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Women often undergo breast reduction surgery to decrease physical pain and improve self-esteem.
Overly large breasts can cause neck, shoulder, and back pain, reducing a woman’s quality of life.
Physical activities are often harder to engage in when breasts are heavy or in the way.
Emotional and mental pain can occur from having larger breasts as well. Some women report having a poor self-image and feeling insecure about their bodies because of the size of their breasts.
Women can also find it challenging to find specific clothing that fits properly, such as bras and swimsuits.
Learn more about breast reduction surgery, breast reduction options, how to prepare for your consultation and surgery, how to choose a surgeon, and essential questions to ask.
Breast reduction surgery procedure: what to expect?
Your breast reduction surgery may take 3-4 hours to perform, and then you can recover at home.
Before surgery
Before beginning your surgery, Dr. Emmett will use twilight IV sedation to relax you and place you in a trance-like state for your surgery.
This is a much safer method than anesthesia, and most patients prefer it as they don’t feel groggy upon waking up from surgery.
During surgery
Your plastic surgeon will need to make a few incisions on your breast to remove excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin. One incision will circle the areola, the other two under the nipple, and the breast.
Once the extra fat, tissue, and skin have been removed, your surgeon can reshape the breast and reposition the nipples.
Usually, the nipple and areola will need to be placed in a higher position to make your breast look perfect.
After your surgeon is finished, they will use sutures and surgical tape to bring your skin incisions together.
After surgery
You can go home the same day you have your surgery and begin your recovery.
Dr. Emmett can prescribe you pain medication for the first week of healing, and then you should be able to transition to non-prescription medications if needed.
While you will need to take it easy for the first week, you should be able to return to work after the first week.
If your job requires a lot of labor or physical activity, you may need to wait longer to return to work, as you should limit physical activity for two to four weeks.
How do you prepare?
Before you come in for your breast reduction surgery, you will want to prepare your home for recovery.
Things you may need include:
- Ice
- Gauze, and clean washcloths and towels
- Loose shirts
- Ointments and creams recommended by your surgeon
Dr. Emmett will let you know which medications you should quit taking before you come in for your surgery.
Your plastic surgeon will suggest you quit smoking for your health, safety, and quicker healing.
You will also need someone to drive you home after your surgery and stay with you during your first night of recovery.
Breast reduction surgery consultation
When you come in for your free consultation, Dr. Emmett will listen to your needs and concerns.
After listening to your wishes and answering any important questions, Dr. Emmett will tell you if you are a good candidate for breast reduction surgery.
Generally, if you are in good health, scheduling your surgery should be no issue.
During your consultation, you may look at pictures of Dr. Emmett’s past surgeries to get a better idea of the results you may achieve.
If you plan to become pregnant or breastfeed, you may also want to discuss this with Dr. Emmett.
If you need help with financing, this is another thing you should discuss, as Dr. Emmett will explain your options to you.
Choosing a cosmetic surgeon
Finding the right cosmetic surgeon for your procedure can be difficult.
To find the best plastic surgeon, you will want to ensure they are board certified, highly trained, and experienced. These qualifications make the plastic surgeon more likely to promote your safety and comfort during every plastic surgery procedure.
Not all plastic surgeons have the same experience or qualifications.
Dr. Emmett is a double-board certified plastic surgeon who is highly skilled in all breast enhancement procedures.
She has even received additional training in aesthetic surgery, making her stand out amongst other surgeons.
Questions to ask
Asking the right questions can help you find the right surgeon for your breast reduction surgery.
Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?
Not all surgeons are qualified. A sign of competence is being board certified. Dr. Emmett is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Surgery.
Can I see before and after pictures of your work?
An experienced surgeon should have before and after images of their work to show you. You can look here to see Dr. Emmett’s work.
Do you have testimonials from past patients?
By reading reviews from past patients, you can learn what type of experiences others have had with a surgeon. You can read reviews from past patients of Dr. Emmett here.
How experienced are you in breast reduction surgery?
It can make you feel more confident about your surgery when you know how many years of surgeon experience and the number of patients they have had. Dr. Emmett has over 20 years of experience.
