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Breast Augmentation, Breast

The 4 Best Options for Breast Reduction Procedures

While breast augmentation procedures get a lot more attention, breast reductions are not all that uncommon for today's women. Overly large breasts can be a source of general back and neck pain, skin irritation, stress on the shoulders, and discomfort while working out or participating in other activities.

There can be a great deal of frustration when your breast size makes finding clothes that fit well a chore. Also, you may feel self-conscious if your breasts are not proportionate to your body.

If you've found yourself identifying with any of these descriptions, then a breast reduction procedure may be right for you. Sadly, many women don't realize just how much stress and weight their large breasts add. You don't have to live with pain and discomfort due to overly large breasts. There are several breast reductions procedures available that can produce beautiful results and allow you to live life to the fullest. The technique used is determined by the amount of sagging or excess skin and tissue, and the experience of your surgeon.

There are 5 main options for standard breast reduction procedures.

Anchor, Inverted-T, or Wise Pattern Breast Reduction

Out of the 5 options we'll be looking at, this is considered the gold standard of breast reduction procedures. The name gives you a clue as to how this option is performed. An incision is made around the areola and then continues down the center of the lower half of the breast, then an incision is made horizontally along the breast crease. The incisions form the inverted-t or anchor shape that this option is named after.

This is the most common breast reduction procedure because the skin can be moved vertically and horizontally on the breast. It allows your surgeon the greatest control of your breast shape and proportion because excess breast tissue can be removed from any part of the breast. This is the most versatile breast reduction technique available.

The one major drawback to consider when looking at this option is that it produces the longest scars. However, the scar in the breast crease is usually barely noticed by patients because of its location. If scars are a concern for you, or if you are prone to keloid scarring, another breast reduction technique may be preferable. Talk to your doctor to see if he can recommend the best technique to achieve the results you want with the least amount of scarring.

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Vertical or “Lollipop” Breast Reduction

Another very popular option with both surgeons and patients is the vertical breast reduction. An incision is made around the areola and then continues vertically down the center of the lower half of the breast, giving this option its nickname, lollipop. An additional short, horizontal incision may be needed at the breast crease in some cases.

The vertical breast reduction can improve long-term breast shape and projection and is a great choice for some women. This technique may be for you if you have mild to moderately large breasts. This is not a good option for women with extremely large breasts.

This option produces shorter scars, but it includes some "bunching" of the skin along the lower half of the breast. The "bunching" usually flattens out over time, but an additional incision or a scar revision procedure may be required.

The vertical technique gives the surgeon less control than the anchor pattern reduction, but it may be a good choice for you if your breasts are not extremely large and you're concerned about the scars associated with the anchor technique.

“Donut” or “Benelli” Breast Reduction

If your breasts are only mildly enlarged, the donut breast reduction may be a good option for you. As implied in the name, this option requires an incision around the perimeter of the areola. This means you'll only have one, short scar that can be somewhat hidden by the dark skin of the areola.

This is not an effective technique for women with large, heavy breasts. The areola will end up stretched and flattened, meaning wider scars and an unattractive, flat shape. With the lack of additional incisions, there is not much access to the breast tissue. This may lead to distortion of the breast shape.

Women who are seeking a breast reduction rarely qualify for this technique.

"No Vertical Scar” Breast Reduction

The "no vertical scar" breast reduction is performed with an incision around the areola and another incision in the breast crease. There is no vertical incision from the areola down to the breast crease. This option eliminates the most visible scar and utilizes the two incisions that are easiest to hide.

This technique comes with its disadvantages. Because the skin can't be moved in the horizontal axis, the ability to reshape the breasts is limited. The breast shape ends up being overly wide and results are not optimal, lacking in breast projection. If you're willing to accept a less optimal breast shape for the sake of losing the vertical scar, then this reduction option may be worth of your consideration.

This technique is only used on women who have severe breast drooping.

If you're interested in having this procedure, it's good to know that if you're completely unsatisfied with the results, your surgeon can make corrections by adding the vertical scar. However, the additional procedures would mean additional expense and recovery.

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Virtually Scarless Breast Reduction

The virtually scarless option is achieved by using liposuction. Two small incisions are made in the breast crease and are well-hidden under the breast. The recovery time following this technique is shorter than standard breast reduction procedures.

Because liposuction is the only method used for removing tissue, only fat in the breast can be eliminated. Firm glandular tissue is not affected and your surgeon won't be able to determine how much of your breast size is due to fat or to glandular tissue until you're in surgery. This may lead to disappointing results with less tissue being removed than you desired.

Liposuction only reductions also eliminate the option for lifting the breast after the removal of excess tissue. With less weight, the breast skin typically retracts upwards but the extent to which this occurs is not predictable.

This option is best suited for women who need a more limited amount of weight removed, have little to no drooping, and will not need or desire a breast lift. Liposuction will make the breasts lighter and smaller, which may be enough to relieve physical symptoms and create a proportionate figure in some women.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it's important for you to know what kind of breast reduction results you desire. Express those desires to your surgeon, then find out which option will be best for your body based on the criteria described above. You should also carefully choose a reputable, board-certified surgeon who is experienced with all of the techniques covered and will be confident in providing beautiful results for you. If you have any further questions you'd like to get answered, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Larry Fan or fill out our self-evaluation to see if you're a good candidate for breast reduction surgery.

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About the Author

Dr. Larry Fan is a Harvard educated, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon in San Francisco, CA. He is a Master Artist who is known for creating beautiful, stunning, and natural results. Dr. Fan has been named One of America's Top Plastic Surgeons for the past 10 years running and has received several national awards for his work in Plastic Surgery. He has successfully performed more than 10,000 cosmetic procedures of the face, breasts, and body over a 20 year period. Dr Fan has been an invited speaker at the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons, and has been featured in national media outlets such as CNN, NBC, and ABC.

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