Breast Reduction in San Antonio

What is Breast reduction?

Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical option for women who are unhappy about the size of their breasts or want to treat symptoms caused by their breast size. A breast reduction involves the removal of excess breast tissue, reduction of any excess skin, lifting the breast and nipple area, as well as occasionally reducing the width of the areola.

Breast reduction surgery has proven to be a turning point for many of Dr. Eric Schaffer’s patients. Dr. Eric Schaffer is a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who is frequently named as a National Top Doctor and Texas Monthly Super Doctor. 

Who Is a Good Candidate for Reduction Mammoplasty?

Ideal candidates for breast reduction include women with oversized breasts that are causing physical, social, emotional discomfort, or medical complications. Women that are pregnant or breastfeeding cannot receive reduction surgery. Additionally, men with enlarged breasts can undergo a breast reduction that typically including liposuction.

Benefits Of Breast Reduction Surgery

A common reason for choosing breast reduction is to relieve physical discomfort caused by enlarged breasts. Benefits of breast reduction include:

• • The disappearance of bra strap discomfort
  • Improved posture
  • Neck, back, shoulder pain relief
  • No irritating rashes between or beneath breasts

What Breast Size Qualifies for a Reduction?

While there is no one specific breast size that qualifies a patient for breast reduction surgery, typically, patients with C cups or larger can benefit the most from this procedure. However, for some patients, a breast size lower than a C cup may still lead to unbalanced body proportions that may also benefit from a breast size reduction. In general, if a patient is interested in achieving a breast size that is at least two sizes lower, a breast reduction eliminates pain, achieves body balance, and reaches their breast size goal.

What Are the Contraindications for Breast Reduction?

If a patient has a history or is at risk for coronary arterial disease, thromboembolic disease, chronic lung disease, and chronic kidney disease, a breast reduction surgery may not be suitable for them. It’s important for each patient to be in overall good health before undergoing any type of breast surgery, including breast reduction.

What Is the Best Age to Get a Breast Reduction, and Why?

While there is no best age to get a breast reduction, there are a few key moments in a woman’s life that can optimize the results of this procedure. They include:

At least 18 years of age

At this age, most girls are done developing their breasts, but sometimes 18-year-olds may struggle with overly large breasts and want them reduced before reaching adulthood. If a teen is younger than 18, they may require parental permission to proceed with a breast reduction, as their body is still in development at this time.

Young women 18 – 30

For women in early adulthood, achieving the perfect breast size can not only help eliminate pain and achieve more balanced body proportions but also increase their self-confidence. Many surgeons recommend having a breast reduction at this stage since it’s the ideal time when the body is fully developed.

Post-breastfeeding

Breastfeeding can leave behind permanent changes to the appearance of your breasts. For many mothers, this change can affect their body-image and self-esteem. Many times, a breast reduction can reduce sagging and help the breasts look younger and more firm, similar to the way they used to look before pregnancy.

What Is Involved In The Reduction Mammoplasty Consultation?

Before surgery, we require patients to have a private consultation with cosmetic surgeon Dr. Eric Schaffer. During this time patients can discuss their symptoms, physical attributes, and goals. To put you at ease, Dr. Schaffer invites you to our office the business day prior to surgery to review any surgical questions or concerns and to have preoperative markings applied in a calm, relaxed atmosphere. Dr. Schaffer believes that designing a careful, well thought out blueprint for your procedure is the key to obtaining a consistently reliable outcome.

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Breast Reduction Before & After

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The Breast Reduction Procedure

Recent advances in breast reduction surgery facilitate an improved appearance with better long-term shape maintenance, a quicker recovery from surgery with less postoperative discomfort, and rapid relief of symptoms. Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia and, depending on the chosen technique, take about 2 to 5 hours to complete. Dr. Schaffer commonly chooses an anchor or lollipop incision. An anchor incision begins at the breast crease and extends around the areola while a lollipop incision starts around the areola and lowers to the breast crease. These incisions can result in permanent scars, however, they generally heal nicely enough that they are well tolerated. 

Small Incision Breast Reduction

If you have a history of unfavorable scars, do not need any skin excision or lifting, or have a strong desire to preserve a breastfeeding option, small incision, or minimal incision, breast reduction may be a satisfactory alternative. During a small incision breast reduction, one or more small incisions will be made, through which Dr. Schaffer can extract excess breast and fatty tissue. This is done using suction-assisted lipectomy or liposuction. In contrast to a traditional breast reduction, this procedure does not generally elevate the breast or nipple area much, and in some instances, can cause a more droopy, deflated appearance. Additionally, if you agree at your consultation, Dr. Schaffer can convert the procedure to a standard breast reduction if liposuction proves to be incomplete or unsatisfactory.

Reduction mammoplasty Recovery

Once the surgery is complete patients can expect some bruising, soreness, and swelling for a short period of time. Typically, patients take 1 to 2 weeks off from work and postpone the majority of physical activity for a month. Dr. Schaffer offers the opportunity to have an ON-Q pain relief pump following surgery. This ON-Q device delivers local anesthesia to the surgical site to minimize discomfort after surgery. Patients can remove and replace bandages from surgery with a surgical bra 2 days after their procedure. Finally, patients can come to have stitches removed after about 3 weeks.

Results of Breast Reduction Surgery

While there is some swelling the results of reduction mammaplasty are immediately noticeable. The breasts’ appearance will continue to improve and scars will fade in the weeks after surgery. The results of reduction mammaplasty are permanent, but breasts can experience the effects of aging, gravity, hormone changes and weight fluctuation.

Breast Reduction Patient Testimonials

The dramatic breast reduction I underwent a mere 8 months ago has changed my life. Not only am I pain free for the first time in many, many years but I am now confident in my appearance and capable of more physical activity. My self-esteem has risen and I no longer hide behind baggy clothes. Dr. Schaffer was kind, patient and professional throughout. His attention to detail and follow-through put me at ease. I never took a single pain pill and my reduction took me from an “I” bra size to a “D”. He knew exactly how much to remove to give me a balanced attractive appearance. If you are even thinking about a reduction-don’t put it off- I wish I had not waited so long. And you will not find a better doctor than Schaffer! – P.S.

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