Reduction

WHAT IS BREAST REDUCTION?

A breast reduction, or reduction mammoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure to reduce the size of women’s breasts. In addition to physical pain and other symptoms, large breasts may also draw unwanted attention. This can affect a woman’s self-esteem and make her uncomfortable with her appearance. This procedure removes fat and glandular tissue from the breast while tightening skin to produce smaller breasts that are more comfortable and in better proportion to the rest of the body. 

Whatever your reasons for surgery, Dr. Giuffre will guide you in conservative practice, while tailoring your procedure to meet your vision and treatment goals.  Educating patients and making surgical recommendations based on his extensive experience is all part of creating an attractive and natural looking enhancement, while ensuring we are achieving your vision.

AM I A CANDIDATE FOR BREAST REDUCTION?

Women with large breasts who are unhappy with their appearance and/or want to treat symptoms such as back pain, breathing problems, and poor posture may benefit from breast reduction surgery.

The youngest age for breast reduction surgery is typically after full breast growth is complete (age 18-19); there is no limit to an older patient (this would depend on the patient’s general health in order to have a General Anesthetic).

Occasionally, the surgery is done on an adolescent before full breast growth is complete.  If the breasts are extremely large, interfere physically, and impact psychologically, surgery may be done with the understanding that if the breasts continue to enlarge after surgery, a repeat breast reduction after full breast maturity may be necessary.

BREAST REDUCTION CONSULTATION

Whatever your reasons for breast reduction surgery, Dr. Giuffre personalizes the procedure according to your needs and treatment goals to enhance your natural silhouette.

Prior to your procedure, Dr. Giuffre will meet with you to discuss your goals and expectations for surgery. He will also review the details of your chosen procedure, the associated risks, and welcome any questions or concerns that you may have. This discussion is important,  helping you to communicate your vision with your surgeon in order to achieve the results you desire.  All post surgical results vary from patient to patient, as no two bodies respond to and heal from surgery identically.

Dr Giuffre will examine your breasts without a bra while assessing:

  • Chest wall symmetry

  • Breast symmetry

  • Nipple height symmetry

  • Breast shape differences

  • Exam for any masses or pathology

Each consultation is completely customized and designed with the individual patients goals in mind. 

BREAST REDUCTION PROCEDURE

Dr. Giuffre performs breast lift procedures at a private surgical suite adjacent to his Meadowlark Health Centre Office. The breast reconstruction procedure lasts one to two hours and is performed with general anesthesia

The nipple areola and the breast will be elevated and reshaped into a more pleasing posture.  The nipple areola is left attached to the breast in order to maintain circulation and sensation to the nipple.  The breast tissue is removed and contoured within the skin incisions, which are closed with dissolving sutures.  The breast shape and size will then be adjusted surgically.  The nipple areola will be elevated to the correct position on the breast, leaving the blood and nerve supply intact.  The breast tissue is shaped and then the incisions are closed with stitches underneath the skin.  These sutures will dissolve.

In order to lift the breast, and reposition the nipple areola, three breast incisions must be made, which will leave a scar.  

  • There will be a scar around the areola, where the dark and lighter skin join. This scar blends and fades.

  • There will be a scar in the breast crease, which is well hidden within the crease.

  • There will be a vertical scar from the bottom of the areola to the crease. This often looks like a stretch mark when fully healed.

BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY RECOVERY

Before waking from the surgery, Dr Giuffre will inject a long acting local anesthetic into the breast area to decrease any immediate breast discomfort from the surgery. When the freezing wears off, both the sub glandular and sub muscular implant operation will require post operative analgesic medication (pain killers) for up to a week. The discomfort typically subsides after the first two days following the surgery. Patients taking prescription pain medication should not drive a car or operate machinery or sign significant documents while taking this medication.

You will have to arrange a ride and aftercare with a responsible adult. You are not permitted to leave unaccompanied or in a taxi. If your driving distance from Edmonton exceeds 90 minutes, you should make arrangements to stay overnight in Edmonton. The surgical centre does not have an overnight care facility. You will then be seen the following day for dressing removal and assessment by Dr. Giuffre and his staff.

Dr. Giuffre provides his home phone number to his cosmetic patients in case there is a patient concern.  In the rare instance that a patient requires hospitalization, Dr. Giuffre has admitting privileges to all of the major hospitals in Edmonton.

You will be seen the day following surgery by Dr.Giuffre and/or his nursing staff, and again within the week following your surgery by Dr Giuffre. Further follow up arrangements will be made at that time.

Most patients feel tired and sore after breast reduction surgery, but this usually passes in a day or two. Many patients return to work within the week. Any postoperative pain, swelling and sensitivity will diminish over the first few weeks. Scars from breast augmentation incisions will begin to fade in a few months, and will continue to fade for months or years.

BREAST REDUCTION RESULTS

Summary of generalized results a patient can expect. Would be good to circle this back to the customization of the treatment and expected results that Dr. G would discuss in a consult.

BREAST LIFT SURGERY RISKS

With any surgery, there are surgical and anesthetic risks.  Aside from the rare risks of an anesthetic event, some of the general and specific surgical risks for this procedure would include:

  • Scarring

  • Infection

  • Sensation changes to the Breast or Nipples

  • Circulation loss to the nipple - if you smoke, you must stop at least 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery

  • **Patients at risk are those that smoke, have had radiation for breast cancer, and have an abnormal circulation pattern of the nipple.

  • Discomfort

  • Time off of work and exercise

  • Asymmetry

  • Bleeding (Hematoma)

Please note that this list is not complete.  During the consultation with the patient, Dr. Giuffre will outline and explain each of the risks in detail

FAQS

Can a breast reduction be done without leaving scars?

In order to lift and reduce the breast size, and reposition the nipple areola, a breast incision must be made, which will leave scars.

There will be a scar around the areola, where the dark and lighter skin join. This scar blends and fades.

There will be a scar in the breast crease, which is well hidden within the crease.

There will be a vertical scar from the bottom of the areola, to the crease. This often looks like a stretch mark when fully healed.

My breasts are very large, and one breast is a bit larger than the other. Can this be fixed?

The breast reduction technique is the same. At the time of surgery, more breast tissue will be removed from the larger breast, to improve symmetry.

Often, with a very large breast, the fat and breast tissue extends into the flank and axilla. This is not removed in a breast reduction procedure. There may be an option to have this tissue removed using a liposuction technique. This could be done at the same time as the breast reduction surgery. This liposuction is an option which is NOT covered by Alberta Health Services.

Is the procedure painful?

Upon waking from the surgery, you will require postoperative analgesic medication (pain killers) for up to one week. The discomfort typically subsides after the first two days following the surgery, although some patients take pain killers for a week after surgery.

Patients taking prescription pain killers should not drive a car, operate machinery, or sign significant documents while taking this medication.