Breast reduction surgery is a surgery aimed at reducing the volume of enlarged breasts. It is usually used to solve functional or aesthetic problems caused by enlarged breasts. The surgery requires not only sophisticated techniques and skilled operation, but also consideration of the patient's personal situation, expectations, and various factors of postoperative recovery. During the operation, the surgeon must accurately grasp each key point of the operation to ensure the ideal surgical effect and minimize postoperative complications.
Preoperative evaluation and preparation
Preoperative evaluation for breast reduction surgery is crucial. The doctor needs to conduct a comprehensive examination of the patient's health status, breast size, shape, skin elasticity, and breast tissue characteristics. These evaluations help to develop a personalized surgical plan. Patients should undergo routine physical examinations and breast imaging examinations (such as breast X-rays, ultrasound, etc.) to rule out the possibility of breast disease.
Choice of anesthesia
Breast reduction surgery usually uses general anesthesia to ensure that the patient is painless and completely relaxed during the operation. In some special cases, a combination of local anesthesia and sedation may also be considered, depending on the patient's specific situation and the doctor's advice.
Incision design and positioning
Incision design is one of the key links in breast reduction surgery. The position and shape of the incision directly affect the postoperative scar and the shape of the breast. Common incision types include circular incision, longitudinal incision and T-shaped incision. The doctor needs to choose the appropriate incision method based on the patient's breast size, shape and degree of skin laxity.
Circular incisions are often used around the areola and are suitable for smaller breast reductions.
The longitudinal incision runs along the lower edge of the breast and is suitable for the reduction of medium-sized breasts.
The T-shaped incision combines horizontal and vertical incisions and is suitable for larger breast reductions.
Resection and remodeling of breast tissue
The removal of breast tissue is the core step in breast reduction surgery. The surgeon needs to carefully remove excess breast tissue and fat based on preoperative evaluation and designed incision to achieve the purpose of breast reduction. When removing breast tissue, it is necessary to avoid damaging the breast ducts and important vascular and neural structures, especially maintaining the blood supply and nerve innervation of the nipple and areola to ensure the function and sensation of the breast after surgery.
After removing excess breast tissue, the doctor will reshape the breast to ensure a natural, symmetrical appearance. The upper part of the breast needs to be raised through appropriate skin excision to ensure the aesthetic effect of the breast and avoid sagging.
Adjustment of nipple and areola position
The positioning of the nipple and areola is an important part of breast reduction surgery. To ensure a natural and symmetrical breast shape after surgery, the nipple and areola need to be repositioned according to the new breast tissue morphology. Usually, the doctor will move the nipple and areola to the appropriate position so that the breast shape after surgery is more harmonious.
When performing nipple-areola repositioning, special attention must be paid to maintaining the blood supply to the nipple. Excessive traction or improper operation may lead to nipple necrosis and cause serious consequences. Therefore, ensuring the blood supply to the nipple and areola is crucial during the operation.
Skin excision and suturing
After breast reduction surgery, it is usually necessary to remove too much skin to tighten the breasts. The amount of skin removed needs to be precisely controlled. Too much or too little skin removal will affect the shape and recovery of the breasts. Delicate techniques should be used during suturing to ensure that the postoperative scar is minimal and unnoticeable.
Skin sutures are generally divided into two layers: one layer is a deep suture, which helps restore the structure and support of the breast; the other layer is a surface suture, which ensures that the skin heals smoothly after surgery and reduces the appearance of scars. During the suturing process, the doctor needs to ensure that every stitch is in place to avoid obvious scars or scar hyperplasia.
Postoperative Care and Recovery
Postoperative care is the key to the success of breast reduction surgery. Patients need to wear specific support bras after surgery to help the breasts restore their shape and reduce postoperative swelling and discomfort. In the early postoperative period, patients may experience some pain and swelling, which can be effectively relieved by medication. Surgeons usually arrange follow-up examinations based on the patient's recovery and guide the patient to perform appropriate exercises to promote postoperative recovery.
During the recovery period, patients need to avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting to avoid affecting the recovery of the breast shape. At the same time, keep the wound clean and dry to prevent infection. If any abnormal conditions occur, such as severe pain, bleeding or redness and swelling, seek medical attention immediately.
Possible complications and management
Although breast reduction surgery is a mature operation, it still has certain risks. Common complications include infection, bleeding, scar hyperplasia, nipple numbness or sensory changes. In order to reduce these risks, surgeons must have rich experience and strictly follow surgical specifications.
If an infection occurs, the doctor will give appropriate antibiotic treatment depending on the type of infection. For scar hyperplasia, scar repair drugs or laser treatment may be considered. In addition, changes in nipple sensation usually recover over time, but in some cases, long-term sensory loss or desensitization may occur.
Beauty Encyclopedia Tips:
Breast reduction surgery is a common plastic surgery that can not only effectively solve the physical discomfort caused by enlarged breasts, but also significantly improve the appearance of the breasts and enhance the patient's self-confidence. However, the surgical procedure is complicated and the postoperative recovery period requires sufficient attention and care. Therefore, when patients decide to undergo breast reduction surgery, they must choose an experienced doctor and strictly follow the relevant instructions before, during and after the operation.