Breast Reduction FAQs
A breast-reduction procedure is a must for a woman who is physically burdened by the large size of her breasts. Cosmetic surgeries such as these must always be conducted by qualified surgeons after patients are well aware of the side effects, costs and risks of surgery.
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The Procedure
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What happens during a breast reduction surgery? After providing a patient with anesthesia, a breast reduction surgeon makes an incision near the nipple of a breast. Two other incisions are also typically made during a breast-reduction procedure. One incision extends downward from the areola to the bottom of the breast, and another incision follows the crease of the breast. After making necessary incisions, the surgeon removes excess tissue before repositioning the breast. Before completing this procedure, a surgeon also will usually reduce the size of a breast's areola.
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Recovery Process
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How quickly and easily is a patient expected to recover from breast reduction surgery? A patient's recovery process after a breast-reduction procedure is usually gradual, with numbness lingering for up to a year. Tissues within a breast transmit sensations from the breast's surface to the brain of a patient. Thus, if these tissues are damaged, sensations may not be clearly experienced. Regrowth of these tissues is a time-consuming process.
Price Range
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How much does breast reduction surgery cost? The national average cost of a woman's breast reduction is $5,630, based on statistical data gathered by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, published in 2008. Since its publication, this cost is considered to be conservative, with such surgeries commonly costing $7,000 or more. Surgeon fees, anesthesia costs and hospital fees are components that factor into the cost of a breast-reduction surgery. Typically, health insurance policies refrain from providing coverage for such surgeries, unless patients can provide clear documentation that the surgery will relieve specific symptoms causing daily impairment.
Misconceptions
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Why are some women unhappy with their breast reduction surgeries? No two breast-reduction surgeries produce identical results. Each woman's body is different and may respond differently to cosmetic surgeries such as breast reduction. Furthermore, surgeons may differ in their experience, competency and aesthetic judgment when conducting a breast-reduction procedure.
Surgeon Qualifications
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What qualifications should I seek in a cosmetic surgeon who performs breast surgeries? A qualified breast reduction surgeon should be certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. This board imposes measures of accountability that prevent unqualified surgeons from practicing. Another way to seek a qualified surgeon is to receive a reference from a satisfied patient. The surgeon's work should be able to speak for itself.
References
- Photo Credit "Kristinka" is Copyrighted by Flickr user: jyryk58 (Jiří Děcký) under the Creative Commons Attribution license.
