Breast Reduction Mammaplasty: Advanced Art of Cosmetic Surgery

Advanced Art of Cosmetic Surgery Thomas M. DeWire, Sr., MD, FACS Specializing in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Richmond, Virginia, USA


	Non-Implant Breast Procedures
	*Breast Reduction or Reduction Mammaplasty*

Breast Reduction or Reduction Mammaplasty:
	Breast Reduction, although actually a reconstructive surgical procedure, is used to correct marked breast enlargement, out of proportion to body size, and causing significant back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as a tendency to rashes and yeast infections in the folds under the breasts. The cause varies but is generally associated with genetic pre-disposition, hormone fluctuation (e.g. puberty, pregnancy, or menopause), or marked weight variation. Breast Reduction is a surgical method of size reduction of the breasts, relieving the weight burden, and usually producing an improvement in breast shape. Mastopexy or Breast Lift is a similar but distinct technique, designed to cosmetically restore a youthful breast shape and tissue firmness, but not remove any breast tissue. Insurance has traditionally covered the cost of Reduction Mammaplasty surgery (but not cosmetic Mastopexy), however, many HMO's and similar discount insurance schemes have found it convenient to deny this service by falsely labeling it "cosmetic surgery". Be aware that if you are trapped in one of these limited service insurance plans you have the legal and contractual right to appeal denials of necessary Reconstructive Plastic Surgery services. Every state has an Insurance Commission which oversees operations of such insurance schemes, and they are usually responsive to consumer healthcare complaints. Pre- and post-operative photos of several representative patients are displayed below.

An information sheet concerning breast reduction is found here: Breast Reduction Data Sheet

Photos Before and After Surgery:

Case 1: A 23 year old woman with large breasts out of proportion to her 125 pounds underwent Breast Reduction to correct the disproportion.			Before and after photos of Breast Reduction are shown with a one year result. Note the deep shoulder grooves due over-sized bras. Also note how minimal the scars appear at this point. Relief of back, neck , and shoulder pain was complete, and virtually immediate.
			Side views of the same Reduction Mammaplasty result. Scars are located beneath the breast around the nipple/areola, and down the front of the breast in the shadows.

Case 2: An otherwise healthy 24 year old female with very large breasts was seen for Breast Reduction surgery.

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Photos before and 2 mos. after surgery are shown, at which time she is completely healed, and has achieved total relief of back, neck and shoulder pain that was solely related to her breast size. Significant breast asymmetry was corrected at the time of surgery as well. Scars will fade with time.

Case 3: A 35 year old professional woman with very large breasts causing back, neck, and shoulder pain, rashes beneath the breasts, and neck muscle tension headaches.			Photos before and three months after Breast Reduction Her symptoms were promptly relieved by this outpatient surgery.
			Side views before and after surgery. She returned to work at 10 days post-op.