Breast Reduction

Any advice on maintaining my new look?

Follow our advice on what type of bra to wear after surgery. This will help your breasts to maintain their new shape, and avoids putting pressure on recent incisions, as not to stress healing tissue. Proper support with a great bra is essential for maintaining the longevity of your results.

When should I re-start my monthly breast self-exams?

Your breasts will feel a bit unnatural for the first 6 weeks due to swelling. You will begin massaging after the first week and this will help you become familiar with the look and feel of your new breasts. You should resume your monthly BSE (breast self-exams) 6-8 weeks after surgery. A few minutes each month can affect the rest of your life.

How will pregnancy and/or breast-feeding affect my results?

Future pregnancy could affect your breast reduction results. If you become pregnant, your breasts will grow and go through all of the usual changes associated with childbearing and breastfeeding. The amount of enlargement will vary from woman to woman. Your breast reduction may need to be revised or redone if your breast volume increases significantly or if you have recurrent sagging.

Should I wait and have my breast reduction after I am finished having children?

The positive physical and psychological impact of breast reduction surgery is life altering, and many pediatricians refer 16-17 year old girls for reduction due to the stress that excessively large breasts place on their necks and backs. Be sure to let us know if you anticipate having children and if you have a time frame. Together we will determine the optimal timing for your breast reduction.

How long will my breast reduction results last?

Obviously, genetics play a major role in the quality of your skin, but your results can last for decades, as long as weight and proper support is maintained.

Why do i need to come in on an annual basis?

It is important to follow up on the first anniversary of your breast reduction and every year after if possible, even if you have no concerns. It’s important to us to maintain an ongoing relationship with you.

What are the risks of breast reduction surgery?

Risks and uncertainties are inherent with any surgery. This is why it is important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon that has knowledge and experience in managing any complication with the highest level of care. Breast reduction is a very safe operation, and complications occur infrequently. Infection, loss of sensation, scarring, delayed wound-healing, hematoma or accumulation of blood, asymmetry or loss of the nipple can occur. It is important that you give us a complete medical history during your initial consultation and follow all post-op instructions. This will minimize your chances of experiencing a complication. Infection is prevented through the use of antibiotics during and after surgery. Hematomas are avoided by discontinuing the use of any medications that can affect bleeding like Aspirin, Advil or Ibuprofen for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery and by having you limit your physical activity after surgery.

What is the risk for decreased or lack of nipple sensation after surgery?

Changes in sensitivity to the breasts and/or nipples can occur after surgery. In most cases, this is transient and improves with time. In about 5% of cases, the changes are permanent.

Will I be able to breastfeed in the future?

It’s possible to experience difficulty breast-feeding after breast reduction, and you should assume you will not be able to breastfeed after a reduction. The surgery may interrupt or disturb the milk ducts that lead milk from the glandular tissue of the breasts to the nipples. The more tissue that needs to be removed, the less likely you will be able to breast-feed.

You will wake up after surgery wearing a soft bra. You can expect to be sore and stiff for several days. Drains will NOT be used. You will have three prescriptions to minimize your discomfort; a pain medication, a muscle relaxer and an anti-inflammatory. You will need to take it easy for several days to optimize your recovery and allow yourself time to heal. You can go back to work within 5-7 days, and your results will continue to settle for the first 6 weeks. Patience is a must, as it takes time for your tissues to adjust to your new breast shape and size. Diminished sensation of your breast skin and/or nipple may also occur during this time and is normal. You will not be able to drive as long as you are on pain medication or muscle relaxers, and you can’t perform any heavy lifting or vigorous exercise in the first few weeks following surgery.

How long will the discomfort last?

Most patients use the narcotic pain medication for the first 3 days after surgery. The soreness usually lasts for a week.

What kind of medication will I have to take after surgery?

You will be given 5 prescriptions at your pre-operative appointment; an antibiotic that you are required to take to prevent infection, an anti-nausea medicine if needed, a narcotic medication for pain, a muscle relaxer and Celebrex, a strong anti-inflammatory or NSAID medication. Celebrex is the only NSAID that can be used after surgery because it is the only one in its class that does not interfere with platelet function or increase your risk of bleeding. If you are prone to vaginal yeast infections while on antibiotics, please let us know so that we may prescribe oral Diflucan to prevent this. Also, please remember that some of these medications may interfere with the efficacy of oral contraceptive pills, so you must use another method of birth control during this time.

Are there any other medication or vitamins I should take or avoid after surgery?

The narcotic pain medication can cause constipation, so we recommend that you start Colace, an over the counter stool softener, when you start taking the pain medication. During your pre-op appointment, we will tell you what medications to avoid before surgery and you will want to avoid them for 2 weeks after surgery. We will recommend vitamins and supplements, which will help to minimize bruising and swelling.

How soon can I shower after surgery?

You will be able to remove your dressings and shower 48 hours after surgery. Steristrips directly on your skin incisions will remain in place until your first post-operative appointment.

When is it safe to soak my incisions in water – take a bath, go swimming, sit in a hot tub?

Do not submerge your incisions in water for 3 weeks after surgery.

When can I begin exercising after breast reduction?

You should refrain from any strenuous activity or heavy lifting for 3 weeks following surgery. You may return to light exercise around 3 weeks after surgery depending on your progress. You should avoid any twisting, weight lifting or high impact exercises for at least 3 weeks.

Will I need to purchase a particular type of bra to wear after surgery?

You will be placed in a supportive, soft bra after surgery that will be provided. We ask that you avoid any type of push-up bra in the first 6 weeks and avoid underwire bras, which can aggravate your scars. We will let you know when you may get sized for a new bra, usually 6 weeks after surgery.

What am I going to do with all of my old bras that no longer fit?

You can join us in our support of Breast Oasis. Breast Oasis was created following the realization that many breast surgery patients were throwing away their perfectly good bras following their procedures. It’s a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to supporting communities by providing women who may not be able to afford them with clean, certified, gently used bras. Breast oasis is about women helping women and we give 100% support to that. Find out more but visiting their website at BreastOasis.org or by watching this How To Donate video.

Final Results

How long will it take before I’m completely healed?

Within 4-6 weeks, you will be fully recovered, but your breast shape and scars will continue to refine over the next several months. It can take up to 8 weeks for the swelling to completely subside. Nerves in the breast area also take 6-12 months to heal. As they do, increased or decreased sensation in the nipple will normalize.

Your big day has finally arrived. You should expect to be at the surgery center for at least 5 hours. The surgery is an outpatient procedure, but you need an adult to drive you home and stay with you for the first 24 hours after surgery.

Where will my breast reduction be performed?

Your breast reduction will be performed at INSPIRE Surgery Centre. INSPIRE is our state-of-the-art surgical facility that is certified by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgical Facilities (AAASF), which ensures the highest standard of surgical care. INSPIRE is conveniently located in the suite adjacent to Restora Austin and is staffed by a team of board-certified anesthesiologists and very experienced nurses and surgical techs, all of whom were hand-picked by Dr. Gordon and Dr. Reid. The facility is equipped with highly advanced monitors and the finest surgical equipment, and is fully equipped to handle an emergency situation if one should occur.

What type of anesthesia is used?

Your breast reduction will be performed under general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist from Capitol Anesthesiology Association, who will monitor you during the entire procedure, ensuring your safety and comfort, and will remain with you until you are fully awake. Drs. Reid and Gordon prefer general anesthesia, so that you are asleep and your chest muscles are completely relaxed and your airway is protected. This leads to less pain after surgery because your pectoralis muscles won’t be in a constant state of flexion during your surgery. This leads to less tightness and swelling in your post-operative period. Safety, comfort and a fast recovery are paramount to Drs. Reid and Gordon

How long does the procedure itself take?

The procedure takes 3-4 hours in the operating room.

Will I need to stop any of my medications before surgery?

You will be advised to stop taking certain medications and vitamins or herbal supplements that can contribute to excess bleeding 2 weeks prior to surgery. You will be given a full list of medications to discontinue, but the most common ones are Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, Vitamin E and Aspirin. Please be sure to include all vitamins and supplements you are taking on your health history form.

Does smoking affect the healing process, and if so, how far in advance of surgery should I quit?

You MUST discontinue the use of ALL nicotine products, including the patch and the gum, for 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. Smoking decreases blood flow to the nipple and can lead to delayed wound healing, infection and nipple loss.

Will I need a mammogram prior to my surgery?

If you are under the age of 40 and do not have a family history of breast cancer, you do not need a mammogram prior to surgery. If you are close to 40, we may recommend that you have a baseline mammogram prior to surgery. If you are 40 or older, you will need a mammogram performed within the last year prior to surgery.

Will I need any other tests or blood work done?

Lab work will be performed prior to surgery to ensure that you are not anemic, do not have an infection, and are not pregnant. Based on your medical history, you may be asked to have additional laboratory studies or other diagnostic tests to ensure your overall health and breast health.

We want to know what’s motivating you to consider a breast reduction, so we can help you best achieve your aesthetic goals. You are an ideal candidate if you are healthy and are near your ideal body weight. You should have specific concerns about the size, position or shape of your breasts. You should be internally motivated and are doing this for yourself and not from pressure by your husband or partner. You also must have realistic expectations about what a breast reduction can and cannot achieve. While you may have an idea of what you want your “ideal” breasts to look like, it’s important to know that what nature has given you may limit the outcome. This will be discussed in detail during your consultation, but here are some factors that can influence your result:

• the distance between your breasts
• prominence of your breastbone or sternum
• the position of your breasts on your chest wall
• the position of your right and left IMF (infra-mammary fold) or breast crease
• the distance between the bottom of your areola and the IMF
• your natural breast shape and size
• the quality of your skin, especially the dermis, which provides support
• elasticity of your skin (how much it stretches)
• the size, position and direction of each nipple and areola
• degree of projection of each nipple and areola
• the definition or strength of the IMF (infra-mammary fold) on each side
• curvature of your rib cage or prominence of certain ribs
• curvature of your spine (scoliosis)

Take a look in the mirror again or, better yet, take a picture of your breasts and see if you can identify some of these factors. Having knowledge of your unique features will help you better understand what results you can expect for yourself.

Women choose breast reduction for very personal and diverse reasons, so there really isn’t a “typical” patient. Our surgeons have performed this operation on teenagers, whose self-esteem was significantly impacted by the emotional and physical symptoms, to 60 year olds, who wanted the surgery for a long time but never went through with it when they were younger. Sometimes the excess breast tissue is related to weight gain, but out of proportion breasts can plague even the most slender physiques. Perky, shapely breasts can make a woman feel more feminine, attractive and confident, so its no wonder breast reduction patients are some of our happiest.

First, you will meet with Brandy, our Clinical Consultant, or one of our wonderful nurses. Brandy has first-hand knowledge of breast surgery, as she underwent breast augmentation several years ago, and she loves to share her experience. Whether it’s a breast reduction or a breast enlargement, women who are considering surgery on their breasts tend to have the similar fears and concerns. What’s the right size for me? How will I look after surgery? Is this the right decision? We will discuss your goals and will review before-and-after pictures. Feel free to bring pictures of breasts that you like. When looking at before-and-after pictures, it’s important to try and find pictures of women who have breasts like yours. You will then meet with your surgeon to discuss your medical history and your aesthetic goals. Your surgeon will then do a complete breast exam and take several measurements of your breasts and chest wall.

The goals of a breast reduction are:

• reduce the size of your breasts by removing excess tissue and fat
• reshape your breasts to a more naturally rounded shape
• improve projection
• reposition the breast mound and the nipple-areola complex to a more youthful position

Your surgeon will also discuss your unique “breast-print” and how it will affect your result.

What makes up your unique “Breast-Print”?

• the distance between your breasts
• prominence of your breast bone or sternum
• the position of your breasts on your chest wall
• the position of your right and left IMF (infra-mammary fold) or breast crease
• the distance between the bottom of your areola and the IMF

It’s also important to discuss asymmetry because no woman’s breast is a mirror image of the other. Asymmetry exists in breast volume, breast shape, nipple position, nipple or areola size, and/or location of the breast crease. In the end, it’s important to understand that your breasts will never be a perfect match, but we want them to be as close as possible. We will also discuss cup size. We ask that you not get set on a cup size but rather on balance and proportion. Just like jeans and dress size can vary from designer to designer, the same is true for bras. While you may be a 34C in one brand, you may be a 36B in another. Sizes not only vary among manufacturers, but also from style to style within the same brand. It’s very important after surgery to not buy a bra based on the size on the tag. You want to ensure a great comfortable fit with good support that enhances your new youthful breast size and shape. The procedure, risks, and recovery will be discussed in detail with you and all of your questions answered. You will then meet with your Patient Coordinator who set up your consultation to discuss scheduling, costs and financing

Rarely. Most patients who need a breast reduction are not good candidates for liposuction alone, as they tend to have excess skin and their breast and nipples are positioned too low on the chest wall. In those cases, liposuction alone would simply deflate the breast tissue, but the breast would look even droopier, as the skin would not retract. SAFELipo^® is frequently used in combination with a breast reduction to create a better overall shape by reducing the excess fat laterally (on the sides) and under the arms.

A breast reduction is more than just removing excess tissue and fat. The breast itself needs to be sculpted to a better shape. The techniques and incision patterns used in a reduction are essentially the same as those used in a breast lift but more tissue is removed. Drs. Reid and Gordon use modern techniques that optimize fullness in the upper part of the breast. The most common technique for performing a breast reduction uses a 3-part incision that looks like an anchor or an inverted “T”.

• Incision around your areola (the pigmented skin around your nipple)
• Vertical incision from the areola straight down to your breast crease
• Horizontal incision in the breast crease

Through these incisions, the nipple-areola complex is raised to a more aesthetically pleasing position, the breast tissue is reshaped and tightened, and the excess skin and tissue is removed. If you desire a smaller reduction and/or if your nipple isn’t too low, the horizontal incision may be avoided. At your consultation, your surgeon will describe the incisions that will give you the best result.

Is the horizontal scar mandatory?

While an important goal of surgery is to minimize incisions, it’s not the single most important factor. For many women who need a breast reduction, they have excess tissue in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions. The inverted “T” incision allows for removal of excess tissue in both dimensions and creates the best shape. Attempting to use fewer incisions on the wrong candidate can result in an inadequate reduction and/or poor shape. Drs. Reid and Gordon do not perform only one type of breast reduction, they modify their technique based on your anatomy and your goals. This will be discussed at length with you during your consultation and all proposed incisions demonstrated.

How much of a scar will be visible over time?

The scars are the biggest tradeoff associated with a breast reduction, but an overwhelming majority of our patients say the scars are well worth the improved quality of life they experience afterwards. Scar healing is genetically determined and highly individualized. During your consultation, your surgeon will review your skin type and look at other scars you may have to assess how your skin heals. Most patients find their scars a small price to pay for their new and improved appearance. We will teach you how to take care of your scars for the first three months after surgery. This helps to optimize the way they heal long term. Scars mature during the 12 months following surgery and most fade with time. If, for some reason, your scars become unsightly, we can perform laser scar treatment on them. BBL is a great option for removing any pinks/reds from scars.

Will my nipples be smaller after my breast reduction?

Your areola will be made smaller to match the proportions of your new breast. If your nipples are enlarged, they also can be reduced, but this is done less frequently. Click here for more information on nipple reduction. It’s important to remember that the nipple itself is not removed during surgery, but rather repositioned to a higher level on the chest wall. The nipple always stays attached to the tissue underneath because the deeper tissue contains the blood vessels and nerves that keep the nipple alive and give it sensation. Watch the short animation video to see how the nipple and the tissue are repositioned as a unit.

A variety of factors play a role in sagging of the breasts like genetics, weight fluctuations, pregnancy and/or breast-feeding. These can cause the breast tissue to involute or shrink as the milk-producing glands shut down. The breasts have suspensory ligaments, called Cooper’s ligaments, which support the breast tissue and hold it up. As the breasts grow larger, the ligaments are stretched and they lose support. The same is true for the skin. If the dermis is damaged, stretch marks appear. When women are young, their breast tissue is very dense and heavy. This puts excess strain on the skin and the ligaments. The larger the breasts and the faster they grow, the more quickly and noticeable the sagging will be. Sagging results in a wider breast that is elongated in shape with a nipple-areola complex that is at the lowest part of the breast and may even point downward.

We believe there are many reasons, but our name, RESTORA, explains it all.

Results. Our “Before & After” pictures speak for themselves.  Natural, beautiful results in a wide range of sizes and types of patients.

Experience. Our board-certified plastic surgeons are arguably the busiest breast enhancement surgeons in Austin.

Safety. It is a privilege when you choose us, and we don’t take that responsibility lightly. Your well-being and comfort are our primary concerns, so your procedure will be performed in a fully accredited operating room with a board-certified anesthesiologist.

Team. Our team is a group of overachievers focused on delivering the best plastic surgery experience possible. Over half of us started out as patients of Dr. Gordon or Reid, so we have an intimate understanding of the anxiety and excitement that come with this decision.

On the Cutting Edge. Our surgeons never rest on their past and present achievements. Their practice is a constant evolution in the “how” and “why” of aesthetic surgery, always perfecting techniques that minimize scarring, discomfort, and downtime but give maximal results.

Respect. Our practice is built on word-of-mouth referrals from happy patients and our medical colleagues. For example, Dr. Gordon was name a Texas Rising Star in 2012 and 2013 and a Texas Super Doctor in 2014, and Dr. Reid was named a Texas Super Doctor in 2013 and 2014. Super Doctors identifies top doctors as selected by their peers and only 5% of physicians are named to Super Doctors and no more than 2.5% are named to the Rising Stars list. We have two of those docs under one roof!

Artistic Approach. We don’t believe in “one operation or one type of implant fits all” cookie cutter approach to aesthetic surgery. Our doctors will create an individualized plan to exceed your expectations and bring out the best version of yourself.