A breast reduction is a surgery that can provide a welcome relief from both pain and self-consciousness. Many women suffer from back, shoulder, and neck pain as a result of heavy breasts. Their posture might even suffer, and clothes don’t fit properly.
During this procedure, Dr. Steve Montante can make your breasts smaller, reshape and correct asymmetries and provide a lift. This procedure has a very high satisfaction rate, and in most cases, it is covered by insurance. You must check with your carrier to be certain, however.
Dr. Montante has performed numerous successful breast reductions for his patients in Richmond, VA, allowing women to alleviate chronic pain and have a more proportionate figure. Over the years, he has developed a technique that achieves reproducible and consistent results of all shapes and sizes. He has educated numerous plastic surgeons in training in his techniques.
What can a Breast Reduction Do for You?
A breast reduction can:
- Reduce the size of your breasts
- Lift your breasts to a higher placement on your chest
- Reshape misshapen breasts
- Reshape and resize the areolas, if necessary
- Improve asymmetrical breasts
- Alleviate the pain associated with heavy breasts
- Reduce self-consciousness caused by large breasts
- Create a more proportionate figure so that clothes fit better
Dr. Montante will spend time with you during your initial consultation to hear your concerns and goals, as well as answer your questions. He will review your medical history, followed by a careful examination and analysis of your breasts. This will allow him to recommend a surgical plan tailored specifically for you.
Dr. Montante will advise his patients in Richmond of all preparations to take prior to the breast reduction. If you are a smoker, for example, you will need to stop for a period of time before surgery.
What should You Expect?
Breast reduction surgery is usually performed using general anesthesia in a hospital-based operating room. The procedures takes 2-4 hours. Following surgery, you will typically spend a night in the hospital for your comfort and for observation. You will have surgical drains to collect any tissue fluid that may accumulate following surgery. These drains are removed before leaving the hospital.
Incisions vary depending upon the amount of reduction and reshaping you require. There are two customary incision patterns:
Wise or inverted-T pattern – This method requires three incisions on each breast – one around the areola, one horizontally across the breast crease, and one vertically from the bottom of the areola to the crease.
Lollipop pattern – This breast reduction method requires two incisions on each breast – one around the areola and one vertically from the bottom of the areola to the crease. If you require a significant degree of reduction or reshaping, this method may not be possible.
Through these planned incisions, Dr. Montante removes excess fat, skin, and glandular tissue to reduce and reshape the breasts. In many cases, the areolas are also reshaped and reduced in size in order to match the new breast size.
In addition to reducing breast volume and improving shape, the nipples and areolas will be lifted to a more anatomic and aesthetic position. Dr. Montante works hard to maintain as much nipple sensation as possible. The result is a smaller and perkier breast that will fit your overall body shape for a natural result.
After your breast reduction surgery in Richmond, the incisions are sutured and dressed. Dr. Montante uses sutures that will dissolve on their own, and the skin incisions will be covered with a surgical glue.
Recovery Period for a Breast Reduction in Richmond
You will wear a surgical bra for the initial week after surgery. Following this week, you can start wearing a soft sports bra that fastens in the front. You should sleep on your back during the first several weeks following surgery.
You should be able to return to work and resume normal activities within about 2 weeks, as long as your work does not involve strenuous activity or lifting. You should avoid strenuous exercise for about 4 weeks.
Expect to feel some post-operative discomfort, but this can be managed with oral pain medication. Some bruising and swelling are normal. Swelling will take the longest to resolve, so while your breasts will be smaller and higher immediately, you won’t be able to see the final results of your surgery until all of the swelling has resolved. This could take a few months.
There are visible scars after breast reduction, but they will become flatter, smoother, lighter, and less prominent over time.
Dr. Montante will monitor your progress carefully in follow-up examinations.
Breast reduction can relieve you of the pain caused by heavy breasts. Call us today to schedule a consultation to find out more about a breast reduction in Richmond.