Pregnancy and weight play a part in breast size. However, the size of one’s breasts is primarily genetic. A breast reduction, or a reduction mammoplasty, is chosen to reduce the size of the natural breast. This may be done for several reasons:
1. Large breasts can cause back and neck pain because of their weight.
2. Uncontrollable rashes can appear under the breasts, causing a great deal of discomfort.
3. Undesirable attention may be given because of the size of the breasts.
4. The breasts may be different sizes or shapes.
Procedure
A general anesthesia is used during the entire procedure. Although the size, shape, and location of the incision may vary, a t-shaped incision is normally made beneath the nipple and areola. The nipple areola complex is left untouched and intact to maintain blood flow to the nipple. The excess fat, tissue, and skin are removed. The breast must be reshaped and the nipple and areola re-centered.
Recovery
Discomfort is common after the surgery for at least 3 days. The patient should wear a secure bra during the healing process to help support the weight of the breasts and to keep the incision from opening.
Swelling of the breasts is common after a breast reduction. Until the swelling is gone and the breast is healed, the final bra size may be difficult to determine. Once the swelling is down, the patient may notice a flatter look to the breasts. Within about 3 to 6 months the breasts will reshape themselves and regain a more natural appearance.
Numbness may occur in the nipple, areola, and breast. Over time, the numbness will subside. Often, however, patients have no numbness at all.
Complications
Scarring is an inevitable side effect of any surgery. Dissolvable sutures are placed under the skin to help minimize scarring. The healing process and visibility of the scars will, in part, depend on the individual patient’s body.
Bleeding or infection may occur, especially along the incision. These need to be treated immediately.
Patients who don’t stop smoking or taking contraceptives are at a higher risk of chest problems and thrombosis in the legs. Excess pain or swelling in the chest or legs needs to treat immediately.
Surgery done to correct asymmetry between the breasts may result in scars that are not uniform in size or shape. The breasts also may not be precisely the same size and shape.
Nursing, Mammograms, and Health Issues
Women to receive a breast reduction will no longer be able to breastfeed. The milk ducts are severed from the nipple during the surgery, which causes the milk stores to diminish over time. Breast reduction does not interfere with mammograms, MRIs or other imaging procedures and has not been linked to long term health issues like breast cancer.
Drooping Breasts
The skin of each patient is slightly different, and drooping breasts may result from elastic skin. Cosmetic Surgery is available to tighten the tissue. However, this surgery is in addition to the reduction and is an additional cost.
About the Author:
My name is Rod Kelly, a content writer from UK. I am into Health. You can follow me @thefreshhealth 
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