mammoplasty is an outpatient surgical procedure which involves the reduction in the
size of breasts by excising fat, skin, and glandular tissue; it may also involve
a procedure to counteract drooping of the breasts. As with breast augmentation,
this procedure is performed most often on women, but may also be performed
on men afflicted by gynecomastia. The surgery, which the Food and Drug Administration
has called "good medicine", is quickly gaining popularity. In 2005, over
113,000 women had breast reductions, an increase of 11 percent from 2004.
Breast
reduction surgery is oriented toward women with large, pendulous
breasts, especially gigantomastia, since the weight of their breasts may cause
chronic pain of the head, neck, back, and shoulders, plus circulation and breathing
problems. The weight may also cause discomfort as a result of brassiere
straps abrading or irritating the skin. For these reasons, the surgery is usually
covered by insurance. Even if physical discomfort is not a problem, some women
feel awkward with the enormity of their breasts in proportion to the rest of
their relatively smaller bodies. Except in unusual cases, this procedure is performed
on individuals with fully-developed breasts, and it is not typically recommended
for women who desire to breastfeed.
Males with common condition
of gynecomastia may feel embarrassed and upset with their condition, usually
developed during adolescence. They may get the surgery for restored confidence.
Doctors
almost always perform breast reductions while the patient
is under general anesthesia. During pre-operative visits, the doctor and patient
may decide on new, usually higher, positions for the areolas and nipples.
For
males, excess tissue may simply be removed through a tiny incision in
each breast. This leaves minimal scarring.
Patients may take a few weeks
for initial recovery, however it may take from six months to a year for the
body to completely adjust to the new breast size. Some women may experience discomfort
during their initial menstruation following the surgery due to the breasts
swelling. |
