Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty) in Santa Barbara, CA
Breast reduction surgery, also known as a reduction mammoplasty, can help women by reducing the size of excessively large breasts, improving their proportion, correcting any asymmetries, and lifting them to a youthful position. Whether it is time, genetics, gravity, pregnancy, nursing, weight-gain, or some combination of these factors that has taken a toll on your breasts, a breast reduction surgery performed by a skilled plastic surgeon can create smaller, firmer breasts that look natural and feel great.
Whatever your reasons and ultimate goals for your breasts, Dr. Sara Yegiyants can help. She is a triple board-certified plastic surgeon with an early academic career in art prior to her study of medicine and surgery. She has helped hundreds of women feel great about their bodies, especially their breasts. Our boutique plastic surgery practice serves Santa Barbara and surrounding areas. We have extensive experience in enhancing our patients’ appearances and helping them feel good about their bodies.
The Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery
There are many reasons why patients would like to have a breast reduction. For some women, the large size of their breasts can create chronic shoulder, neck, or back pain and they are seeking relief from this discomfort. The removal of excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin can create lighter, smaller, and firmer breasts. Many women feel as though their breasts are disproportionate with the rest of their body; a breast reduction offers these women the chance to feel more proportional and balanced.
Often women with large breasts have difficulty in finding comfortable bras or swimwear, and a breast reduction can enhance the comfort and fit of all of their clothes. The size and shape of the areolas and nipples can also be addressed during the reduction mammoplasty surgery. Finally, some women experience asymmetry in their breasts, and Dr. Yegiyants can correct this during the breast reduction surgery. In general, women who have had a reduction mammoplasty performed by Dr. Yegiyants experience enhanced confidence from having more firm, lifted, and proportionate breasts.
What Will My Consultation Be Like?
In our boutique practice, you will meet with Dr. Yegiyants personally when you come in for your consultation. We encourage our patients who are interested in breast reduction surgery to bring in images that can help us to understand their aesthetic goals. Dr. Yegiyants has advanced training in arts and aesthetics, and she will draw upon this background to study the natural shape of your chest, shoulders, and breasts. She will also take the time necessary to make sure she fully understands what you want for yourself. Each consult is a personal and individualized experience – we strive to make sure we know your goals while providing the best possible care and service!
Are There Different Types of Breast Reduction Surgery?
There are multiple approaches to the breast reduction surgery, and Dr. Yegiyants will determine the right fit for you based on the size and position of your breasts, as well as your ultimate goals; after consultation, she will recommend the approach that most complements the natural architecture of your body to achieve the look that you want.
Some women are able to have their breasts adequately reduced with liposuction alone. This approach to breast reduction is the least invasive and requires little recovery time. Additionally, the scars produced through liposuction breast reduction are minimal. This is a good option for patients with high skin elasticity who need only slight reduction in the fatty tissue of their breasts.
Many patients require a more substantial approach to breast reduction that includes removal of breast tissue and skin. Advances in breast reduction surgery have made it possible to minimize incisions and keep the nipple sensation intact. There are a number of decisions to be made regarding placement of the incisions and where the “pedicle” will be. The pedicle is the tissue that contains the blood supply and the nervous system connection to the areola and nipple; it can come from the upper part of the breast (superior pedicle), middle of the breast (medial pedicle), or side part of the breast (lateral pedicle). Your surgeon will choose which pedicle to use based on your starting point and ultimate goals. When appropriate, Dr. Yegiyants prefers to use the superomedial pedicle with vertical scar approach, as it allows for greater sculpting of the breast tissue leading to long-lasting, aesthetically superior results compared to older techniques. In fact, she has published her work on this particular approach to breast reduction in the leading journal of plastic surgery, winning the award for “Best Breast Paper.”
The incisions for breast reduction surgery may be in a “lollipop” shape (around the areola and vertically from the areola to the crease under the breast) or in an “anchor” shape (around the areola, vertically from the areola to the crease under the breast, and along the crease under the breast).
For all cosmetic procedures, Dr. Yegiyants places incisions to minimize scarring. Additionally, scars fade substantially over time, and those produced by breast reduction procedures are easily hidden under clothing and even bathing suits, as they are limited to the lower part of the breasts.
Schedule a Consultation
Ready to take the next steps towards booking a procedure? Schedule your consultation today to begin your aesthetic journey with Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS.
What Can I Expect During Recovery and Beyond?
After surgery, you will have a special bra in place to protect and support your breasts and minimize post-surgical swelling. Dr. Yegiyants doesn’t use drains for breast reduction surgery. You will be able to go home on the same day as your procedure and should expect to rest for the first several days following surgery.
For at least the first day or two, you will need someone with you. As it is common to experience soreness for a few days following the procedure, Dr. Yegiyants will prescribe pain medication to enhance your comfort. It is important that you follow all post-operative instructions to maximize your healing and promote the best possible outcome.
You may be able to drive and return to work after a week or so if you have an office-type job and are no longer needing prescription pain medication. Your activity will still be limited and you should not plan on doing any exercise other than walking for several weeks while your body is healing. You will notice immediate results from your surgery, but it may take weeks or even months for your swelling to subside and your breasts to fully heal. Over time, the appearance of surgical scars will also fade.
If I Have Breast Reduction Surgery, Will I Still Be Able to Breastfeed?
It is possible to breastfeed after a breast reduction surgery, but there are many factors that play a role in your ability to nurse after the procedure. Dr. Yegiyants performs reduction mammoplasty in a manner that preserves as much lactation function as possible, especially for women who intend to have children. If you are concerned about your ability to breastfeed in the future, it is important to discuss this during your consultation with Dr. Yegiyants. There are many resources available to all women interested in breastfeeding their newborns, and even some geared specifically for women who’ve had a breast reduction.