It is a surgical operation that women with large and heavy breasts seek in order to get relieved mainly from the symptoms of extra weight and the feeling of pain in the back and neck areas. Breast reduction is the solution to these problems while it improves the shape and size of the breast so that the new breast is much more proportionate to the rest of the body.

Am I a suitable candidate for breast reduction?

Candidates for this operation are women:

• With very large breasts (and sagging) in proportion to the rest of the body.
• With heavy, large breasts where the nipple is pointing down.
• Women who have one breast larger than the other.
• Women with back and neck pain due to the weight of the breasts.
• Women who are not happy with the breast size due to the large size and weight.

What is the appropriate age for breast reduction?

Breast reduction is performed after the completion of the breast’s full development, which is usually until the age of 18 years.

Pregnancy and lactation can have unpredictable consequences regarding the size and shape of breasts.

Therefore, many women with large breasts choose to undergo the operation before getting pregnant.

Any changes to the new breast after pregnancy can be easier arranged.

First visit to the plastic surgeon

During your first visit to Dr Kretsis he will examine the breasts performing special measurements. He will assess the shape and size of the breasts as well as the quality of the skin in the area.

Any medical treatment that you might had in the past will be thoroughly discussed and recorded along with any drug allergies, medicine that you receive at the time, previous surgical operations, if you had undergone a breast biopsy and if there is a breast cancer history in the family.

What are the incision options in breast reduction?

There are many techniques in terms of both the arrangement of the incisions and the lifting and reconstruction of the breast to the new position.

Old techniques used anchor shaped incisions (T) performing three incisions:

a) One around the areola (circularly)

b) A vertical one

c) One under the breast

Vertical Breast Reduction mammoplasty is the modern technique in which we make only two incisions, one around the areola and a vertical one.

The main advantage of this technique is that breast reduction and lifting do not rely on the support of breast skin but on the rearrangement and lifting of the inner breast (mammary gland) so as to have as a result a natural lifted breast that endures time.

Scars mainly around the areola and the vertical breast incision begin to disappear in 6-8 months without any inelegant outcome.

During breast reduction we remove skin, fat and breast tissue partly through the incisions that we have chosen to make. Nipple and areola remain attached to the rest of the breast and lifted in the new position.

What are the complications of a breast reduction surgery?

Breast reduction is an internationally famous surgical operation for breast ptosis and reduction of breast size. Potential complication, although quite rare, are the formation of a hematoma or an infection.

In addition there might be slight asymmetries in shape and size of the breast as well as the nipple and areola, which can be corrected very easily.

Furthermore, there might be a slight feeling of numbness in the nipple for a short period of time which subsides quickly.

In the case of regency, women are able to breastfeed after the operation.

How should I prepare myself for surgery?

Women who are candidates for breast reduction, with no breast cancer history and aged below 35 years old undergo a breast ultrasound before surgery while in women over 35 years a mammogram is required before surgery.

Furthermore smoking cessation as well as cessation of aspirin, various anti-inflammatory drugs as well as vitamin supplements use because they may cause bleeding.

All patients before surgery undergo preoperative, hematology, radiology and ECG tests.

The surgery:

The operation takes place in certified Hospital and is performed under general anesthesia.

The surgery lasts 3-4 hours and after the surgery the patient remains in the hospital for 3-4 hours and may go home wearing only a special sports bra without any tubes placed in the area.

Antibiotic treatment and analgesic medications are taken for 5-6 days.

The days after the operation

The patient is able to bathe from the very next day. She can cover her scars only with sterile gauze and by waring the special bra.

The patient doesn’t feel pain. There might be a slight feeling of burning at the incisions area which subsides after 2-3 days.

The patient car return to her work after 5 days, drive after 7 days and regain full activity after 20 days.

The breast is initially swollen and there is a feeling of numbness in the nipple and areola area. The symptoms subside after 20-30 days.

In conclusion

This operation performed with the Vertical Breast Reduction technique provides an amazing result in the shape and size of the breast. The breast is smaller, lifted and tighter.

The operation effects not only to the breast but on the overall body image. The woman appears to be slimmer, more elegant and able to get dressed as she pleases.

In VK Institute of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery we practice the most modern techniques that Plastic Surgery has to offer, achieving a natural, time lasting result.

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