Breast Reduction in Fort Worth

Many women feel that full breasts are an asset, but in some cases a woman’s breasts are so large, heavy, and out of proportion to their bodies that their breasts can cause them many issues: neck, back, and shoulder pain, difficulty exercising, bras or clothes that don’t fit properly, unsought stares, and skin irritation/rashes. The excess weight and pain can make everyday activities like work, childcare, and playing sports difficult. Also, very large breasts can make women feel self-conscious, embarrassed, and depressed. Fortunately, there are many breast surgery procedures available at our office.

Who is a Candidate for this Procedure?

Breast reduction surgery has a very high success and satisfaction rate and is appropriate for healthy women of all ages, provided their breasts are fully developed. Our local breast reduction surgeon, Dr. Steele, also recommends that you are at or close to your ideal body weight in order to decrease the risk of complications from this procedure. While woman planning future pregnancies are not excluded, consideration should be given to the possibility of decreased ability to breast feed and the breast changes a future pregnancy may cause. Breast reduction surgery will improve the following symptoms associated with large breasts:

Neck, back, and shoulder pain
Rashes and irritation of the skin under the breast
Deep shoulder grooving due to bra straps
Large areolas
Poor posture
Sagging, stretched out skin, and breast asymmetry

Benefits of Breast Reduction

Because a breast reduction includes a breast lift, your breasts will not only be smaller and more proportional, but also perkier and shapelier. Other benefits of our breast reduction surgery in Fort Worth include:

Improving or eliminating pain and other physical discomfort

Increased exercise ability

Better bra and clothing choices

Improved self-confidence and body image

During/After Surgery

During your private consultation with your breast reduction surgeon, Dr. Steele, he will review your concerns and discuss the improvements you desire. He will review the risks and benefits of the procedure and give you an opportunity to ask questions without being rushed. Since many women choose breast reduction surgery for medical reasons, the procedure may be covered by your insurance. Dr. Steele and his staff will assist you with determining whether or not your insurance plan will cover the procedure.

Breast reduction is usually performed with general anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The typical surgery time ranges from 2-4 hours. In some cases, a woman may decide to include breast reduction surgery as part of a mommy makeover or in combination with a tummy tuck. With longer surgeries, an overnight stay may be required.

During the procedure, excess skin, fat, and breast tissue is excised. The tissues are rearranged to form smaller, shapelier breasts that are positioned higher on the chest wall. The areolas are also reduced and repositioned with the nipples onto the center of the breast. While a breast reduction procedure results in fine scars, most women are so pleased with symptom relief that the scar is of minor concern.

Most women are left with an inverted “T” scar (anchor) due to the large amount of skin removed. In smaller breast reductions, a lollipop scar (vertical) may be an option.

Recovering from Breast Reduction

Most women can return to a non-strenuous job after 3-5 days. In some cases, a drain tube may be inserted to reduce fluid accumulation and swelling. This is typically removed at the first postop visit (within one week). You will be directed on the appropriate bra to purchase postoperatively. It is important to avoid exercise and heavy lifting for 4-6 weeks. Some women will experience temporary nipple numbness due to swelling that may takes months to return. It is rare to have permanent nipple/areola sensation changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the nipple placed during surgery? Is it taken off and replaced?

Preoperative markings are made before surgery to locate the optimal position of the nipple on the newly shaped breast. In surgery, the patient is sat up on the operating room table to confirm the nipple is centered on the breast in the most aesthetically pleasing position. Except in very rare cases of extremely long breasts, the nipple is not detached from the breast. It is left attached to the breast tissue (the breast pedicle) and this preserves blood and nerve supply. In the rare situation when the nipple is removed and placed as a graft, the patient will lose nipple sensation and may notice pigment changes involving the areola.

Will my nipple have sensation after surgery?

Yes, it is rare to have permanent nipple sensation loss. You may have some temporary nipple numbness due to swelling but this will resolve in a few months. You will likely have some areas of numbness on the breast skin due to the incisions, but this improves with time.

When can I return to work?

You will likely be able to return to a non-strenuous job within 4-7 days. Cardio activity should be limited for 3-4 weeks and heavy lifting (>15 pounds) should be limited for 6-8 weeks.

What about the scars?

Many women are concerned about scarring on their breasts. Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent a scar once an incision is created. Every effort is made to minimize the length of scars while leaving behind expertly repaired incisions that typically heal very nicely. The scars will improve significantly in the year after surgery, and your breast reduction surgeon, Dr. Steele, will provide you with scar care instructions for an optimal outcome. Most women feel that the improved shape and position of the breast is worth the scars left behind. Click here to see examples of scars after a breast reduction.

How long will my results last?

Results after a breast reduction should remain the same as long as the patient maintains a stable weight and avoids pregnancy. The natural aging process and gravity will still occur, resulting in normal breast sagging over time. Other factors that may affect the longevity of your result include: whether or not you smoke, how significant your reduction was, the overall condition of your skin, and the size of your breasts.

How small will I be after surgery?

This will vary depending on the preoperative breast size and patient goals. Some women want to be as small as possible, while others just want to be more proportional. In most cases, it is common to drop at least 1-2 bra cup sizes.

Who is a Candidate for this Procedure?

Benefits of Breast Reduction

During/After Surgery

Recovering from Breast Reduction

Awards

Frequently Asked Questions

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