My first work Considering_a_breast_reduction | Page 2

• You have chronic skin infections/irritation to the skin underneath your
breasts.
• You find it difficult to exercise due to your large breast size (or feel the
need to wear multiple sports bras to give you the support while exercising)
or have trouble finding clothes or bras that fit you
If these symptoms resonate with you, the first step in seeing if you are a
good candidate would be to either discuss this with your primary care
provider or find a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area and set up a
consultation.  At that visit, your plastic surgeon will determine if it would be
safe and appropriate to recommend a breast reduction for you.  If it is, your
plastic surgeon will then send your consultation note documenting how
much breast tissue he/she thinks would be removed during your surgery to
get you to the size you'd like to be and clinical photographs to your
insurance company for insurance authorization. For the most part, when
women have significant disruptions in activities of daily living as a result of
their large and heavy breasts, insurance companies will cover this surgery,
though every company is different.
Once you have decided to proceed with breast reduction surgery, your
surgeon will discuss the best options for you in terms of incision and
technique for the surgery. We like to show patients 3D simulations of what
they might look like after a breast reduction using their own photographs,
which helps women have a clear sense of what their goals are.
The surgery itself typically takes from three to four hours, is done under
general anesthesia (where you are put to sleep with medicine) and it is
almost always outpatient surgery (meaning that you get to go home the
same day of your surgery). Women tend to do very well after this surgery
and may be uncomfortable for the first 24-48 hours, but usually have good
pain control with ibuprofen and potentially some stronger pain medication
for breakthrough pain if needed in the first week or so.
Recovery after the surgery varies on a multitude of factors, but in general,
one week off work or school is expected. Your surgeon will likely have you
wear a sports bra for quite some time before transitioning to a regular bra
(without underwire for the first three to six months). It is normal to feel like
your breasts are heavy and tight – this is from swelling; however, it may
take several months for your breasts to settle in and complete healing
takes about one year. Most women feel like they can return to normal life
activities within two weeks after surgery and are back to full exercise by 4
to 6 weeks.