How to Know the New Techniques in Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction surgery is changing all of the time. The techniques are always being perfected, and surgeons frequently come up with new methods. Consult with your surgeon to see which technique would be best for you and your situation. Each technique will have its own advantages and disadvantages. Below is information to help you know the basic techniques in breast reduction surgery, so you can recognize what is newer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Consult your doctor to see what new techniques are available. Your doctor will have the most up-to-date information. Printed information becomes outdated quickly with every new breakthrough, and your doctor updates his information regularly.
2. Log onto the Internet for information about the new techniques in breast reduction. Web sites like the American Academy of Dermatology will have information about breast reduction and the new techniques, outlining the new techniques and how these are better than the old ones (see Resources).
3. Removing tissue and skin from the breasts and treating it with a laser is called the laser bra technique. The skin treated with a laser will have less mass and be stronger. The treated tissue is then reinserted into the breasts. The tissue is the patient’s, so the risk of infection or rejection is minimal.
4. Using the standard incision method is the most popular technique. This method is used when a large amount of breast tissue needs to be removed. The incision is made around the nipple and then down vertically to the breast crease. Then an incision is made horizontally along the breast crease. Having incisions both vertically and horizontally allows for more tissue and skin to be removed. If the nipple is removed and repositioned, the woman will lose sensitivity in her breast and also the ability to breast-feed. There is also a large amount of scarring.
5. Making the incision around the nipple and then down to the breast crease is called the vertical incision method. This method does not remove any skin but only breast tissue. Surgery time is shorter, but women will notice that their breasts have a wrinkled appearance while their skin shrinks and tightens on its own to the volume of the new breasts.
6. Using liposuction to remove excess breast volume is the least invasive and is only beneficial if the woman has more fatty tissue than glandular tissue. Even though some scars will be visible, they will be much smaller than the scars needed for the standard and vertical incision methods. When the excess fatty tissue is removed from the breasts, the skin will shrink to the new volume of the breasts. Liposuction can not change the shape of the breasts, only the volume.
7. Keeping the nipple attached to the breast is called the pedicle method. A portion of the nipple remains attached to the breast with breast tissue, blood vessels and milk ducts. The breasts are reduced and shaped. The nipple is then sewn back into is new location on the breast. By not severing the blood vessels and milk ducts, women are still able to breast feed and will not lose nipple sensitivity.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult with your doctor about which type of breast reduction is right for you. Always consult your physician before making the decision to have any kind of surgery.
• Do your research. Make sure that you know how the procedure works and what to expect of your body after the procedure.
• Your breasts will be swollen and bruised for awhile after the surgery. It may take some time for your breasts to become their optimal shape and size. Have patience.
• When reading information online, make sure to check the date of the article you are reading. You might be reading information two or three years old, and not know it.