Women who have disproportionately large breasts can experience a number of problems, ranging from general discomfort or inability to exercise to unwanted attention that leads to diminished self-confidence. Altering the size of the breast to match the rest of a woman’s features can have a tremendous impact on her overall quality of life. Dr. Joseph Berardi of Berardi Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery is a plastic surgeon Scottsdale breast reduction surgery patients have trusted over the years to help them achieve the breast size they feel comfortable with. Using sophisticated techniques and proven technologies, Dr. Berardi is able to produce beautiful, natural-looking results. Read through the paragraphs below to learn more about breast reduction in Phoenix / Scottsdale, Arizona.
Are You a Breast Reduction Candidate?
Women who are uncomfortable with the large size of their breasts may pursue breast reduction surgery in Phoenix / Scottsdale. While breast reduction can be performed at any age, it is important that your breasts are fully developed prior to undergoing treatment. This will ensure long-lasting, satisfactory results. It is also important that you are at a stable weight, or do not plan to lose a significant amount of weight after surgery, as this too may affect the final results of treatment. Finally, it is important that you have realistic expectations regarding the outcome of the surgery. During a Scottsdale breast reduction consultation, Dr. Berardi will evaluate your candidacy for the procedure and address any questions or concerns you may have.
The Breast Reduction Procedure in Scottsdale and Phoenix
Breast reduction surgery involves the removal of excess tissue and skin from the breasts. This procedure reduces the volume of the breasts, reshapes the breast and lifts the breast. Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anesthesia and is typically an outpatient procedure. Dr. Berardi can perform the surgery using one of three incision types. The decision will be based on your cosmetic goals, his recommendations and the degree of reduction needed. The incision will either be made around the areola alone, around the areola and extending down to the breast folds, or as an anchor incision which encircles the areola and extends down and around the breast fold. Once the incisions are made, Dr. Berardi will remove excess tissue and skin, as well as move the nipple to a higher location on the breast. The final result is breasts that are natural-looking and in proportion with the rest of your body.
Patient Recovery
Breast reduction recovery varies from patient to patient, based on the degree of changes made to the breasts. Dr. Berardi will place you into a compressive bandage that will provide you support and ensure breast swelling is controlled. You should expect to experience soreness and swelling in the days after surgery. Dr. Berardi will prescribe antibiotics and pain medication to help ensure a safe and comfortable recovery period. Any heavy lifting or strenuous activity and exercise should be avoided until Dr. Berardi releases you to do so. You will be able to return to work typically in one week.
Once the recovery period is over, patients who undergo breast reduction surgery will find that their quality of life is greatly enhanced. In addition to feeling more comfortable on a daily basis, breast reduction patients are able to participate in a more active lifestyle, have a larger selection of clothing options, and feel more comfortable in their own skin.
How many sizes can I go down with breast reduction surgery?
You can reduce your breasts by any amount you choose; there are no limitations to how much breast tissue Dr. Berardi removes. But he provides a caveat here — women who have been accustomed to having very large natural breasts for their entire post-pubescent life can feel as if a severe reduction is akin to having a mastectomy. For most women seeking breast reduction, they want to lose some of the weight and the burden of having overly large breasts, but they don’t want to lose all of their shapes completely. Plus, women with large natural breasts also often have more curvy hips. Shrinking the breasts too far could create a lack of balance between the hips and the breasts.
The answer to this question is really completely up to the patient, but Dr. Berardi will help you visualize how different size reductions will look on your figure.
How will my breasts change with reduction surgery?
The improvements to a patient’s breasts with this surgery are similar to a breast lift. Overly large natural breasts are almost always somewhat flattened, with a good deal of sagging skin. Dr. Berardi will remove the excess skin and underlying tissue, but he will also lift and return the now smaller breasts to a higher position on the chest. The nipples, which may have actually been pointing downward, will be relocated and will return to normal appearance. In many cases, Dr. Berardi will reduce the size of the areolae, as well. The breasts will be smaller, but they will be firmer and higher on the chest. Now they will be proportional to the rest of the patient’s figure.
Can I combine breast reduction with other surgery?
A breast reduction has much in common with a breast lift, only it removes underlying breast tissue rather than repositioning it. Still, the incision options are the same. That said, a breast lift is already combined with other surgeries on our mommy makeovers. Mommy makeovers combine a breast lift, tummy tuck, and liposuction into a single surgical session.
So, you could combine your breast reduction with a tummy tuck and liposuction if there are issues with sagging abdominal skin and pockets of stubborn unwanted fat you want to remove.
You could also combine breast reduction with an arm lift.
It is important to remember that a breast reduction does create an involved recovery, due to the incisions and removal of tissue. So, you don’t want to go crazy with another surgery, making your life even more difficult during recovery.
If you’re interested in possibly adding another procedure, such as liposuction, talk with Dr. Berardi about it during your consultation.
Should I lose weight before I have breast reduction?
That depends. If you are at or very near your ideal body weight, you don’t need to lose any weight at all; you’re already doing a great job staying healthy and fit. However, if you are overweight, you need to lose as much of the extra weight as possible before you have this surgery. Why is this? If you are overweight and you have this surgery, but then in the future, you do lose the extra weight, you’re creating a great scenario of sagging skin on your breasts. That’s what you’re trying to get rid of with this surgery. Some women also think breast reduction is weight reduction. It is not. You will lose some weight in the breast tissue removed, but that’s it.
If you’re interested in having breast reduction with Dr. Berardi, you should work to get to your ideal weight first. Then you’ll really love your results.
Is breast reduction surgery permanent?
Yes. The excess fatty tissue removed by Dr. Berardi, the excess skin trimmed, the downsizing of the nipple/areola complex, the repositioning of breast tissue — all of these changes are permanent. Your breasts will be smaller, firmer, higher on the chest, and your nipples/areolae will probably be smaller.
As long as you don’t put on a bunch of weight, your breast reduction will improve the look and firmness of your breasts for the rest of your life.
What are the potential risks with breast reduction?
This is major surgery, so all of the risks involved with surgery apply to reduction: infection, excessive bleeding, poor healing, and the like. The main risk specific to reduction mammoplasty is the loss of nipple sensation or overall changes in breast sensation. This is because the nerves can be impacted by the changes in the breasts. Also, the ability to breastfeed will likely be impacted. Dr. Berardi is usually able to avoid damage to nerves and sensation, but it is definitely a risk.
When a patient is considering breast reduction, it’s important to weigh these risks and future scarring against the ongoing health issues caused by their large, heavy breasts. Most patients feel the tradeoff is definitely worth it.
Schedule Your Breast Reduction Consultation Today
Dr. Berardi is an experienced breast surgeon who performs breast reduction surgery for women who experience discomfort as a result of their breast size. If having large, pendulous breasts has placed limitations on your lifestyle, we encourage you to contact our office today at 480.397.0711 to schedule a consultation. Through breast reduction surgery, Dr. Berardi can help you improve your quality of life. Dr. Berardi is also proud to offer male breast reduction in Scottsdale. During your consultation, he can also discuss any other treatments you may be interested in such as Phoenix tummy tuck, liposuction, or facial plastic surgery.
