Due to genetics and other factors, some women develop heavier and larger breasts than most. Full bust lines are part of the prevailing body image in American culture, but these women prefer having a more active life to an overly voluptuous figure. Whether you suffer from back pain and limited activity or your body has just succumbed to gravity, breast reduction surgery offers you a solution.

Breast reductions, like enlargements, are considered cosmetic procedures. In order to qualify as a medical necessity, you must suffer from physical distress and limited activity because of your bust size. These problems must be documented, and most insurance companies require that a set amount of tissue needs to be removed in order to qualify as a necessary procedure. If your insurance company denies your claim, there are plastic surgeons in private practice that will provide reduction services for a fee.

The procedure of a breast reduction is straight forward. The surgeon makes an incision that runs from the areola (the area around the nipple) down to the inframammary fold (the fold of skin where the breast meets the chest) to remove excess fat and tissue. A breast lift is automatically done during this surgery to relieve you of extra skin, and the areola and nipple are repositioned for a more aesthetic appearance. The doctor may also alter areolas and nipples that the patient feels are unattractive.

Scarring will occur at the incision site, but over time, your scars will fade. Scarring runs vertically from the areola to the inframammary fold, along the inframammary crease and around the areola. Many patients see the scars as a minor exchange for the comfort of reducing their bust size.

The procedure takes three and a half to four and a half hours, and you are put to sleep with a general anesthetic. Recovery time depends on the size of your breasts and the amount of material removed. Some patients return home the same day of the surgery, while those who required more work stay overnight. Generally, you may return to work two weeks after the surgery, unless the surgeon has concerns about the type of job you have.

Since this operation is simply a removal of tissue, long term and side effects are limited. You may experience changes in nipple sensation, fluid retention or delayed healing. Though the surgeon performs a lift during the surgery, there is no way to prevent future drooping due to gravity, and you may elect to repeat the procedure at a later time.

Whatever your reason for seeking breast reduction surgery, the procedure is safer and quicker than augmentation surgeries. There are no implants to concern you, and the recovery period is shorter. The amount of pain after the procedure is significantly lower.

You should discuss your goals and needs with your surgeon to get the best results from your reduction procedure.