Breast Reduction in Houston, TX

Who is a Candidate for Breast Reduction?

A good candidate for breast reduction will be ready to deal with their oversized breasts once and for all. If you want to be considered eligible, your breasts should be fully developed. If they continue to develop after this procedure, it could undo the results. You should also be in good health. Plastic surgery can be a lot for the body to go through, so being able to heal properly is essential. Your breasts do not need to be excessively large to get a breast reduction. It can be done for purely elective cosmetic reasons. However, you should have realistic expectations about what a breast reduction can do for you.

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get a Breast Reduction?

To be eligible for a breast reduction, age matters less than whether or not your breasts are fully developed. Once they are fully developed, you may undergo a breast reduction regardless of your age.

How to Prepare for Breast Reduction Surgery:

Preparing for breast reduction is an important part of the process. With proper preparation, you can do your part in ensuring that your surgery goes smoothly and your recovery is comfortable. We will give you detailed instructions on the medications you should avoid, and prescribe anything that might help prepare your body for surgery. Keeping up with a healthy diet and exercise regime, as well as staying hydrated will help as well.

You should prepare your home for recovery. Make sure you have the food and entertainment you will need while you rest and recover. Place everything within reach to avoid strenuous movements that could agitate your incisions. Don’t forget to arrange for a trusted friend to drive you home from our facility after your surgery.

How is the Breast Reduction Procedure Performed?

We typically perform breast reduction surgeries on an outpatient basis. We administer general anesthesia to our patients in order to avoid discomfort during surgery. The procedure normally takes one to two hours to complete.

On the day of your surgery, when you have been properly anesthetized, Dr. Kronowitz will begin by making the incisions on your breasts. There are a few different incision techniques for breast reduction surgeries:

• The donut incision: around the areola for minimal reduction and minimal visible scarring
• The lollipop incision: around the areola and one vertically below the nipple for sagging and moderate reduction
• The anchor incision: around the areola, vertically below the nipple and horizontally at the bottom of the breast for maximum sagging and maximum reduction

Each of these incisions is tailored to accommodate different levels of reduction. If a more complicated incision is necessary to achieve certain results, it will leave more visible scarring. This is an issue that you will have discussed with Dr. Kronowitz beforehand.

Through the incisions, he will remove the excess skin, tissue and fat necessary to reduce and reshape your breasts. This may involve liposuction, a process that involves breaking up and sucking fat from the body using a thin tube called a cannula. When he removes all of the excess tissue, he will be able to resize the breast and reshape it to sit higher on the chest for a more perky look. He may also reshape and relocate the nipples and areola in order to sit naturally and beautifully on the breast.

How Long Does Breast Reduction Surgery Take to Complete?

Breast reduction surgery typically takes from one to two hours to complete. It is usually performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day as your treatment.

What is the Recovery Like for Breast Reduction Surgery?

Recovering from breast reduction surgery requires significant amounts of rest and downtime. Most patients return to work after three weeks of resting at home. You should avoid strenuous activity and exercise for at least six weeks, though light walks around the house can help to keep the blood flowing. Your arms will have a limited range of motion because of the treatment area location, so make sure to prepare your home for recovery by keeping everything within reach.

We will provide you with specific instructions for recovery. These may include changes to your medicine intake, including prescriptions to help you deal with discomfort as you heal. We will also let you know how to take care of your incisions, and what to watch out for in terms of infection or other complications. Your treatment area will likely swell for several weeks to months after your surgery. You may experience some numbness or increased sensitivity- this typically resolves within a year.

Can I Breastfeed After Receiving a Breast Reduction?

There is a possibility that the milk ducts will be affected by the surgery, affecting your ability to breastfeed. Pregnancy can also change the size and shape of the breasts, which would affect the results of this procedure.

How Soon Will I See My Results from Breast Reduction Surgery?

You will be able to see the profound aesthetic differences immediately after your procedure. Your breasts will be lighter, smaller, and easier to manage overall. However, the precise appearance of your new and improved breasts will be obscured by swelling for several months. Your results will be long-lasting, though this treatment does not stop the effects of aging. Your skin will eventually weaken further and your breasts may begin to sag. If you can maintain a steady weight, your breasts should not grow to be too large again. A healthy diet and regular exercise will help you to uphold the shapely results of your breast reduction.