Regardless of the reason for surgery, breast reduction is a procedure with great patient satisfaction, with most people getting breasts that are smaller in size, rounder in shape, and also a lift back to "where they were many years ago."
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Having breasts that are too large can be troublesome. Pain and discomfort in the shoulders, neck and back are common, as is discomfort with bra straps over the shoulders that dig in and create dimples. Some are also bothered by skin irritation, odor and even fungus formation on the underside where the breasts lie more or less firmly against the stomach skin. For others, there are not direct physical complaints, but dissatisfaction with the appearance of the breasts, they are too large or sagging and it can be difficult to find the right clothes and so on.
Regardless of the reason for surgery, breast reduction is a procedure with great patient satisfaction, with most people getting breasts that are smaller in size, rounder in shape, and also a lift back to "where they were many years ago." The procedure also allows for smaller nipples. Read on for more information!
All physically and mentally healthy women with larger breasts than they want and with a realistic picture of what can be achieved are suitable for surgery. If you are over 40 years old, a mammogram should be taken before surgery. You do not have to be thin to have breast reduction, but at the same time the risk of problems increases with the degree of obesity. You can discuss this in consultation with your surgeon.
You cannot smoke or use any form of nicotine for the last 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after the surgery. This is for your own safety as the nipples can be damaged by smoking, and you may also risk wound problems. If you use any form of nicotine, you can discuss this in consultation with your surgeon.
If you are taking blood-thinning medications, the use of these must be clarified with your surgeon.
In order for the breasts to become smaller, some skin must be removed and this results in scars. There are mainly two surgical methods for breast reduction. While both methods result in scars around the nipple and a strip down from it, one method (“Method 1”) will only have these scars, while the other will also result in a scar under the breast itself (“Method 2”). While method 1 results in smaller scars, it will, however, give the breast a slightly strange shape in the first few months after the procedure, while method 2 gives the correct shape right away. A third method will be liposuction only and a fourth method will only give scars around the nipples. Which method is best for you depends on several things, including size before and after, skin quality and your wishes. This is discussed with our plastic surgeon during the consultation.
If you are slightly or moderately overweight, it is also often recommended to have liposuction in the flanks to give the best possible result. The flanks mean the outer side of the breasts under the armpits. Please discuss this in consultation with your surgeon.
Unless otherwise agreed, the operation is performed under general anesthesia. The operation time is approximately two hours and four people will look after you during the operation, all experienced specialists in their field. After the operation, you will be given a private room to wake up in with full support from our staff regarding your needs.
After the operation, you will normally need a couple of hours of rest at the clinic before you are ready to go home. When you leave the clinic, you should be picked up by someone you know, or travel with you in a taxi. You cannot drive yourself home, nor can you take the bus or train. For the first 24 hours, you should have an adult with you and you should stay within a two-hour travel distance of the clinic.
Upon departure, you will receive thorough oral and written information about the normal course of the disease and what to do in the first few days after the operation. It is important that you have planned well so that you have the opportunity to stay still for the first week. If you have small children, you will need help with lifting and the like for 1-2 weeks. Social activities usually go well after about 2 weeks, while heavy physical activity such as running and weight training should be postponed until 5-6 weeks after the operation. You should not expose the scars to the sun for the first 6 months. In the first weeks after the operation, you must wear a special bra that provides extra support. You can purchase this from us in advance.
Complications
There are generally few complications after breast reduction and the operation can be considered safe. As after all operations, bleeding may occur. This happens very rarely and almost always within the first 24 hours. The bleeding will stay inside the breast and will therefore not be so large that it is dangerous. Should such bleeding occur, you will receive help from us at the clinic. Another unusual problem may be delayed healing with minor wound problems that will require some wound care. The most feared complication after breast reduction is losing the nipples due to poor circulation. This is very uncommon and occurs almost exclusively in those who have not stopped smoking/using nicotine. Breast reduction can reduce the ability to breastfeed in almost half of those who have the operation. Reduced sensation to the nipple or the skin nearby may also occur. This will usually disappear within one to two years after the operation.
Women's breasts vary greatly in size, shape and consistency. This means that breast reduction must be carefully tailored to the individual and there are many factors that must be taken into account when planning breast reduction. The final result will depend, among other things, on the firmness of the skin and breast tissue. It is therefore important to have realistic expectations of the result. We therefore highly recommend a conversation with our plastic surgeon for the best insight into what is right for you and your breasts. In general, this is an intervention with a very high percentage of satisfied patients with both cosmetic benefits and medical benefits in the form of less weight gain – it is very common to hear patients say that their only regret is that they had not had the surgery earlier!
We hope this has given you some of the information you need regarding breast reduction. You can book a no-obligation consultation with our skilled and experienced surgeon by filling out the book a consultation form on this page or by calling us on 51 55 85 00 .
The medical director for operations and procedures is plastic surgeon Bjørn Tore Haga.
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