Meet With One of the Best Breast Reduction Surgeons Near You

What Is Breast Reduction and What Are the Benefits?

Breast reduction, also referred to as reduction mammaplasty, is a surgical breast procedure designed to reduce the size of the breasts. During breast reduction surgery, excess breast tissue and fat are removed, the skin is tightened, and the nipple and areola are repositioned to create smaller, lighter, and more proportionate breasts. The procedure addresses both the physical burden of overly large breasts and the aesthetic concerns that often accompany disproportionate breast size.

The benefits of breast reduction surgery are wide-ranging and often life-changing. If you're frustrated with the daily struggles that naturally accompany the burden of oversized breasts, you can expect to enjoy numerous benefits after breast reduction, like:

• More bra choices and clothing options that fit properly instead of being limited to specialty sizes or styles.
• Reduced pain from bra straps that constantly dig into your shoulders, leaving grooves and causing chronic discomfort.
• The ability to lie on your stomach more easily after breast reduction, something that may have been uncomfortable or impossible before.
• Improved posture, as your body no longer compensates for the weight of heavy breasts pulling you forward, often leads to better overall health.

Perhaps most importantly, you'll be able to exercise more comfortably. The ability to exercise comfortably and properly is an essential step toward a healthy lifestyle. With the better posture, increased mobility, and diminished pain that women gain with breast reduction, many patients find that their overall health improves, which leads to an improvement in their overall quality of life. Running, jumping, playing sports, and even simple activities like climbing stairs become easier and more enjoyable when you're not dealing with the physical burden of overly large breasts.

Beyond the physical benefits, many women experience significant emotional relief after breast reduction. The self-consciousness that comes with unwanted attention, the frustration of not being able to find attractive clothes, and the feeling that your body doesn't reflect who you are—all of these emotional burdens can be lifted along with the physical weight of excess breast tissue.

The Procedure & Breast Reduction Recovery

What to Expect During Surgery and Recovery

Before undergoing breast reduction, it's important to understand what the procedure involves. Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anesthesia, which means you'll be comfortably asleep throughout the procedure and won't feel any discomfort during surgery. The procedure begins with carefully planned incisions that allow Dr. Schiesel to remove excess breast tissue, fat, and skin while reshaping your breasts to a more proportionate size.

For incisions, Dr. Schiesel typically places them around the nipple and areola of each breast, extending vertically down to the breast crease and horizontally along the crease in an anchor pattern. Through these incisions, excess fat and breast tissue are removed to reduce the size of your breasts. The breast is then reshaped by repositioning the nipple and areola to a higher, more youthful position that's proportionate to your new breast size. In most cases, the nipple remains attached to its blood supply and nerves, which helps preserve sensation.

Once the operation is complete, your breasts will be covered with bandages, and you'll be outfitted with a supportive surgical bra. You'll be given medication to manage pain and detailed instructions for caring for your incisions.

Following breast reduction surgery, some discomfort, swelling, and bruising are to be expected. You can expect to feel mild tenderness in your breasts as well as some swelling and bruising during the first few days. Keeping incisions dry and clean, wearing your supportive compression bra as directed, and using all prescribed medications will help manage these issues. Discomfort is generally short-lived, and most women can return to non-demanding jobs after 7 to 14 days.

You must wait at least four to six weeks before resuming physical activity so your breasts have enough time to heal properly. It may take 6 to 8 weeks for your body to heal sufficiently to resume demanding tasks such as heavy lifting, vigorous exercise, or overhead activities. During your follow-up visits, we'll evaluate your progress, listen to your experiences, and help you determine when it's safe to resume certain activities. As for the scarring, while you will have scars from the incisions, they usually fade significantly over time and are typically well worth the dramatic improvement in comfort and quality of life that breast reduction provides.

Candidacy & Financing Considerations

Is Breast Reduction Right for Me?

Large, heavy breasts can significantly impact your daily life, affecting everything from your ability to exercise comfortably to your self-esteem and confidence. You may be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery if:

• You're in good overall health
• Are at or near your ideal weight
• Don't smoke or are willing to quit before the procedure and for the duration of recovery
• Have reasonable expectations about what the surgery can achieve
• Are prepared to closely follow Dr. Schiesel's pre- and postoperative instructions

Beyond these general health qualifications, good candidates for breast reduction typically experience specific symptoms related to overly large breasts. These may include:

• Chronic neck, back, or shoulder pain
• Deep grooves in the shoulders from bra straps
• Skin irritation or rashes beneath the breasts
• Difficulty finding clothing that fits properly
• Limitations in physical activity due to breast size
• Poor posture caused by the weight of heavy breasts
• Feelings of self-consciousness about breast size

If you're experiencing any combination of these issues, breast reduction may provide the relief you've been seeking.

It's important to understand that every woman is different. At South Tulsa Plastic Surgery, we take the time to understand individual needs and experiences, enabling us to personalize pre- and postoperative directions that can assist with comfort and work to reduce risks. During your consultation, Dr. Schiesel will carefully evaluate your health, discuss your goals and concerns, and help you determine whether breast reduction is the right choice for your situation.

Flexible Financing to Make Your Surgery Accessible

At South Tulsa Plastic Surgery, we believe that financial concerns shouldn't stand between you and the relief you deserve. We've partnered with three trusted healthcare financing companies to offer convenient payment plans that allow you to proceed with your breast reduction surgery without the stress of paying the full cost upfront. These financing partners specialize in healthcare procedures and understand that investing in yourself is one of the most important decisions you can make.

Each of these financing partners offers different plans and terms, so you can select the option that best fits your individual financial situation. During your consultation at South Tulsa Plastic Surgery, our team will be happy to discuss these financing options in detail and help you understand which might work best for you. We'll provide information about current promotional offers, interest rates, and payment plan options so you can make an informed decision. While we don't accept health insurance directly, we can provide all necessary documentation if you wish to seek reimbursement from your insurance company for a breast reduction deemed medically necessary.