Whether you are unhappy with the appearance of overly large breasts, or suffer from chronic neck, back, and shoulder discomfort, breast reduction surgery can help you look and feel your best.

Breast reduction surgery isn’t just about reducing your bust by a cup size or two. Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jonathan Fugo creates a breast appearance that is also elegant, balanced, and feminine. He will spend considerable time with you before surgery to understand the ideal breast aesthetic you would like to attain, and develop a customized plan to help you achieve your goal.

If you are considering breast reduction surgery, call Dr. Fugo Plastic Surgery & Laser Skin Care today at 845.565.7040 to schedule your initial consultation. We welcome patients from across the Hudson Valley region, NYC, and surrounding areas from our New Windsor, New York office.

What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction, or mammaplasty, is a surgical breast procedure very similar to a breast lift. While simultaneously lifting the breasts, volume can be artfully reduced to provide the desired, more proportional bust. During the procedure, excess skin, tissue, and fat are removed, and the nipples are resized and/or repositioned to compliment the smaller breasts.

More than just an aesthetic adjustment, breast reduction surgery can help patients improve their posture, health, and quality of life. Women who undergo breast reduction surgery report some of the highest patient satisfaction ratings of all plastic surgery procedures.

Reduction Mammaplasty is one of the most popular plastic surgery procedures in the country. If you desire to improve your overall breast appearance and simultaneously reduce the volume to a better proportions with your body, breast reduction may be an ideal solution.

Am I a Good Breast Reduction Candidate?

You may be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery, if:

• You are in generally good health
• You feel that your breasts are overly large and out of proportion with your body
• One breast is disproportionately larger than the other
• You have realistic expectations for your results

You are not a good candidate for breast reduction if you:

• Smoke
• Are obese
• Have an infection or severe illness
• Have a clotting disorder or a history of poor wound healing
• Are pregnant, breastfeeding, or recently stopped breastfeeding
• Have an abnormal mammogram or undiagnosed breast condition

The best way to find out if breast reduction surgery is right for you is to meet personally with Dr. Fugo in a confidential consultation at our office. He will conduct a thorough assessment and determine your candidacy for the procedure.

What Are the Aesthetic Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery?

If you live with overly large breasts, you are already aware of the physical, emotional, and social challenges you face every day. If your breasts are too large for your body, it can create a number of comfort issues, in addition to an unbalanced appearance.

While the health benefits of reduction mammaplasty are significant, the aesthetic benefits of the procedure should not be overlooked. These include:

• Breasts that are more proportionate with your figure
• Higher, firmer, more youthful-looking breasts
• Improved symmetry for asymmetrical breasts
• Reduction of large nipples and stretched areolas
• Expanded wardrobe options, and clothes that look, feel, and fit better
• Bras fit more attractively and comfortably
• A more elegant and balanced silhouette

Your Customized Breast Reduction Procedure

The techniques used in your breast reduction surgery depend on the size of your breasts and your unique goals. When excess fat is the cause of overly large breasts, Dr. Fugo may use liposuction to reduce the volume of your breasts. In some cases, surgical tissue excision is necessary for a significant reduction.

The nipples are typically repositioned, and some patients include a breast lift with their mammaplasty to remove stretched skin and optimize their results.

During your initial consultation with Dr. Fugo, he will take time to discuss your goals, answer your questions, and explain all of your breast reduction options. Together, you will design a customized procedure that is tailored just for you.

Can I Combine Breast Reduction Surgery With Other Procedures?

Breast reduction is often combined with a breast lift or a body contouring procedure. After reducing the volume of your breasts, Dr. Fugo can perform a breast lift to restore their shape, making them perky and shapely. In addition, if you want to have a liposuction procedure or other body contouring surgery, Dr. Fugo can perform it alongside your breast reduction, reducing your overall recovery time.

How Painful Is a Breast Reduction?

Most patients will feel soreness around their breasts during the first week of recovery. You will most likely feel a pulling sensation around your chest along with some discomfort from swelling. However, this pain begins to subside within a few days after the procedure, eventually feeling like acute muscle soreness. Dr. Fugo may recommend some pain medication for the first week or so if needed.

What Are the Common Risks Associated With a Breast Reduction?

Like other forms of surgery, breast reduction comes with some risks. This includes bleeding, infection, fat necrosis, breast asymmetry, changes in nipple sensation, excessive breast firmness, and contour irregularities. For this reason, you should only have your breast reduction performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Fugo.

Will I Have Scars After My Breast Reduction?

Scars are an inherent aspect of any surgery and an issue that a plastic surgeon takes very seriously. The incision patterns that are commonly used for breast reduction surgeries are fortunately very discreet. You will see them when you shower and dress. Your intimate partners may see your scars. But they will be hidden when you wear lingerie, a bra, or a bathing suit. Also, scars can fade very nicely over time. Within the first 8 weeks of recovery, you may see your incision scars go from red and slightly raised to light pink, flat lines. Once the incisions have fully healed, you may start a scar treatment program. This may include special creams or ointments, silicon sheets, or other modalities. To help scars fade, flatten, and soften naturally, avoid sun exposure to the incision area. If you remain diligent with sun protection and good skincare, your scars may be significantly resolved within a year after your procedure.

How Long Will the Results of My Breast Reduction Last?

The results of breast reduction surgery are considered to last indefinitely. However, the shape and appearance of the breasts will change over time due to the effects of aging. To sustain your breast reduction results as long as possible, your best strategy will be to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle that supports weight stability. If you gain more than about 15 pounds, the fat cells that make up the breast mounds may enlarge, increasing breast size. Likewise, if you were to lose a significant amount of weight after breast reduction, the appearance of your breasts is likely to change. In this instance, the breasts may become smaller and may look deflated.

How Much Can I Reduce My Breasts?

Patients who have lived with the discomfort of enlarged breasts often come into their consultation wanting to know how much tissue they can remove. We understand the frustration that comes with enlarged breasts. At the same time, we know that shifting to the other extreme can be traumatizing.

The first question that needs to be asked is how small a patient should go. Preferences aside, one of the considerations a surgeon will naturally make is the relationship between the breasts and the body. With the objective of breast reduction being to create naturally-beautiful proportions, the doctor will look at how to create a smaller size without disrupting the balance between the breasts and hips or shoulders. That said, preference is preference and we seek to meet the desired outcome of each of our patients. The second question that needs to be asked about how small a patient can go is how much tissue can be removed without interrupting blood supply to the nipple. Because blood supply comes through the breast mound, too much tissue removal could lead to loss of the nipple. While there are techniques that a surgeon may employ to minimize this risk, the general guideline for breast reduction is to go no farther than 3 cup sizes. A patient who is a DDD could safely reduce to a C cup.

Dr. Fugo develops a customized treatment plan for each patient. To discover how much you could reduce your breasts and still retain nipple sensation, a healthy nipple, and the ability to breastfeed if you so choose, schedule a consultation in which this question can be answered in a more detailed manner.

Will I Lose Weight After My Breast Reduction?

Many patients do notice that the scale reflects slight weight loss after breast reduction. This is nothing to write home about. However, another interesting thing happens with many breast reduction patients. Without the discomfort of overly-large breasts pulling on the back, shoulders, and neck, breast reduction patients may exercise much more regularly than they did previously. Not only is exercise more comfortable, but it can feel much more rewarding due to the newly proportioned appearance of the body. With this change, we’ve seen patients lose ten to twenty pounds as a result of their new active lifestyle after breast reduction.

Another interesting aspect of breast reduction and weight is the appearance of weight. When a woman has very large breasts, she looks heavier than she is. She may wear clothing that doesn’t showcase her true shape and, even if her curves were visible, the disproportionate size of the breasts tends to overpower them. Bringing the breasts into proportion with the body frame as a whole can make it appear as though the patient has lost about twenty pounds when they really haven’t lost more than a few pounds of breast tissue.

Will the Results of My Breast Reduction Look Natural?

Yes. After breast reduction surgery, the breasts may look even more natural, and definitely more beautiful, than they did when they were out of proportion with the rest of the body. When performing breast procedures of any kind, the doctor is respectful of size as it relates to the body as a whole. Just like overly-large breasts create imbalance, so do breasts that are too small. When shaped and sized in relation to height and shoulder width, the reduced breasts look gorgeously natural.

How to Prepare for My Breast Reduction Surgery

There are several ways you can prepare for your breast reduction surgery. Here are some ways you can ensure a smooth process:

• Ask someone to be your caregiver. Since breast reduction requires general anesthesia, you won’t be able to drive home after your surgery. Ask a friend or family member to take you home on the day of your procedure and monitor you for a day or two.
• Set up a recovery area in your home. You will need to rest as much as possible during the first week of recovery. Make a comfortable space in your home to relax, such as the bed or couch, and make sure all of your essentials are within reach. This includes water, snacks, medications, your phone, and entertainment.
• Make some meals you can reheat easily. During recovery, you likely won’t want to get up and cook every time you need to eat. Prep some nutritious meals to last you at least a week after your surgery. Make sure to include plenty of vegetables and lean protein to help your body heal properly.
• Quit smoking if applicable. Nicotine can negatively affect the body’s natural healing processes, increasing the risk of complications during and after surgery. If you smoke or use tobacco, quit using it for several weeks before and after your procedure.

These are just a few ways you can prepare for your breast reduction surgery. Before your procedure, Dr. Fugo will give you detailed instructions for both preparation and recovery.

Breast Reduction Recovery

You’ll want to take about 4-5 days off from work following your breast reduction. You will gradually be able to resume unrestricted activity over 6 weeks. You’ll need to limit your exercise routine for approximately 10 days.

Dr. Fugo will provide you with detailed pre and post-operative instructions prior to your procedure. He will monitor your recovery and explain when you can begin to incorporate more strenuous activities like running, swimming, and heavy lifting into your daily routine.

What to Expect From Your Initial Consultation

At your initial consultation, Dr. Fugo will go over your medical history and your reasons for seeking surgery. He will evaluate your over physical health to check for any risk factors and conduct a physical exam of your breasts. From there, he will discuss your breast reduction options, likely outcomes, and any potential complications.

Schedule Your Free Breast Reduction Consultation Today

To learn more about breast reduction surgery, contact Dr. Fugo Plastic Surgery & Laser Skin Care today online or at 845.565.7040 to schedule your initial consultation. Our office in New Windsor, New York serves patients throughout the Hudson Valley region, NYC, and other nearby areas.