Breast Reduction from DDD to B

Breast Reduction is not just a matter of breast size but rather a condition that affects your overall posture and health. I have been helping women like you obtain relief by performing this procedure with the assistance of our state-of-the-art technology and an experienced team of professionals.

Many all-natural treatments that claim to work wonders can be found with a simple online search. However, such approaches are unproven, may be a complete financial wash, and are guaranteed to fall short of expectations. Surgical breast reduction, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is the best long-term option for going from a size D to a size B (or smaller).

While many women would like bigger breasts, those with naturally large busts may want quite the opposite! Breast reduction surgery is becoming increasingly popular among individuals who struggle with breast-related discomfort and inconvenience.

A quick search online will highlight many natural remedies that promise dramatic results. However, these methods are not proven, can be a huge waste of money, and will leave you disappointed. If you’re wondering how to reduce your cup size from a D to B (or any smaller size), breast reduction surgery, or reduction mammoplasty, is the most effective long-term solution.

Breast Reduction Size Estimate

It’s important to note that each surgery is unique to the individual, so it is crucial that you talk through your options and unique situation with a trusted surgeon to ensure you have realistic expectations.

When to consider a breast reduction?

There’s no denying that large breasts can be uncomfortable and frustrating. Large breasted women (and men) can struggle to find supportive bras, swimwear, and clothing that suits their busty silhouette. If this sounds like you, then a breast reduction might be the answer, and is a proven way to help alleviate chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain, as well as any chafing issues related to larger breasts.

Not only will a breast reduction help remove physical symptoms and make bra shopping a breeze, but it can also improve posture, boost your self-confidence and help you achieve a more youthful, comfortable, and proportionate silhouette.

Reduction mammoplasty can genuinely be a life-changing procedure, helping finalize your weight loss journey, reclaim your body after having children, or simply make you feel more comfortable in your skin. With smaller breasts, you can relieve physical symptoms, sleep better and go about your day-to-day work and exercise without the hassle of an excessive bust.

What is involved in breast reduction surgery?

During a breast reduction, your surgeon will carefully remove excess tissue, fat, and skin to contour the breast to your preferred size and shape.

When performed at Burbank Plastic Surgery, your initial consultations will involve the use of Vectra 3D technology to help visualize and plan the potential outcome of your reduction mammoplasty. During this consultation, your doctor will also determine which surgical technique best suits your situation.

Option 1 – Vertical or Lollipop Approach

This option is ideal for those after a more moderate reduction and involves an incision around the areola and down the breast, similar to the shape of a lollipop.

Option 2 – Inverted T or Anchor Approach

If you are seeking a more excessive reduction, your surgeon will likely use the inverted T approach as it allows for the maximum degree of tissue removal and reshaping as the incision goes around the areola, down the breast, and underneath the breast fold.

After surgery, you will generally be able to return to work after ten days and resume exercise after six weeks. Initial recovery time is around one month; however, results will continue to improve over a year.

How small can you go with a breast reduction?

As mentioned above, every surgery is unique, and the level of reduction will be impacted by several factors, including:

● Breast composition

● Incision technique

● Body type and shape

● Amount of volume there is to lose

● Blood supply to the nipple

The ultimate goal is to ensure your new breast size compliments the contours and proportions of your body, while also providing a suitable reduction so that you can be rid of pain and discomfort. While your surgeon cannot promise an exact cup size, it is definitely possible to go from a D to a B cup with a breast reduction.

Minimum Size for Breast Reduction

For women with larger or heavy breasts, a breast reduction surgery is a welcome solution to chronic shoulder and back pain, skin irritation, and even the emotional effects of self-consciousness and low self-esteem. If you struggle with these issues or are simply unhappy with having large breasts, you may be considering a reduction mammaplasty but don’t know what kind of outcome you can expect. Our board-certified Raleigh plastic surgeon is providing an in-depth look at what you can expect during and after your breast reduction surgery.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery?

First, it’s important to determine if this procedure is right for you. Of course, you’ll have a one-on-one consultation with your plastic surgeon, to get personalized information, but some general guidelines include:

You’re physically healthy and have the right weight;
The size of your breasts limit physical activity;
You experience pain in your back, neck, and shoulders due to the size and weight of your breasts;
You have bra marks on your shoulders:
The skin under your breasts often becomes irritated or chafed;
You are self-conscious or unhappy with the size of your breasts;
You have realistic expectations for how surgery can affect you;

Choosing the Right Size

One of the questions we’re asked most frequently is what cup size a patient will be after the surgery. Choosing the final size is dependent on a combination of what the patient wants the outcome to be and the existing shape and size. Typically, most reductions bring the cup size down one to two sizes, though in cases of extremely large breasts, more drastic results may be achieved.

For example, a woman who is a DD but wants a reduction to reduce discomfort, especially during physical activity and exercise may be able to go down to a B-C cup. However, for a woman whose natural breast size is much larger, reducing the size by four or five cup sizes may not be feasible.

It’s also important to note that cup size is not an accurate measurement as it tends to vary from bra manufacturers. Most plastic surgeons go by centimeters, measuring from the base of the neck, called the sternal notch, to the nipple, then measure from the nipple to the bottom of the breast, called the inframammary fold. These measurements provide a much more accurate look at how much tissue to remove to get the best results for the patient.

Understanding Reduction Mammaplasty

During the procedure, a general anesthetic is typically administered, then incisions are made, usually in a circular pattern around the areola or an incision around the areola and then vertically down to the underside of the breast.

Tissue and excess fat is removed from the breast, and the underlying tissue remaining is repositioned and the remaining skin is tightened, similar to a breast lift. In some cases, liposuction is used to remove fat, and your plastic surgeon will discuss if this is right for you. Additionally, the nipple and areola may be moved to a higher position, depending on how much tissue is removed.

What to Expect After Breast Reduction Surgery

Following the procedure, you will see and feel an immediate difference, though the final results may not be visible for a few weeks to a few months following the procedure. It’s also important to follow your doctor’s recommendations after surgery, including taking a few days off work to recover, getting up and moving around, and avoiding strenuous activity for several weeks.

Some long-term effects, aside from the reduced breast size and reduction in pain and discomfort, are scarring and a decrease in nipple sensation. For the first few weeks, you’ll see that the incision wounds may be swollen and red, but over the next several months, you’ll see a drastic improvement, and often genetics plays a role in how scars heal. While the nipple area may be a bit numb for the immediate time after surgery, some sensation and feeling will return as you heal.

Why Wear Bra After Breast Reduction?

Post-surgery support garments, also known as compression garments, are worn post-operatively to help recovery after surgical procedures. They form an essential part of post-operative care following your breast surgery like breast reduction/lift, breast reconstruction, and breast augmentation surgeries.

The final result of your surgery is as dependent on closely following your surgeon’s instructions and using good compressive therapy as it is on the surgery itself. Aftercare counts!

Why should I wear compression Garments after breast surgery?

The use of a compression bra post-operatively following any breast surgery is a vital part of post-operative care; it accelerates your breast’s healing process and reduces pain and swelling associated with the procedure. In addition to these, the compression garment also helps in stabilizing implants following breast augmentation surgery. It also prevents excess sagging associated with breast reduction or implant removal surgeries.

What Are the Benefits of Using a Compression Garment Following Breast Surgery?

Swelling occurs post-operatively following breast surgery when too much fluid builds up in and around the breast tissue. The use of a compression garment can reduce this swelling by compressing your breast and surrounding structures.
Compression garments reduce the chances of bruising around your breasts. Any disruption to blood vessels during breast surgeries can lead to visible bruising. The use of compression garments considerably reduces the chances of bruising after surgery. It acts by compressing vessels around the breast and keeps the red cells from migrating towards the epidermis and resulting in a visible bruise.
Compression garments designed for breast promote circulation, decrease swelling around the breast tissue, and reduce the inflammatory process, resulting in less pain. It also acts directly by exerting adequate pressure in the breast and helps in reducing pain.
It helps to reduce post-operative sagging of skin following gynecomastia surgery.
Following removal of excess fat by liposuction in gynecomastia surgery, excess skin tissue is left behind; compression garments provide healthy support to your skin and hold them in place with the underlying breast structure, which reduces sagging of breast skin and helps accelerate your breast recovery.
Compression garments function as a physical barrier protecting your breast skin from infections. Compression garments also facilitate effective circulation and transfer of antimicrobial cells to the site of possible infection and help get rid of pathogens.
Plastic surgical procedures like Breast augmentation surgery with implants help add the desired size to your breast. The changes in size and shape after this surgery are maintained and kept in place with compression garments. Compression bras ensure that you retain the post-operative changes in your breast’s shape and size by keeping the implants in place.
Any plastic surgical procedure involves the risk of clot formations and migration, leading to devastating consequences like pulmonary embolism.
The use of compression garments squeezes your peripheral blood vessels and promotes circulation reducing the risks associated with poor circulation like clot formation and DVT.
Accumulation of excess scar tissues in the healed wound of your incision site can lead to keloid formation. Compression garments help in softening and breaking down keloids.
It provides maximum post-operative comfort in your implants.

Support Garment FAQs – Questions about Garments

How long do I need to wear a compression garment following breast augmentation surgery?

You will be advised to wear a compressive bra for two to three weeks post-operatively following breast implant placement. It should be worn 24/7 and removed only while taking a shower. It accelerates the recovery of your breasts following surgery and helps keep the implant in the correct position. It increases your comfort level in your enlarged breasts and makes the post-operative recovery period smooth.

What do compression garments do in breast surgery?

Compression garments help in the following ways:

Swelling occurs post-operatively following breast surgery when too much fluid builds up in and around the breast tissue. The use of a compression garment can reduce this swelling by compressing your breast and surrounding structures.
Compression garments reduce the chances of bruising around your breasts. Any disruption to blood vessels during breast surgeries can lead to visible bruising. The use of compression garments considerably reduces the chances of bruising after surgery. It acts by compressing vessels around the breast and keeps the red cells from migrating towards the epidermis, resulting in a visible bruise.
Compression garments designed for breast promote circulation, decrease swelling around the breast tissue, and reduce the inflammatory process, resulting in less pain. It also acts directly by exerting adequate pressure in the breast and helps in reducing pain.
It helps to reduce post-operative sagging of skin following gynecomastia surgery.
Following removal of excess fat by liposuction in gynecomastia surgery, excess skin tissue is left behind; compression garments provide healthy support to your skin and hold them in place with the underlying breast structure, which reduces sagging of breast skin and helps accelerate your breast recovery.
Compression garments function as a physical barrier protecting your breast skin from infections. Compression garments also facilitate effective circulation and transfer of antimicrobial cells to the site of possible infection and help eliminate pathogens.
Plastic surgical procedures like Breast augmentation surgery with implants help add the desired size to your breast. The changes in size and shape after this surgery are maintained and kept in place with compression garments. Compression bras ensure that you retain the post-operative changes in your breast’s shape and size by keeping the implants in place.
Any plastic surgical procedure involves the risk of clot formations and migration, leading to devastating consequences like pulmonary embolism.
The use of compression garments squeezes your peripheral blood vessels and promotes circulation reducing the risks associated with poor circulation like clot formation and DVT.
It provides maximum post-operative comfort in your implants.
Accumulation of excess scar tissues in the healed wound of your incision site can lead to keloid formation. Compression garments help in softening and breaking down keloids.

Post-Surgery Support Garments After Breast Surgery Dr Turner Sydney

What happens if you don’t wear compression garments after breast surgery?

If you do not wear a compression bra following breast implant placement or stop wearing it before your implant settles in a new shape and size, there is a high risk of your implants dislocating from their position.
Also, wound healing, reduction of swelling will take a longer time to complete resulting in pain and discomfort. As the procedure’s final results are not discernible until all swelling subsides, your results will show late.
In gynecomastia surgeries or explant surgeries, not wearing compression garments as advised may result in excess skin being left over and associated sagging of skin around your breasts.

What are Stage I and Stage II Support Garments for the breast?

Support Garments can help during both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of your recovery

Stage One Garments

Stage one garments help in the phase immediately following the surgery. These garments should be worn for two to four weeks after surgery. These garments allow for easy drainage of excess fluid from your breasts into the lymphatic system, thereby reducing swelling and bruising in your breasts. Post-operative compressive bras have front fastening, making them easy to open without extending your arms to remove them. Stage one garments need to be worn round the clock and taken out only while taking a shower.

Stage Two Garments

Stage two garments are worn when your body does not produce excess fluid as in the early recovery phase. Stage two garments provide support to the newly contoured breast size and shape. Stage two garments are comfortable compressive sports bras. Using sports bras without underwire makes recovery more comfortable. These help in longer-term recovery following surgery. You do not need to wear these garments throughout the day. Stage two garments can be used long term and provide similar compression to stage one garment. Also, these garments can be worn easily used as under clothing. These bras should be ideally worn till you completely recover.

How to Choose the Best Breast Surgery Support Garment

Breast Surgery will require you to wear a compression garment for two to three weeks or as recommended by your surgeon. Choosing a high-quality compression garment will aid in early and smooth post-operative recovery and alleviation of post-operative pain and swelling.

A high-quality compression garment is essential for early recovery and comfort following the surgery. Six other features to consider before getting compression garments for your breasts include:

Bras with Front closure: These bras are easier to adjust and remove with minimal breast movement, helping in early recovery.
Compressive bras with no underwire: Underwire in the bra can cause discomfort to your breasts—select bras with no underwire for maximum comfort during your recovery.
Compression garments with breathable materials provide you comfort by reducing sweating and maintaining proper ventilation in your breasts. In comparison, poor garment materials can lead to moisture buildup and infection.
Bras with an Adjustable strap make it easy to adjust your bra easily during the recovery phase.
Your bra should hold your implants in place without exerting excessive pressure on any one particular area. So it would help if you chose bras that exert adequate pressure yet are comfortable as they need to be worn round the clock.
Bras made of Materials with good antibacterial properties that prevent bacterial growth on your breasts and the offensive odor that accompanies it.

A comfortable and breathable bra of good quality that can be easily adjusted and supports your new breast shape and size can help you recover quicker following breast surgeries.

Are there any other ways to reduce breast swelling in addition to compression garments following surgery?

There are a few things you can do in addition to using compression garments to minimize excessive swelling and fluid collection occurring after breast surgery; few methods that can help are:

Applying cold compresses around your breast for a few days following surgery. Ice should not be applied directly to the skin; rather, it should be covered in cloth and applied for a few minutes intermittently throughout the first two post-operative days.
Raising your upper body at an angle of 30 degrees while sitting or reducing swelling caused by fluid retention by draining it towards the heart.
Avoiding salty foods: Salty foods hold water and cause water retention in the body, resulting in body swelling.
Avoiding the use of diuretics.

What happens if my compression bra is too tight?

The compression bras should be comfortable yet be able to exert adequate pressure to support your breasts and implants in position. It should not be too tight. Wearing too-tight compression garments causes more harm than good.

Wearing too tight compressive bras can jeopardize blood supply to your breasts, thus interfering with your breast recovery process following the surgery. It may result in discoloration and hyperpigmentation around your breasts.

Timeline for Wearing Post Breast Surgery Support Garments

First stage

Following a surgical procedure involving your breasts, your body sends excess blood to your breasts to promote their healing, which results in excess fluid being built up in surrounding tissues and causing them to swell. The fluid used during general anaesthesia may contribute to the swelling as well.

Stage one garments help in this phase immediately following the surgery. These garments should be worn for two to four weeks after surgery. It allows for easy drainage of excess fluid from your breasts into the lymphatic system, reducing swelling and bruising in your breasts. Post-operative compressive bras have front fastening, making them easy to open without having to extend your arms to remove them. Stage one garments need to be worn round the clock and taken out only while taking a shower.

The Second Stage

In the second stage of your recovery, when your body does not create as much fluid, stage two garments are worn. It provides support to the newly contoured breast size and shape. Stage two garments are comfortable compressive sports bras. Using sports bras without underwire makes recovery more comfortable.