Breast Reduction

In breast reduction surgery, your surgeon will make incisions around the areola and down the front of each breast and remove excess fat, tissue, and skin. Your breasts will be lifted and reshaped and your nipples will be repositioned. If necessary, the diameter of your areolas might be decreased by removing the skin at their perimeter. (In some cases, excess fat may be removed through liposuction.) The incisions are then brought together to reshape your smaller breasts, and stitches are layered deep within the breast tissue to support the newly shaped breasts. Stitches, skin adhesives, and surgical tape may be used to close the skin.

General anesthesia is usually used for breast reduction surgery.

Breast reduction surgery is a procedure with minimal risks, though there are some. If you’re a smoker, your surgeon might recommend that you stop at least during the time of your procedure because it can impede healing. You should also know that Hancock Regional Hospital has been rated one of the safest hospitals in America by The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit health care watchdog organization; and was named the safest hospital in Indiana on the Lown Institute Hospital Index.

Some of the possible side effects of general anesthesia include nausea and vomiting, dry mouth, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, bruising (from the IV), itching, shivering and feeling cold, difficulty urinating, and sleepiness. In older patients, memory loss and temporary confusion are possible. 

Breast reduction is likely to decrease the size and weight of your breasts and relieve pain and discomfort associated with large breasts.

You don’t need a referral to see a plastic surgeon.

You can always get a second or third opinion, but it isn’t required. 

Your health history will be compiled and available to the team before, during, and after surgery. If you’re a Hancock Health patient, we will be able to access your records within our system. If you aren’t, we’ll work with your doctors to get the necessary information. 

Consult the Price Transparency Tool at HancockRegionalHospital.org for an idea of how much breast reduction surgery might cost.

Medicare will cover breast reduction surgery, but it’s important for your doctor to indicate that the procedure is medically necessary.

Prior to your procedure, you may be asked to get lab tests, a medical evaluation, or a baseline mammogram. You might be asked to get another mammogram after your procedure so your care providers can better understand future changes to your breasts. (Not sure where to go to get your lab tests? Check out Gateway Hancock Health, where you’ll be able to get in and out quickly and pay, on average, 70% less than you’ll pay at a hospital.)  If you smoke, you’ll probably be asked to stop for several weeks or months, and you’ll also likely be instructed not to take aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs, and herbal supplements because they can increase bleeding. Your surgeon will also likely tell you not to eat anything after midnight on the day of your surgeries.

You’ll arrive two hours before your surgery and be escorted to the preoperative waiting area.You’ll remove all of your clothing and jewelry, and put on a hospital gown. (Your valuables will be placed in a secure area or may be given to a family member.) You’ll sign any necessary paperwork and a preoperative nurse will take your vital signs, review your medications, and answer any questions.You’ll meet the members of your surgery team. They will mark the location of your surgery on your body. An I.V. (intravenous line) will be placed in your hand or arm, so medications—including general anesthesia—can be administered. When it’s time for your surgery, you will be wheeled into the operating suite on a stretcher.

In addition to the surgeon, you have an anesthesiologist, nurses—some of them specialize in working with patients and others assist the surgeon—and support staff, who will check you in and out, compile your records, and more. They all work together, performing their individual jobs, so your procedure is as successful as possible. 

You should bring something to keep you entertained in the waiting area. You’ll also want to wear comfortable clothing and shoes, including a loose-fitting top that buttons up or has a front zipper closure. A blanket and a pillow might also be helpful during the ride home. You may want a bottle of water and some crackers for the ride home after your procedure.

As you are anesthetized and breathing oxygen through a mask, your surgeon will make incisions in your breasts and then remove excess fat, tissue, and skin. Your breast will be reshaped, and your nipple will be repositioned. Sutures will be layered within the breast to create and support the newly shaped breasts, and then the skin will be surgically closed.

A breast reduction takes two to four hours. 

You’ll likely be able to go home the same day as your surgery.

You’ll spend a few hours in the recovery room as the anesthesia wears off and then you’ll prepare to go home. 

You’ll be able to talk to your surgeon immediately after your procedure, while you’re in the recovery room.

You will receive pain medication immediately after breast reduction surgery.

You might receive a prescription for pain medication. You might also be instructed to use over-the-counter pain medication to minimize discomfort from the procedure.

Ask someone to spend a few days after the surgery at home with you—especially if you live alone. Prepare to take it easy for at least a week—compile reading material or a list of movies or television shows you’d like to watch. You’ll be instructed to avoid straining, bending, or lifting for two to three weeks.Prepare to be asked to wait for at least 48 hours to shower. (You’ll be advised not to take a bath or soak in a hot tub for about a month.)Shop for groceries before your procedure and have lots of hydrating liquids and healthy foods, full of fiber and protein, on hand. Have dark towels and clothing available. They’ll absorb any leaking fluid.Prepare to wear a surgical support or elastic bandage bra day and night for several days. You’ll also want to wear loose-fitting T-shirts and front-zip hoodies.Know that you might have a small drain under your skin to drain any excess blood or fluid.Expect your breasts to be swollen and bruised for about two weeks. Prepare to sleep on your back with your upper body slightly elevated, which will help reduce swelling. (Sleeping in a recliner or with a stack of pillows is recommended.)

You can expect to have some scarring, which will fade over time, at your surgical sites. If you have any sutures or that aren’t dissolvable, they will likely be removed at one of your first postoperative appointments. Your drains will likely be removed in one to two days.

Call your surgeon’s office, and, if you’re in need of immediate emergency services, go to the nearest emergency room.