Breast reductions are one of the most common procedures I perform in my practice, and I love doing them! In large part because not only do we get to provide patients with their desired aesthetic outcome, but there is also a huge functional aspect to the surgery. Patients get the cuter, perkier breasts they’ve wanted for years, and just as, if not more importantly, they get relief of symptoms that often result from large breasts. This includes but isn’t limited to less back pain, neck pain, shoulder grooving, and rashes under their breasts. It’s really a win-win situation for the patient and a fun surgery for me as a surgeon.
Most women appreciate cleavage. They like round, natural-looking breasts, so I do my best to leave tissue in all the right places. The size that you end up with really depends on what your goals are and then what’s possible from a surgical standpoint.
During a breast reduction consult, I encourage patients to come prepared with questions and ask me lots of them! In turn, I’m going to ask you a bunch of questions, and I need you to be ready to answer those too. Probably the most important thing is to know your size goal, and you have to know what bra size you currently are. Most of us haven’t bought bras in years. You probably have bras with tags that are so worn that you can’t even read off the size (I know I do!). However, this is essential information for the surgeon, and I would love for you to know this before you arrive for your appointment. So if you can, try and find that out.
I also want to know what you want after surgery. Do you want to be a B, a C, or a D? Do you not ksnow what those letters mean? And it’s ok if you don’t – most of us probably don’t! The important thing is to think about proportion. Do you want to wear the same size top as you do bottom? That’s a critical thing for the surgeon to know. Do you want the top smaller than the bottom? Bigger than the bottom? This information helps me determine what type of reduction is best for you.
The other thing I need to know is, are you planning on having children in the future? Because this surgery can affect your ability to breastfeed. It’s very important that I know this so we can talk about what may happen after a breast reduction regarding pregnancy and breastfeeding.
As a breast reduction specialist, I aim to make sure each of my patients feels comfortable during their consultation so that we can have an open dialogue. The more I know upfront about your desires, concerns, history, and future plans, the more successful your surgical outcome will be. No question is silly or too much, and I will always make sure I’m prepared to answer anything you might throw my way.
