Breast Reduction in Geneva
During breast reduction surgery, excess breast tissue and skin are removed. This creates a diminished breast size and provides a lift to the breasts in order to restore a youthful appearance and shape. A breast reduction allows Geneva plastic surgeon Dr. Kai-Uwe Schlaudraff to adapt the breast volume to the size the patient wishes and increase the harmony of breasts with the entire body.
Dr. Schlaudraff offers advanced breast enhancement procedures at his Concept Clinic in Geneva. To learn more, request a consultation online with Dr. Schlaudraff, or phone the office at +41-22-54-000-54.
Breast Reduction Candidates
Women of any age may feel that their large and heavy breasts interfere with their quality of life and have a negative impact on their self-confidence. Large breasts might be either due to a volume increase of the breast gland (called breast hypertrophy) or caused by an increase of the fatty tissue of the breast occurring mostly after menopause. Heavy breasts can cause various medical problems like chronic back/shoulder pain, headaches, postural problems, shoulder grooves (from the bra straps) as well as rashes in the submammary folds. Exercise is often painful or even impossible, and finding proper clothing becomes a problem.
Your Consultation
During the consultation, Dr. Schlaudraff (board certified by the Swiss and the European Board of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and a member of ISAPS) will find out how you feel about your breasts and how you want them to look after surgery. He will examine your breasts and carefully evaluate the quality of the skin, fatty tissue, breast glands and pectoralis muscle. Measurements for the volume, width, shape and projection of the breasts are taken and special note is made of the nipple position, the height of the mammary fold and of breast asymmetries and chest deformities. These details will enable Dr. Schlaudraff to advise you about the different surgical options for your breast reduction and to explain which one is the best for your particular needs. In most cases, a breast lift will be performed in conjunction with the reduction to both reshape and reposition the breasts.
Finally, Dr. Schlaudraff will advise you whether you need additional preoperative exams, like a mammography, and also whether your health insurance might cover some of the costs, which is possible in cases of severe breast hypertrophy and very heavy breasts.
Surgical Procedure
Breast reduction surgery is performed in a state-of-the-art surgery theater under general anesthesia. Usually, the nipples will be 'transposed' – which means that they are moved to a higher position while staying attached to the breast. The excess skin around and underneath the nipple is removed. The position and length of the scar depends on the quality of the skin as well as the extent of the breast reduction. All internal sutures and skin sutures are absorbable and do not require removal. The actual procedure takes 2 to 3.5 hours. The surgery might be organised during an overnight hospitalisation but often our Geneva breast reduction patients are advised to stay in the hospital for 2 to 3 days for optimal recovery.
Recovery
The soreness during the first days after surgery will vary for each patient and is usually described as tension/discomfort that limits upper body movements but can be controlled with normal prescription pain medication. After 1 to 2 days your dressing will be removed and the breasts are then stabilized by a sports bra (without wires) for about 8 weeks. Taking a shower and traveling is allowed within a few days postoperatively. You may return to your normal light activities 2 to 3 days after surgery and you should be able to make full physical efforts after 7 to 10 days except for strenuous arm movements. Scar treatment and massaging of the breast is started after 2 to 3 weeks. Patients are advised to avoid sun exposure of the scar for 3 to 6 months.
Your Results
The final result will be seen after 8 to 12 weeks when swelling has resolved. At this time you may also resume strenuous physical activities (such as diving, climbing, and sauna). Dr. Schlaudraff will ask you how big you visualize your breasts after surgery and will strive to adapt your breast reduction accordingly. However, keep in mind that no surgeon can guarantee to match exactly a final cup size.
A Note on Breast Exams
The risk of developing breast cancer is not increased after a breast reduction. While the internal scars may make it sometimes more difficult to detect lumps in a self breast examination they do not interfere with radiological exams for detection of breast cancer. Like with any other surgery, you should inform your physician about your breast reduction surgery before the exam. They should be performed by your gynecologist / radiologist as part of a routine cancer check-up or might be asked for before surgery to rule out suspicious lesions.
