Breast Reduction

Reduce Discomfort and Pain with Reduction Mammoplasty

If you suffer from back and/or neck pain because of breasts you feel are too large for your frame, a breast reduction could restore your confidence and mitigate some of your discomfort. Overly large breasts can cause a number of problems, but you don’t need to suffer any longer. Dr. Polsen is a qualified Houston breast reduction surgeon who understands how important this procedure can be for some women and during your consultation he will make sure that you end up with the breasts you want. Indeed, women are often elated to learn that a breast lift is actually built in to part of the breast reduction procedure; this is one of the few rare instances that insurance can often help pay for a procedure that is not only reconstructive but also has a cosmetic benefit.

If you are interested in learning more about Dr. Polsen’s breast reduction surgery in Clear Lake, contact us online or call our Houston Area office line at (281) 538-6600 to schedule an appointment. Breast Reduction Surgery in Houston, TX may be covered under your insurance plan, so if you’re feeling that pain and discomfort, don’t hesitate to contact us. Other symptoms that may help you qualify for some coverage by your insurance plan are constant rashes in the breast fold that have required treatment by antibiotics and antifungals but still constantly reoccur.

To see breast reduction before and after images, visit our breast reduction gallery.

Overview:

Reduces breast size
Often reduces back pain and neck strain
Recovery: Generally 1-3 weeks

Who is a Good Candidate for Breast Lift Surgery in Houston?

The best breast reduction candidates are those who are healthy enough to withstand major surgery. Usually, candidates will suffer from at least one of the following symptoms:

Chronic back pain
Discomfort caused by ill-fitting bras
Breasts you feel are too large for your frame
Sagging shoulders
Difficulty exercising
Neck pain
Painful grooves in the shoulders from bra straps
Chronic rashes in the breast creases that don’t respond to antibiotic and antifungal treatments

If your breasts are uncomfortably large and are causing you problems, breast reduction surgery may be for you. During your consultation Dr. Polsen, a highly regarded Clear Lake breast surgeon, will determine if you may also benefit from a breast lift, which is commonly part of the procedure built in to the breast reduction surgery.

Before and After Breast Reduction

Clear Lake TX breast reduction photos, showing a patient before and after the procedure.

View our breast reduction photo gallery of actual patients from around the Houston, TX Area. *Individual results may vary.

The Breast Reduction Procedure

Dr. Polsen understands the complex feelings that may be associated with breast reduction. Your surgery will be performed while you are under general anesthesia, and will involve one of several incision types, depending on how much excess tissue is removed. There are three basic incision types for performing breast reductions (they are all quite similar to the incision types for performing breast lift procedures).

Those incision types are as follows:

Circular, around the areola: This incision type is quite common. An incision is made around the areola (the dark area of the nipple) on the threshold between the nipple itself and the skin of the breast. Another circular incision is made further out on the breast. Excess tissue is removed and the two incision points are joined together. This means that the incisions will be well hidden along the boundary between your areola and breast tissue.
Keyhole technique: In some cases, the incision for a breast reduction will need to be slightly more significant. In those cases, surgeons may employ an incision that looks somewhat like a keyhole. A circular incision will be made around the areola as in the above technique, but surgeons will also make two incisions down along the underside of the breast. The shape of the incisions will, as the name implies, look like an old fashioned keyhole. This will be done in order to remove unwanted volume and tissue and return the breast to a more youthful looking presence.
Anchor shaped incision: As the name implies, an anchor shaped (or inverted T) incision is designed to remove even more excess tissue from the breast. When surgeons use this technique, they make a circular incision around the areola, then proceed to make an incision down to the underside of the breast, where the incision will go out left and right. This allows surgeons to remove and reposition a significant amount of tissue.

Once the incisions are made, Dr. Polsen will focus on repositioning and removing tissue. The size of the areola is often reduced in order to make it proportional to the rest of the breast. The nipple can even be moved, though it will remain tethered to its current blood vessels and nerves, so sensitivity can be maintained.

The more tissue you want to remove with a breast lift, the more significant work will have to be performed in order to achieve your desired final results. Breast reduction procedures are often coupled with a breast lift in order to achieve the desired final results.

After your breast reduction, you will be able to move more freely with less back pain. The best way to determine which incision technique will be right for you and what kind of results you can expect is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Charles Polsen. During this consultation, all of your questions will be answered!

Breast Reduction Recovery

Breast reduction is most often performed on an outpatient basis, but it might rarely be necessary for a patient to spend the night in a hospital setting. Once you return home, you can begin recuperating in a comfortable and familiar setting. Each and every patient will experience a unique recovery period—because everyone’s body heals at a different rate. As such, Dr. Polsen will supply each patient with individualized recovery instructions. These recovery instructions will be designed to ensure you remain as comfortable as possible and that your results are protected.

Most patients will experience a recovery that will follow this general progression:

Day 1-2: Patients will generally experience swelling and bruising during the first two days. You may be fitted with drains during your procedure in order to help with swelling. You will also likely be fitted with a surgical bra. This bra can usually be removed when the patient first showers after the procedure (sometimes on the second day of recovery).
Week 1: During the first week of recovery, most patients are advised to concentrate on resting and recuperating. This means that most patients take time off of work during this first week (although it is important to ensure you walk to promote healing—a completely sedentary body will slow healing). Swelling and bruising may continue through this first week.
Week 2: During the second week, most patients are allowed to return to work—although light duty is a must. Patients are advised to avoid heavy lifting of any kind. Drains may also be removed when you reach the two week mark. Additionally, most patients are instructed to sleep on their backs during the first two weeks in order to protect your results.
Month 1: After the first month or so, patients can start returning to normal activity. You can certainly exercise during the first month, but light exercise (avoid impacts of any kind) are recommended. Once the first month is complete, patients can begin wearing underwire bras, though take care to listen to your body and make sure you’re comfortable.
Month 2: After the second month, a few things should begin to happen. You should begin seeing what will basically be your final results. Additionally, any numbness or tingling that was present during your recovery should fade (though this is rarely permanent). Additionally, the red color of your incision lines should begin to fade

The results of your surgery will be immediate and obvious, although bruising and swelling is still a normal part of your breast reduction recovery process. Occasionally, after surgery, you will be fitted with a small tube that will allow for drainage from your breast. Dr. Polsen will send you home with a detailed list of post-operative care instructions to help insure that you have a successful breast reduction experience. Most of Dr. Polsen’s Houston patients return to work within 1-2 weeks of their surgery.

What are the Benefits of Breast Reduction?

Once your recovery is complete, you’ll be able to experience and enjoy the benefits of your breast reduction procedure. And those benefits are quite extensive. Most patients of breast reduction procedures enjoy the following benefits:

Decrease in pain and discomfort, especially around the neck and back
The bodies of patients often begin to feel more balanced
It’s easier to find clothing that fits and that is proportional
Patients often report a significant increase in confidence and self-esteem
Nipple size and position is often much more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing
Patients will often look more youthful after the procedure

There are, of course, more benefits—and those benefits will often vary from patient to patient. If you want to know exactly what a breast lift can do for you—how this procedure can improve your life—then contact our offices near Houston, in Clear Lake, TX, to schedule a consultation with Dr. Polsen. As a board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Polsen will be able to determine how a breast reduction can improve your posture, your balance, your aesthetics, and even your confidence.