1 – Take time choosing your surgeon
Choosing the right surgeon for any procedure is crucial so it’s imperative that you don’t just select the first one that you come across. Take your time, do your research and shortlist a number of different ones to speak to before making a final decision. Things to look for include board certification, speciality, online reviews and before and after photos. How they make you feel when you attend a consultation is also essential, so trust your gut feeling.
2 – Your insurance may not cover your procedure
Medical insurance is extremely valuable, but it rarely covers elective procedures. Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that overly large breasts can cause medical issues, like back pain, skin rashes and more. Check with your insurance company if you are covered for the procedure before scheduling your surgery. If you aren’t covered, speak to your surgeon to see what their payment options are.
3 – There are some risks
As with any surgery, there is an element of risk associated with a breast reduction procedure. These include infection, wound healing issues, asymmetrical results and decreased nipple sensation. Choosing an expert surgeon does help to mitigate these risks, and your surgeon should explain any potential side effects and complications to you during your consultation.
4 – You may be advised to wait until you have finished having a family
Although you can have a breast reduction before you have children, it’s ideal to wait until you’ve finished having a family before getting the surgery. This is because pregnancy and nursing can dramatically alter the shape and size of the breasts, and a reduction may decrease your ability to breastfeed. However, if you are still pretty young and suffering from problems relating to bigger breasts, your surgeon may think that the benefit to your quality of life could make you a good candidate.
5 – You will be asked to take steps to prepare for your surgery
Preparation is crucial to the success of any surgery, including a breast reduction. Doing the right things as recommended by your surgeon can make a huge difference to the outcome of your procedure so it’s important to follow all instructions. This could include stopping certain medications, giving up smoking and cutting out alcohol.
6 – You’ll also need to allow time to heal and recover
Breast reduction is a major surgery, so you’ll also need to take time off to heal and recover afterwards. It can take several months to feel completely normal, and you’ll need to follow all post-surgery instructions carefully to avoid complications and ensure that you make a swift, safe recovery and achieve the best possible outcome from your surgery.
7 – If your weight changes after surgery, your results might alter too
Weight gain and weight loss affect the size of the fat cells in our body. While small weight fluctuations after surgery may not have much of an impact on your appearance, if your weight changes significantly, it could change the size and position of your breasts. For this reason, candidates are usually required to have a stable weight that they are happy with for some time before undergoing surgery.
8 – Your breast position will lift as a result of your surgery
Many women choose breast lift surgery as they get older, which looks to reshape and reposition the breasts and nipple higher on the chest, giving them a more youthful appearance. However, people who choose to undergo breast reduction surgery automatically get a lift as part of their procedure.
9 – There will be scarring
Scarring is an unavoidable part of surgery. In a breast reduction, the exact incisions you’ll have will depend on the surgical technique used, but typically you can expect to have lollipop-like incisions around the nipple and down to the bottom of the breast. These may look very obvious at first, but over time and with the right care, they will fade.
10 – You could have decreased nipple sensitivity after
This is one of the main side effects that your surgeon should speak to you about at your consultation appointment. It’s fairly normal to have decreased nipple sensitivity directly after the surgery, and some sensation normally always comes back. However, the level of sensitivity may be decreased. Some surgical techniques are more likely to preserve nipple sensation, so be sure to ask your surgeon about this at your consultation.
If you are considering breast reduction surgery and would like more information, please contact Funt Aesthetics to speak to our knowledgeable cosmetic surgery team today.
