Getting any type of cosmetic surgery is a big commitment, so before you make a decision, it is a good idea to first collate all the relevant information that you might need regarding the surgery and assess all of your possible options. If you are considering breast reduction surgery, or breast lift surgery, it is recommended to book a consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon to determine which option is best.
Regardless of what you ultimately choose, breast lifting and breast reduction are solutions for many individuals who are unhappy with the size or the position of their breasts. Once the surgery has been performed and the recovery process has been completed, many start to feel more comfortable and confident in their body.
What is the difference between a breast reduction and a breast lift?
When individuals are considering cosmetic surgery, breast lifting and breast reduction are often considered in conjunction but there are some key differences which distinguish the two procedures. Below is a quick rundown of the two types of breast surgery and how breast lifts and breast reduction procedures differ from each other.
Breast reduction
A breast reduction procedure, often called a reduction mammoplasty reduces the size of the breasts. A plastic surgeon removes any excessive fat, tissue or skin present in your breasts, which therefore reduces the overall size of your breast. Many women also request that their areolas be reduced in size.
Those seeking a breast reduction usually have large breasts. They consider this surgery because they either don’t like the appearance of their breasts or because the proportion of their breasts causes them to have back pains or be uncomfortable. These are the most common reasons an individual seeks out a breast reduction, but it could also be due to health concerns.
Breast lift
Many women who have bigger breasts consider a breast lift if their main issue is the sagging of their breasts. Bigger breasts are inherently more prone to sagging due to their weight, which can lead people down the path of breast lift procedures.
A breast lift, often referred to as a mastopexy is a procedure that aims to lift the breasts. The way in which this is achieved is through reshaping and supporting the breast tissue in order to ensure it retains a perkier appearance. This form of breast augmentation, through the reshaping process, can also help to restore any lost shape or volume that women might have experienced due to a number of different factors.
Does breast reduction include breast lift?
One of the most frequently asked questions surrounding breast reductions is if they also include a lift during the surgery. The answer is yes, but only to a certain degree. When tissue, skin and fat are removed from larger breasts, it can accentuate the natural sagging of the breast. In order to avoid this excessive sagging, most plastic surgeons also include some sort of lift during the reduction procedure.
However, the two are not one and the same. If you are happy with the size of your breasts but simply are looking to achieve a perkier look through your procedure, a breast lift is likely the right decision for you as opposed to a breast reduction. It is therefore important to talk with your plastic surgeon to discuss what option is best for you.
Book an appointment with a certified plastic surgeon
Can you get a breast lift without a reduction?
Although a breast lift often comes hand in hand with a reduction, the same is not necessarily true with a breast lift. If you are happy with the size of your breasts but want them to have a more youthful and perkier appearance, you do not have to also get a breast reduction along with the breast lift. In short, a breast lift will not change the size of your breast, but can be done in conjunction with a breast reduction if that is something that you would like.
Breast reduction vs breast augmentation cost
On average, if you are looking to get breast augmentation surgery, you will likely be looking at anywhere between $9,000 to $12,000 depending on the type of procedure and implants chosen.
Breast reduction is usually slightly cheaper. Moreover, breast reductions are often sought to treat certain medical conditions, meaning your provincial health plan might actually cover some of or all the costs related to breast reduction. If you do not have a comprehensive health plan, you can expect to spend anywhere between $4,500 to $6,500 for a breast reduction.
Who is a candidate for breast reduction?
There are not too many pre-requisites and conditions that need to be met to get a breast reduction. However, you have to have enough fat and tissues in your breast to be able to remove.
Candidates looking to get a breast reduction usually suffer from one of the following problems:
- Back and neck pain and problems
- Poor posture
- Chronic rashes
- Body positivity issues
- Struggling to find appropriate clothes and support for breasts
- Trouble sleeping
If you have large breasts and suspect that they are causing you some of the above problems, you might be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery. However, there are a few boxes that you need to tick before you can get breast reduction surgery, such as being in good health.
Depending on your insurance policy, there might be some breast reduction weight requirements for your insurance company to cover the cost of your procedure.
What are the steps of breast reduction?
Consultation
The initial consultation is the most important part of your entire breast reduction process as it is where expectations are formulated, costs discussed and final decisions are made on the type of surgery you are going to get. It is important to communicate openly with your surgeon and voice any worries or concerns that you might have so that they can walk you through everything and ease your mind.
Anesthesia
Once surgery day comes around and you have been fully prepped for surgery, the first medical step in the procedure is to administer anesthesia. This will ensure you are not awake for the surgery and will be comfortable.
The surgery
The main body of the surgery involves creating an incision, the type of which will depend on different factors, but your doctor will have discussed the best option with you previously. Once the initial incision is made, the surgeon then removes the tissue and subsequently lifts and shapes your breast. This is also the time in which the surgeon will make any necessary alterations to your nipples and areola.
Once all of this has been completed, the incision is then closed and sutures are put in place quite deep within the breast in order to ensure everything stays in place and is supported. Once this is done, your breasts will be wrapped in bandages and taped to protect the incision and subsequent scar.
Recovery
Once the surgery is complete, you have to go through a period of recovery, both breast lift and reduction recovery is essential to ensure your scars heal adequately and that the work done by your surgeon remains intact.
The entire recovery process can take anywhere from two to six weeks, but there are some things that you can expect along the way. Most of the pain will subside after a week, however, you should try and avoid any kind of physical activity and should avoid things such as underwire bras. This is not an in depth or exhaustive description of what to expect during your breast reduction surgery, your doctor will give you more detailed information.
Which breast surgery is right for you?
Since there are so many different options when it comes to breast surgery, it can be difficult to decide what option is best for you, depending on your lifestyle and your needs. That is why it is important to set up a consultation with a certified plastic surgeon as soon as possible.
Dr Richard Moufarrrège is an experienced plastic surgeon that has been operating in Canada for many years. There are different surgical procedures you can get at his clinic:
- Breast Augmentation
- Breast Lift
- Breast Reduction
- Facelift
- Tummy Tuck
- Liposuction
- Blepharoplasty
- Rhinoplasty
