Breast reduction

For whom?

Breast reduction is indicated when the size of the breasts is considered to be too big by the patient.

Aims

The aim of breast reduction is to reinstate the harmonious silhouette at a price of having minor scars. Converting big breasts into normal ones require a reduction of their size ( at the levels of glands and fat) and the skin envelope. This reduction of volume and skin is always associated with a re-lifting of the breasts (breast lifting) and the breast areola.

Before the operation

Your medical examinations Between one week and a month prior to the operation, you must make an appointment with a medical test laboratory in order to go through a full pre-surgical check-up.

Taking medication

You should in no circumstances take a medication containing aspirin at least 10 days before the operation. You should also advise on any medication you may have taken. It is essential that you refrain from eating, drinking or smoking 8 hours before the operation.

Your luggage

As far as your luggage is concerned, you must remember to bring clothing for the upper part with a buttoned covering at the front (you can easily roll that up more easily the first few days after the operation).

Getting ready for the operation

You will be taken to your clinic the night of the operation, the time to get settled in your room, to take a shower if needed and to meet with the medical team: your surgeon, the anesthetist doctor, and all the health care staff. The operation takes place the following morning. Very often, the night before the operation, the nurses will give you a kind of pre-medication in the form of a light tranquilizer to make sure that slightly anxious patients to face the operation with more fortitude.

Breast reduction surgery generally lasts two to three hours. After the cosmetic surgery, you wake up in a recovery room, where your health care team monitors you for any complications.

Type of anesthesia

This is carried out under full anesthesia.

Duration of your hospital stay

3 nights.

Duration of total stay in Tunisia

6 nights/7 days.

Operation

The surgeon will remove the sin excess and also a part of the breast gland. Afterwards, he/she will re-adjust the skin envelope to the remaining gland, now re-shaped so that the breast does have the volume and the shape chosen by the patient. At last, he/she will reposition the areola and the nipple. Depending on the hypertrophy and the ptose that is associated to it, two types of scars of breast reduction are possible:

A vertical scar: a round scar around the areola and a vertical scar under the areola. This technique suits a hypertrophy and a ptose that are relatively moderate.

An inverted “T” scar: 1 round scar around the areola, 1 vertical scar under the areola and a horizontal scar under the breast line.

This technique suits an hypertrophy and a ptose that are important.

At the end of the plastic surgery operation, the surgeon will apply a shaping bandage with elastic strips similar to those of a bra.

Duration of the surgery

The surgical operation lasts 2 to 3 hours depending on the importance of the hypertrophy. After the surgical operation After 24 hours, the first bandage is removed and a particular bra is applied instead (kind of a bra used in sport); this should be worn day and night during a whole month.

It must be noted that wearing a contention bra is not systematically prescribed by the surgeon.

Surgical after effects

In general this type of operation is not very painful. Weak pain killers for a week will be enough to soothe the pain. Ecchymosed bruises will fade away after one or two weeks.

Some kind of numbness may be felt at the level of the nipples for a few months; there will also be some transitory feeling of unease when raising the arms. The stitches will automatically disappear.

A normal life style may be attained with the exception of engaging into sports activities – this may be proscribed for 1 month. No way has a pregnancy been anticipated for at least one year after the operation.

The scars

the scars development follows the pace of scar maturation and closely depends on the intrinsic qualities of your skin. The development of scars varies thus from one to two years. They are usually red and indured during the first months, a period during which a protection against sun rays (total sun block) is necessary; it is also to provide regular massage. The quality of the scars depends on the surgical technique and the peculiar factors proper to each patient (age, race, type of skin …).

Results

The cosmetic result is correct as early as the ablation of the bandage but it will get better to become perfect and natural within 3 to 6 months. This time span is necessary for a natural smoothing of the breasts. The curve of the breast remains natural and sensitive to any hormonal variations.

Complications

Like any surgical operation, the correction of a breast hypertrophy may lead to some rare complications such as: an infection, a hematoma or an anesthetic complication. In case of breast hypertrophies with an important ptose, there may exist scar healing problems (skin necrosis) at the areola level. This risk must be minimized as much as possible through an appropriate choice of a technique. It is equally convenient to observe the healing process and to ensure in the best possible way that all after surgical recommendations have been followed in order reduce the risk of hypertrophic or cheloidian scar.

Work interruption

There is no need for interrupting the work: the recovery stay spent in Tunisia following the operation is very beneficial and enables most of our patients to resume their professional activities as soon as they return home.

Fees

The fees of a breast reduction are 2400 euros.