Women seek breast reduction for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s a decision to end chronic back and neck pain as well as shoulder pain from heavy breasts while others are weary of dealing with the unwanted attention often associated with full figures. Whatever the motivation, breast reduction in Omaha offers women much-needed relief from the physical and emotional challenges of having excessively large breasts.
The physicians at Aesthetic Surgical Images are among the most highly credentialed breast reduction surgeons in Omaha. Over the years, they have helped hundreds of women look and feel better through skilled, compassionate care.
Surgical Techniques
Breast Reduction: Surgery for Teens
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*Each patient is unique and individual results may vary.
Understanding Breast Reduction
In Omaha, breast reduction surgery reshapes oversized breasts to make them smaller, lighter, and firmer. In your breast reduction consultation, your physician will discuss your desired shape and size and perform an examination to determine the best way to achieve natural-looking results that are in better proportion to your body.
As with any type of surgery, it’s important to select a board-certified physician with exceptional training. You can take comfort in knowing that all of our surgeons are board-certified and our facility is fully accredited. At Aesthetic Surgical Images, our philosophy is to provide patients with an experience, not just an operation, so delivering excellent results in a safe, comfortable atmosphere is our highest priority.
Breast Reduction in Teenagers
Occasionally breast growth can be unusually excessive in the young teenage female. Breast overdevelopment can be severe enough to result in social withdrawal leading to a delay in developing important social skills. Young teenage females with excessively large breasts often fail to participate in sports or other athletic activities. If large breasts significantly impact the quality of a young woman’s life and prevent normal social development it is reasonable to consider breast reduction as an option. Ideally one should wait until breast development has stabilized which often occurs in the 16-18-year-old age range. If over development of the breast is severe enough, however, it is reasonable to proceed with breast reduction even as young as 14 knowing that breast growth has not finished. In order to determine whether or not an insurance company will cover it pre-authorization will be required. After you consult with your board-certified plastic surgeon a letter will be sent to your insurance company. The letter will include specific complaints and appropriate codes required by the insurance company. The letter will be accompanied by photographs and a recommendation regarding how much breast tissue is to be removed. Very commonly it takes 6-8 weeks to receive an answer.
Your Breast Reduction Procedure
Breast reduction surgery is a two-hour procedure that is usually performed under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. During surgery, incisions are made around the nipple, vertically down the breast, and along the breast fold, similar to an anchor shape. Then, excess tissue, fat and skin are removed, and the breast is lifted and tightened. The areola, the pigmented skin around the nipple, is also reduced and elevated. Scars from breast reduction surgery are well concealed and typically fade nicely over time.
For women who want a more slender look overall, our physicians frequently perform liposuction during breast reduction surgery to remove fat on the other parts of the body.
To learn more about the benefits of this or other reconstructive plastic surgery procedures, spend some time reading through answers to our patients’ most Frequently Asked Questions.
Wound Healing Following Breast Reduction
It’s not unusual for patients to be concerned about scarring following breast reduction surgery, because of the length of the scars associated with this procedure.
In an effort to minimize scarring, a variety of maneuvers have been utilized. These include techniques designed to decrease tension on the wound closure. Examples would include steristrips, silicone scar sheeting, and compressive support bras.
Massage of scars with a variety of topical agents has been shown to be helpful as well. It’s also essential to avoid sun exposure and tanning.
In the occasional patient who develops hypertrophic scarring, steroid injections may be helpful as well.
It’s important to remember that wound remodeling occurs for at least 12-18 months following surgery. If you’re concerned about scarring following breast reduction surgery, it’s important to discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to help you manage this problem.
Breast Size After Surgery
Patient Testimonial: Colette
Breast Reduction Recovery
Breast reduction is a commonly performed procedure that is associated with high satisfaction rates. This procedure improves quality of life and alleviates symptoms associated with breast hypertrophy.
It’s important to remember that recovery varies from patient to patient. The vast majority of patients have uneventful recoveries, but occasionally patients do have complications. These are usually related to problems with wound healing and occur for a variety of reasons.
Breast reduction not only makes the breast smaller but lifts the breast into a normal position. This requires the development of skin flaps and the removal of excess skin. These skin flaps, occasionally have compromised blood supply which can lead to wound healing problems.
Infection, obesity, diabetes, and cigarette smoking have all been shown to adversely impact blood flow to skin flaps and are associated with wound healing problems. Every effort should be made to minimize the impact of these risk factors. This will ultimately result in fewer wound-healing problems and less scarring.
It’s also important to make sure that your surgeon has experience performing breast reduction and is board certified in plastic surgery. Scarring is inevitable with any surgical procedure, but with proper care, this can be minimized following breast reduction surgery.
Enjoying Your Breast Reduction Results
“I wish I would have done this sooner!” This is what most of our patients say after surgery. No longer hindered by the size and weight of their breasts, women are inspired to get back into the physical and social activities they once avoided. Visit our before & after photo gallery to see the difference breast reduction has made for our patients.
“The single best thing about my surgery is the results. The healing process was quick for me and fairly painless. My body feels better, my clothing fits better and I feel good about myself. I am 53 years old and had been wanting a breast reduction all of my adult life. I chose ASI after viewing their website. From my first consultation to the post-op check ups, the nursing staff, receptionists, and Dr. Bruneteau made me feel comfortable and understood my concerns and expectations. They are knowledgeable, kind, very informative of the process and patient with all of our questions and concerns. 3 months post-op and I am just extremely happy with my results! It’s is even more than I had hoped for! The surgery has changed the way I view myself, how I feel in my clothing and how good I physically feel each day. I would highly recommend ASI and Dr. Bruneteau for any cosmetic procedure you are considering.”
5 StarsReal Patient
Breast Reduction FAQs
The majority of stitches do not need to be removed. A few external stitches may be present and will be removed in the first 7 to 14 days after surgery.
Bruising is normally gone in two weeks after your operation. Approximately 80% of your swelling will be gone in 3-4 weeks after surgery. The last 20% will gradually subside over the next few months. The scarring associated with the surgery normally fades over a period of 12-24 months.
General anesthesia will be used. It will be administered by an anesthesiologist, a doctor who specializes in anesthesia
Breast reduction surgery is highly effective in relieving pain in the neck, back, and shoulders. In addition to alleviating the added weight associated with large breasts, the operation will lift them and provide a more shapely and youthful appearance. The vast majority of our patients say “I wish I had done it sooner.”
If you live in the state of Nebraska, Aesthetic Surgical Images offers breast reduction among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
Breast reduction surgery is commonly performed at Aesthetic Surgical Images. Our staff is very experienced in the individual needs and goals of women requesting this type of surgery. After being greeted by our staff, you will have a lengthy consultation with your surgeon who will explain the risks and benefits associated with this procedure, perform a physical examination and determine whether or not you are a suitable candidate for breast reduction surgery. After the consultation and physical examination, your doctor will discuss with you how much breast weight will be removed.
After you are scheduled for surgery you will be given instructions regarding medications you should not take prior to surgery. These include aspirin or aspirin-containing compounds and ibuprofen. Other pain medications are listed and will be discussed by our nursing staff. You will be instructed not to smoke for at least two weeks before surgery and for at least 14 days after surgery. Approximately 1-2 weeks before surgery you will be scheduled for a preoperative visit. This is a good time to ask any additional questions you may have.
On the day of surgery, you will arrive 60 to 90 minutes before your scheduled operation. You will visit with the anesthesiologist and will be given the opportunity to ask your doctor any additional questions.
A surgical support bra will be applied immediately following the surgery. Beneath the bra there may be some additional bandages. You will stay in our recovery area until you are fully recovered. You will then be allowed to go home with a companion who will spend the rest of the day and the night with you.
You will need an adult with you for the first 24 hours after surgery. If you live more than an hour from Omaha your physician will recommend you stay at a nearby hotel. You will return to our office the next day to be examined by either your surgeon or the physician’s assistant. The next follow-up visit will be scheduled approximately one week after that.
During your preoperative visit, you will be given specific instructions on your postoperative care. You will be asked not to lift anything over five pounds for two weeks and not to raise your elbows above your shoulders. You can still wash and fix your hair, but high reaching will be discouraged. You will also be requested not to do any heavy lifting for up to four weeks. Other details regarding your postoperative care will be discussed by your doctor.
Patients who undergo breast reduction surgery often tell us they can feel relief from neck and back pain the very next day. Most women can resume work approximately 1-2 weeks after a reduction. Aerobic activities may need to be deferred for 4-6 weeks postoperatively. Most of the sutures will be absorbable but some may need to be removed after about a week. You will wear the support bra from surgery for several weeks. Swelling and discoloration around the incisions generally subside in a few days. Temporary changes in sensation of the nipples and skin is normal, and will improve with time. Since incisions are usually made around and below the nipple, scars should not be noticeable even in low-cut clothing.
Taking The Next Step
Request a complimentary consultation with Aesthetic Surgical Images online or call (402) 390-0100 or (800) 331-5001 to learn more about this procedure.