Women with extraordinarily large breasts often suffer with physical symptoms like neck and back strain and skin chaffing inside the breast crease. They may be limited in their physical activities due to their breast size. Breast reduction procedures can reduce those uncomfortable symptoms as well as the breast size. However, subsequent changes to the breasts may lead women to seek additional procedures to regain their youthful body contour.
The desire for breast augmentation after a reduction can occur for a number of reasons. The breasts may shrink in size after breastfeeding. Enlargement during pregnancy or weight gain might result in sagging skin and breasts that have lost their youthful lift. The appearance of stretch marks or changes to the look of the areola may be a concern. Weight loss can also result in loss of size to the breasts, as breast tissue shifts during the weight loss process.
Breast augmentation after reduction can restore volume lost for a more beautiful, natural looking breast. The procedure involves the placement of implants within the breast tissue that provide the fullness and cup size women may be looking for.
Best Candidates
The best candidates for breast augmentation after reduction are women who have lost the original shape and volume of their breasts due to the events listed above. Patients should be in relatively good physical health with no major underlying health conditions. They also need to have realistic expectations about the procedure, recovery time and results.
About the Procedure
The specific technique used for breast augmentation will depend on the type of implant and the placement location. The most common type of implant used today is a silicone implant that looks and feels more like natural breast tissue. Dr. Geoffrey Leber usually likes to place the implant under the pectoral muscle because it provides the most natural results and does not interfere with future mammogram screenings.
Breast augmentation is performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. Surgery will take anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on the specific needs of the patient. Patients are usually allowed to return home the same day as the procedure.
Recovery and Results
Discomfort after breast augmentation can be managed with oral pain medication. A compression garment may also be recommended to encourage healthy blood flow and reduce swelling. Most patients return to work within one week of surgery, although strenuous activity may be restricted for 3-4 weeks.
The results of breast augmentation after reduction may be seen right away. However, full results may become more apparent after the breasts have healed from the procedure. Breast augmentation is considered a permanent way to enhance the size of the breasts.
If you are seeing changes to your breasts after reduction surgery, there are additional options to help you regain your youthful profile. To learn more about whether breast augmentation after reduction is right for you, contact Dr. Leber’s staff to schedule a consultation.