along the lower crease of the breast. In some cases, techniques can be used that eliminate the vertical part of the scar. And occasionally, when only fat needs to be removed, liposuction alone can be used to reduce breast size, leaving minimal scars.

Your breast reduction operation will be performed on site in our Manhattan, New York office as an outpatient in our fully accredited operating suite or in one of several hospitals in the New York area.

If you have any questions about a breast reduction, breast implants (silicone breast implants or saline breast implants), breast augmentation, breast lift, or any other plastic surgery procedures please feel free to contact Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Douglas M. Senderoff, MD, FACS, at his Manhattan, New York or Westchester, New York office.