Breast Reduction San Diego

Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is the gold standard for patient satisfaction. Breast reduction surgery is performed to reduce disproportionately large and/or sagging breasts. Breast reductions remove various degrees of skin, glandular and fatty tissue, and excess areola size to put the breast, as a whole, back in balance with the rest of the body.

Breast reduction surgery can also reduce or eliminate many of the physical complaints associated with very large breasts. Physical complaints and deformities, such as bra strap grooving, neck, shoulder and back pain can be reduced or eliminated completely. Besides the cosmetic benefits of reducing excessively large breasts, there are emotional and health issues that can be addressed with breast reduction surgery as well.

Health insurance can sometime cover part and occasionally all of the costs associated with breast reduction surgery. Most insurance companies that do cover the procedure require a minimum of 500 grams to be removed from each breast and other stipulations such as documenting bra strap grooving or other signs and symptoms accompanying breast hypertrophy. A Breast reduction can be performed to remove anywhere from ¼ of a pound up to as much as 10 pounds. For any insurance reimbursement, preauthorization is required, and can sometimes take many weeks or months, and much back and forth between the doctor, patient and insurance company so you must be patient with this process. A breast reduction can be done in an out- patient facility, where the patient goes home the same day of surgery, but sometimes insurance requires this to be done at hospital outpatient facilities.

A consult with Dr. Seare is your first step when considering breast reduction surgery. Your history and physical exam will be performed along with photos that can show your problem area. He uses a computer photo program called TouchMD® where he will take pictures and is able to draw on the screen to show areas of concern and show where the three-dimensional “anchor-pattern” template will be made in order to reduce and lift your breasts, areolas and nipples. This will be securely saved to your TouchMD internet account where you can view or review them with a significant other from home. Before and after photos of your surgery can also be placed here for you to view if you choose. You can also discuss with him your expectations for after surgery regarding size and contour of your breasts, while keeping in mind to keep realistic expectations that the desired result with be a major improvement.

A firm quote of your proposed procedure(s) will be given along with information about medications, pre and post-op instructions, as well as, financing options, with the initial consult.

Reasons for Considering a Breast Reduction:

    -Elevate the breasts due to sagging caused by the effects of aging and gravity.
    -Re-align your nipples/areolas if they point down or to the side.
    -Decrease or alleviate neck, shoulder and back pain associated with large breasts.

Recovery Process
Generally, post-operative instructions call for plenty rest and limited movement in order to speed up the healing process and recovery time. Bandages are applied right after surgery to aid the healing process and to minimize movement of the breasts. Once the bandages are removed, the patient will need to wear a specialized surgical bra for several weeks. Patients sometimes report minor pain associated with surgery which can be treated with oral medication. While complications are rare, patients can minimize potential problems by carefully following the post-operative directions given by the surgeon.