Breast reduction

Basic information

Women seeking breast reduction surgery often experience pain in the back and shoulder area. Large breasts can also make it difficult to engage in physical exercise. As a procedure, breast reduction is very similar to breast lift surgery. The difference is that in a breast lift, mainly excess skin is removed, whereas during breast reduction surgery, glandular breast tissue is also removed. The plastic surgeons at Cityklinikka have extensive professional experience in breast reduction procedures.

Surgical techniques are very often combined. For example, breast lift surgery is frequently combined with breast reduction or breast augmentation procedures.

Eighty percent of my clients are completely ordinary women. Often, the patient is a mother of two or three children who wants to restore the shape of breasts that have changed as a result of breastfeeding or repair abdominal muscles that have separated during pregnancy.

— Plastic Surgeon Riikka Veltheim, Kauneus & Terveys

Breast Reduction – what happens before the procedure?

During your initial consultation, we focus on your wishes and expectations and discuss any concerns or questions that are important to you. You will receive information about, among other things, how the surgery can improve the appearance of your breasts, how much the procedure costs, and when it would be possible to schedule the surgery.

In addition, you will complete a questionnaire covering your general health, any previous illnesses, and previous surgeries.

The consultation does not commit you to anything. However, if you wish, we can also schedule your surgery during the consultation. In some cases, we recommend that patients undergo a mammogram before breast surgery.

It is advisable to take good care of your physical fitness before surgery. We also recommend learning as much as possible about the procedure and the recovery process beforehand. This will help you be well prepared for the day of your surgery.

It is also a good idea to have at least one lymphatic treatment before surgery. Lymphatic treatment can help prevent swelling after the procedure.

Breast Reduction – what happens during the surgery?

On the day of surgery, you will meet plastic surgeon Riikka Veltheim. First, she will take photographs of the surgical area. You will also meet the anesthesiologist and be given a private room for the duration of the day. You will also be fitted for a supportive bra, which will be put on after the procedure. The purpose of the support bra is to provide support for the breasts and the surgical area during the weeks following the procedure.

The surgery itself takes approximately one to two hours and is performed under general anesthesia. The location of the incisions varies depending on whether the breasts are being reduced or lifted. An incision is made around the nipples in every breast surgery procedure. Usually, a second, T-shaped incision (the so-called anchor incision) is made below the nipple and extends down to the inframammary fold.

The incisions are usually closed with internal sutures, which dissolve naturally over time.

Breast Reduction – what happens after the surgery?

Immediately after surgery, you will rest in your room for 3–6 hours under observation. During this time, you will be given pain medication. You can take a shower the day after surgery.

After the procedure, you may experience some degree of pain. Minor changes in sensation and swelling are also possible. These symptoms usually subside within a few weeks after surgery. For bruising and other side effects, we recommend using Arnizen™ Cream Gel.

To help reduce swelling, we recommend effective lymphatic treatment, which is available to all our surgical patients at a very affordable price.

PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS:

Arnizen™ Cream Gel for treating bruising and swelling
Scarsilc Gel for scar care
Lamelat™ Serum for UV protection

Approximately one week after surgery, you will return to the clinic for your first follow-up appointment. If you have any sutures that need to be removed, they will usually be removed 14 days after the procedure.

The final results of the surgery will not be visible until at least six months after the procedure. However, you will notice a significant improvement in the appearance of your breasts as soon as the sutures have been removed. You can usually return to work after about one week, and you can generally resume physical exercise after 3–6 weeks. During the recovery period, gentle walks are recommended.

The scar area should not be stretched during the first three months. The scars should also be carefully protected from the sun, especially during the first six months.

The recovery process is different for every patient, so it is important to listen to your body and adjust your activities accordingly.

The outcome of the surgery is always individual, as everyone’s genetic characteristics are different. It is important to have realistic expectations regarding the results of the surgery. Your expectations and wishes should be discussed at the clinic well in advance of the procedure, for example during the consultation appointments.