Breast Reduction
(Reduction Mammoplasty)
Breast reduction surgery is one of the most common breast aesthetic surgeries performed all over the world. I say breast aesthetics, but for some large breast cases, this is actually not an aesthetic operation. It is an indispensable surgery just like a gallbladder, tonsil or hernia surgery. In other words, rather than changing the shape of the breast, it is applied to eliminate the health problems caused by the growing breast. In other words, most of my patients who apply complain that "doctor, save me from this burden, there is no comfort left in my life". In this case, breast reduction surgery has moved away from the definition of aesthetic surgery.
Should I have this operation?
This is a completely personal decision. But no one who really has no complaints wants to have such an operation. If your breast structure is too large compared to your body, if there is skin irritation, fungus, etc. due to excessive sweating and friction under the breast, if the bra straps have formed a scar on your shoulder due to the weight of the breasts, and if your neck and back pain has become unbearable, yes, you should have this surgery. Because the source of these complaints is excessively heavy breasts and they will not pass without reducing them to normal sizes. I would also like to point out that you cannot get rid of this complaint by dieting and losing weight. The only remedy is reduction surgery.
I am very afraid of anaesthesia?
Breast reduction surgery is one of the most common breast aesthetic surgeries performed all over the world.
Complications of general anaesthesia are very rare in patients with healthy cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Developing technological devices and new anaesthesia plastics increase the safety of anaesthesia considerably. Although having some important diseases such as cardiovascular problems (arrhythmia, hypertension, heart failure, etc...), respiratory system diseases (COPD, asthma, pneumonia, etc...), systemic chronic diseases (diabetes, hyperthyroidism...) increases your risk of having problems during anaesthesia, today's medicine can overcome these problems by intervening in advance and prevent the emergence of life risk. The risk of anaesthesia is not so great that you have to give up an operation that you must have.
How long will my operation take and how long will I stay in hospital?
Although the duration of breast reduction surgeries may vary depending on the technique applied, it takes an average of 3-4 hours. When you wake up from the surgery performed under general anaesthesia, there will be blood draining drains and dressings coming out of both breast sides. The drains are removed the next day or the second day and the patient is discharged. Antibiotics and painkiller plast treatment are administered intravenously as long as the patient is hospitalised. If there is nausea due to anaesthesia, plast treatment is also applied against this. You will be asked to wear an elasticated bra for about a month.
When can I return to work and normal life?
In a completely problem-free recovery process, you can return to work one week after breast reduction surgery (if it is a desk job that does not require much movement). It will be beneficial for you to stay away from housework that requires arm strength for 10-15 days. At the end of the second week, you can start light walks. You will need to wait 1.5-2 months for heavy exercises that require full strength. If there are stitches on the skin that need to be removed, they will be removed by your doctor after 3 weeks.
What kind of problems can I expect after the operation?
These can be divided into early and late complications. In the early period; anaesthesia-related complications, persistent pain, blood accumulation in the breast (haematoma), infection, suture dehiscence, partial or complete necrosis (tissue death) of the nipple, dermatitis developing against the plasters attached to the skin,
In the late period; asymmetry between the breasts, irregularity in breast contours, development of bad-looking and itchy scars, long-term or permanent loss of sensation in the nipple, loss of breast lactation ability, development of necrosis (melting) in the intramammary fat tissue and related discharge formation, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary or cardiac complications, a second correction surgery may be required due to asymmetry or irregularities.
As a result
Based on my long-term experience in this field, I can easily say that patients who undergo breast reduction surgery are very satisfied with the result with a rate of 85-90%. The rate of patients who have experienced unwanted complications is extremely low and the satisfaction rate is high even in these patients. Choosing the right doctor, trusting your doctor and following your doctor's recommendations meticulously (such as not smoking) will greatly reduce your risk of bad results.