Introduction

The weight of large or pendulous breasts may cause a variety of medical problems including back and neck pain, skin irritation and shoulder soreness from tight bra straps. Large breasts can also make a woman or a teenage girl feel extremely self-conscious. Breast reduction surgery aims to make the breasts smaller, more shapely and better supported.

There are many different techniques of breast uplift and so the position of the resulting scars may vary a little.

How do I prepare for surgery?

It is important to avoid taking any Aspirin or products containing Aspirin for 2 weeks either side of the operation since Aspirin has an adverse effect on bruising. While making preparations, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after your surgery and to help you out for a few days at home, if needed.
If you are a smoker it is helpful to stop for two weeks before surgery and for a week afterwards so as not to restrict the circulation to the skin.

Where will my surgery be performed?

The surgery is usually performed at a clinic in the city of Buenos Aires where Dr. Freschi works with in Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery. You will usually be admitted on the day of surgery.

You will need a friend or relative to accompany you home when you leave hospital after surgery.

How long will the surgery take?

The length of your operation depends on the extent of the procedure. On average this will take between two and about two and a half hours.

Is it painful?

Remarkably, pain after breast reduction is not usually a problem. It is carefully controlled by pain killers in the first few hours following surgery and subsequently with a mild analgesic (pain killer) such as paracetamol or codeine as necessary.

What can I expect after the Surgery?

Although breast reduction is not a painful operation there is some soreness and this can be reduced by wearing a supportive (non under-wired) bra 24 hours a day from the morning after surgery over the dressings to provide extra support. It is important that you have some help at home for the first week as lifting will be uncomfortable. Dr. Freschi will see you at a week after surgery to remove stitches around your nipple and again at two weeks to remove the remaining breast stitches. Following this you will still need to wear the supportive bra day and night for another month in order to support the breasts as much as possible whilst they achieve their final stable shape.
For most occupations 10 days is necessary off work and it may be uncomfortable to drive for the first 10 days. One month is advised before strenuous exercise is pursued and six weeks before aerobics. El Dr. Freschi will advise you on methods to improve your scars during your recovery period.

What are the scars like?

Breast scars, like others on the body, are noticeable when they are new but usually fade to become pale and flat.

What are the risks?

Complications after breast reduction surgery are not common but when they occur they are mostly a temporary nuisance rather than having a long term consequence.

• Excessive internal bruising (haematoma) occasionally occurs and may require removing some stitches to wash out the bruising from beneath the skin. This has no effect on the long term outcome of surgery.

• Alteration in nipple sensation is relatively common in the short term with patients experiencing decreased or increased sensitivity which can persist for 2-3 months. In the vast majority of patients this improves as the operation is designed to preserve some nerve supply which allows sensation to return.

• Wound healing is usually quick and uneventful but very occasionally in smokers the scar may take slightly longer to heal than the rest of the the patients.

Summary

Breast reduction is usually an extremely successful procedure from the patient's point of view. It improves the shape of the breasts as well as increasing comfort. From the perspective of patient satisfaction it is amongst the most reliable of all cosmetic surgical procedures.