The most
common breast reduction procedure begins with the surgeon making
a three-part, anchor-shaped incision. The first part circles
the areola;
the second moves
vertically down from the areola to the crease beneath the breast;
the third moves horizontally beneath the breast, following
the natural curve of the crease.
After the incisions are made,
the surgeon removes the unwanted fat, glandular tissue and
skin
and usually
moves
the
nipple and areola up to a higher position. If the nipple
and areola can be moved without detaching them from their original
nerves and blood vessels, they may keep their ability to
feel
sensation.
At the end of the operation, the surgeon may temporarily put
a small, thin drainage tube under the skin of each breast to
drain blood and fluids that collect there. Finally, the surgeon
closes the incisions with small stitches and puts a bandage
on the area to protect it from infection.
Other Breast Reduction Procedures
There are several breast reduction techniques besides the
one listed above. The technique used will depend on the specific
details of your case, including
how
much reduction
you want.
For example,
sometimes the horizontal incision below the breast isn’t
needed. In other cases, liposuction can
be used to remove excess fat.
Risks
