Dense breasts can be a source of discomfort and embarrassment, but they’re also common. If you have dense breasts, you may have noticed that they feel more dense than other people’s breasts, but there are many other signs besides feeling that can tip you off to the fact that you have dense breasts.
Dense breasts contain more glandular tissue than fatty tissue, which means they’re more likely to get lumpy or feel lumpy during a mammogram or other breast exam. This is because the glandular tissue is often more dense than fatty tissue in women with dense breasts, so it shows up better on X-rays. In this post we”ll answer question common problems after breast reduction surgery and i regret my breast reduction
Breast Reduction Surgery For Dense Breasts
Will Breast Density Limit My Plastic Surgery Options?
The last time you got your mammogram results, did you notice a little note about your breast density? If you are like 40 percent of women, it might have said something like, “Your breasts are heterogeneously dense, which may obscure small masses and may put you at greater risk of developing breast cancer in the future.” Though this may sound a bit scary, it’s actually a normal reading.
Normal breast density exists on a spectrum from not dense at all to extremely dense. Knowing this information is important; it helps women and their doctors decide which breast screening methods are best, and how often they should get them. According to the American Cancer Society, whether a woman has dense breasts or not, regular screenings (mammograms in particular) are still the best way to find cancer early.
Because of the relationship between breast density and cancer risk, it is now the law in many states that breast density information be conveyed to each woman who has a mammogram. You may have seen talk of this newer legislation on the news.
What this means is that more women than ever before know that breast density matters, and many can tell you just how dense their own breasts are. Knowing this has also left some women wondering if their breast density will affect their options when it comes to cosmetic breast surgery.
To help answer this question, it will help if we first explain what doctors mean when they talk about breast density.
Breast density is a radiologic (mammogram) finding that has nothing to do with how breasts look or feel from the outside. The classification of density has to do with the ratio of fat (not a dense tissue) to everything else that makes up the breast, including glandular and fibrous tissue. On a mammogram, the fat shows up dark and the other stuff shows up white. The more white seen on a mammogram, the more dense the breast classification. The breast density classifications that may be assigned are – from least dense to most dense – the following:
- Fatty
- Scattered Fibroglandular
- Heterogeneously Dense
- Extremely Dense
Only about 10 percent of women are categorized as having extremely dense breast tissue. You can learn more about these breast density types, and see images too, at the American Cancer Society.
Here at North Texas Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dr. Slack performs a wide range of cosmetic breast procedures including breast implants, liposuction, breast lifts, and breast reductions. In some cases, he may perform a combination of one or more of these procedures, depending on the goals of the patient. Here is how breast density may come into play with each of these procedures:
Augmentation
Breast implants are placed underneath the breast tissue not within in. This means that the breast tissue itself, no matter how dense, sits on top of the implant and therefore has little bearing on whether a breast implant is possible.
Liposuction
Liposuction alone is sometimes an option for women who are looking for a mild reduction in breast size. It is possible that a woman with extremely dense breasts, which means they have a lower ratio of fat to other tissue, may have a limit as to how much fat can be successfully removed using this method.
Breast Reduction or Lift
A breast reduction or lift sometimes includes liposuction, and the limitation just mentioned may come in to play to some degree. However, because these procedures also include an open surgical component, the goal of the reduction usually isn’t limited by breast density.
Here is the big takeaway: None of these procedures are off limits to a woman simply because she has higher breast density.
There are many factors that will limit a person’s plastic surgery options, including poor health, weight instability, and a bad smoking habit, but breast density usually isn’t one of them. That said, every person who walks into our clinic has their own unique anatomical identity, and that includes breast density. Dr. Slack takes all of this (and more) into consideration when advising each patient and planning their surgery.
Overview
Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, is a procedure used to remove excess fat, tissue and skin from the breasts. If you have large breasts, you might choose to have breast reduction surgery to ease discomfort or to achieve a breast size proportionate to your body.
Breast reduction surgery might also help improve your self-image and your ability to participate in physical activities.
If you’re considering breast reduction surgery, consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. It’s important to understand what breast reduction surgery entails — including possible risks and complications — as well as set realistic expectations.
Why it’s done
Breast reduction surgery is meant for women who have large breasts and want to resolve issues such as:
- Chronic back, neck and shoulder pain that requires pain medications
- Chronic rash or skin irritation under the breasts
- Nerve pain
- Restricted activity
- Poor self-image related to large breasts
- Difficulty fitting into bras and clothing
Breast reduction surgery generally isn’t recommended if you:
- Smoke
- Have certain conditions such as diabetes or heart problems
- Are very obese
- Want to avoid scars on your breasts
You can have breast reduction surgery at any age — sometimes even as a teenager. But if your breasts aren’t yet fully developed, you might need a second surgery later in life.
You might postpone breast reduction surgery if you have certain future plans, such as:
- Childbirth. If you haven’t started a family or your family isn’t yet complete, you might wait until pregnancy isn’t an issue. Breast-feeding might be challenging after breast reduction surgery — although certain surgical techniques can help preserve your ability to breast-feed.
- Weight loss. If you are interested in losing weight by changing your diet and starting an exercise program, you might wait to decide if reduction mammoplasty is for you. Losing weight can often result in changes to your breast size.
Risks
Breast reduction surgery has the same risks as any other type of major surgery — bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to the anesthesia. Other possible risks include:
- Bruising, which is usually temporary
- Scarring
- Removal of or loss of sensation in the nipples and skin surrounding the nipples (areolae)
- Difficulty or inability to breast-feed
- Differences in the size, shape and symmetry of the surgically altered left and right breasts, which might lead to further surgery to improve your appearance
How you prepare
Your plastic surgeon will likely:
- Evaluate your medical history and overall health
- Discuss your expectations for breast size and appearance after the surgery
- Provide a detailed description of the procedure and its risks and benefits, including likely scarring and possible loss of sensation
- Examine and measure your breasts
- Take photographs of your breasts for your medical record
- Explain the type of anesthesia used during surgery
Before breast reduction surgery, you might also be asked to:
- Complete various lab tests
- Get a baseline mammogram
- Stop smoking for a certain period of time before and after surgery
- Avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, to control bleeding during surgery
Ask your surgeon whether you’ll be able to go home the day of the surgery or whether you’ll need to spend a night in the hospital. Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery or when you leave the hospital.
What you can expect
Breast reduction surgery is usually done under general anesthesia, either in a hospital or outpatient surgical facility.
During the procedure
The specific technique used to reduce the size of your breasts can vary. The procedure might include:
- Surgery through incisions
- Liposuction to remove the excess fat in your breasts
The surgeon usually:
- Makes an incision around the areola and down each breast
- Removes excess breast tissue, fat and skin to reduce the size of each breast
- Reshapes the breast and repositions the nipple and areola
The nipple and areola:
- Usually remain attached to the breast
- Might need to be removed and then reattached at a higher position as a skin graft if your breasts are very large
Your surgeon will try to achieve symmetry between your breasts, but some variation in breast size and shape might occur. The size of the areola also might be reduced. Your incision scars might fade over time but will never completely disappear.
After the procedure
Immediately after surgery:
- Your breasts will be covered with a gauze dressing or bandages
- A tube might be placed under each arm to drain any excess blood or fluid
- You likely will take medication for pain and antibiotics, to decrease your risk of infection
For the first days or week after surgery:
- Your breasts will probably feel tender and sensitive
- Your breasts might be swollen and bruised
- Your surgeon might recommend an elastic compression bra to protect the breasts
After that:
- You’ll need to limit physical activity for two to four weeks while the breasts heal
- Your surgeon might suggest avoiding underwire bras for a few months after surgery
Scarring usually fades over time. You will need a follow-up visit with your surgeon to remove stitches and check your recovery.
Results
Incisions made for breast reduction surgeryOpen pop-up dialog box
Successful breast reduction surgery can relieve pain in your upper back, neck and shoulders. It might also increase your ability to participate in physical activities and promote a more positive self-image.
Although you’ll see results immediately, remember that it can take months for the swelling to completely go down and the surgical scars to fade. The final result is generally permanent — although breast shape and size can change due to factors such as aging and weight gain or loss.
Common Problems After Breast Reduction Surgery
Surgery is still a form of trauma, regardless of whether or not it is medically necessary.
It is common for people to feel tired after surgery, even when it was relatively simple.
In general, the following are thought to contribute to postoperative fatigue:
diet and exercise ineffectiveness in raising heart rate
hormonal disruption the time required for recovery
A month is a common time frame for it to persist after surgery.
However, it can be accelerated by:
raising one’s water consumption, eating nutritionally dense food, reducing or eliminating caffeine consumption,
quitting drugs and alcohol when told to do so by medical staff Taking things slowly
I Regret My Breast Reduction
When the size and weight of their breasts begin to cause them back pain, many women begin to consider breast reduction. Women with larger breasts may experience difficulties in a variety of daily activities, including running, lying on their bellies, and even putting on certain types of tops. Breast size can increase for a variety of reasons, including genetics, breastfeeding, or weight gain. Women of all ages can benefit from breast reduction surgery, but it is especially common among middle-aged women whose breasts have gotten larger due to pregnancy or simply the natural aging process.
Culture continually shifts its standards for what constitutes a “ideal” body type. After a brief period of time, having a curvy body with large breasts is the ideal. Regarding matters of a more private nature, we all experience cycles of highs and lows when it comes to liking and feeling good about our bodies. It’s human nature to spend too much time analyzing our appearance when we catch a glimpse of ourselves in the mirror. Sometimes we come to terms with physical characteristics we previously rejected. Altering our bodies through dieting and exercise or altering our hair color gives us a sense of control over how we look at any given time. However, if we want to alter our breast size or shape, we usually need to resort to surgery. Getting a breast reduction is a big, life-altering decision that should not be made lightly.
Dr. Liland will stress the significance of the choice to have breast surgery of any kind during the consultation. Then, rather than acting on impulse, the choice will be informed by all the information available. We are fallible beings, and sometimes we change our minds and miss our old selves despite having a fantastic idea of what life will be like with our changed body before surgery. Always there for his patients, Dr. Liland explains all their choices and gives them his full backing as they embark on a new chapter of their lives.
Dr. Liland knows that it’s normal for patients’ emotions to fluctuate and that their treatment outcomes may not always pan out as planned. Aging, weight loss, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or other hormonal factors may cause the breasts to sag and lose their shape after a reduction, prompting patients to seek cosmetic surgery to restore their natural appearance.