How to Get a Breast Reduction Consultation

Since every surgical procedure comes with some degree of risk, it is necessary for patients considering breast reduction to take the time to schedule a consultation with a doctor. A consultation will help your surgeon assess your case and evaluate any risk factors that may influence your decision to proceed or not to proceed with a breast reduction procedure. Read on to learn how to get a breast reduction consultation.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Mammaplasty specialist

1. Find a local plastic surgeon with experience in mammaplasty and a good reputation. Your regular physician will probably be able to provide you with a recommendation or a referral.
2. Understand that a breast reduction procedure results in permanent scars that may or may not be visible on your breasts after healing has been completed. Your nipples may also shift into uneven positions, or one breast may remain larger than the other. You should be aware of the potential risks of the surgery before you schedule a consultation.
3. Have an end goal in mind prior to your consultation. You will need to tell your prospective surgeon how you envision your breasts after they have healed from the mammaplasty procedure.
4. Get an appointment to visit your prospective mammaplasty surgeon for a consultation. You should expect a wait time of at least a couple of weeks, even though you are only visiting to discuss your situation with the doctor.
5. Know what to expect when you go to your consultation. The surgeon will examine your breasts and may perform a mammogram or photograph them. Doctors take photographs of patients' breasts because it provides them with a key reference document in preparing for the surgery.
6. Get the breast reduction procedure explained to you on the day of your consultation. Mammaplasty has its limitations and is not a risk-free procedure by any means. It is important for patients to understand the complexity of the healing process and the permanent scarring that will result.
7. Find a certified plastic surgeon on the mammaplasty pages on the Doc Shop website. See the Resources section below for a link.

Tips & Warnings

• Many side effects of breast reduction surgery, such as tissue death, can be addressed through corrective plastic surgery once you have completely healed from the initial procedure. Ask your doctor to explain your level of risk for experiencing side effects.
• Consider whether you plan to breastfeed in the future. Mammaplasty removes or otherwise alters many of the milk ducts in your breasts. This may make breastfeeding difficult or impossible.