Breast Reduction: Options
December 7th, 2011
Just as some women may experience a decrease in breast size over time, others will notice an increase in breast size. When a woman is uncomfortable with having too much breast tissue, there are several options to correct this condition. A dramatic increase in size may result of an increase in overall weight gain or a pronounced sagging of the breast tissue. Increase of breast size may result in physical discomfort, including symptoms like neck pain, back pain, shoulder grooving and irritation beneath the breasts. Patients routinely turn to breast reduction surgery to reduce their symptoms, along with their breast size.
Reducing breast size can be done with direct surgical removal of breast tissue or with liposuction. Liposuction does not adjust nipple position. It is effective only when there are significant amounts of fat in the breasts. Young women may not be candidates for this surgery because of the relatively low amount of breast fat. Traditional breast reduction surgery reduces breast size through excision of breast tissue, while repositioning the nipple and areola (pigmented skin around the nipple). The size of the areola can also be reduced. Scars, which are similar to breast lift surgery, are placed around the nipple and beneath the breast as well. Scars will be less noticeable as they continue to heal.
I recommend that any breast tissue removed be sent for examination by a pathologist. This includes a visualization under a microscope after tissue staining to determine the presence of conditions or abnormalities which might increase chances of breast cancer. On rare occasions, breast cancer is diagnosed this way.
My patients choose of their final size, based on decisions made during our office consultation. A range of implant “sizers” are helpful in this regard.
Time to schedule reduction surgery following pregnancy is determined by normal involution of breast tissue and the end to breast-feeding. Generally this takes six months to a year after delivery or three months after breast-feeding. Unfortunately, some women will not be able to breast feed again after breast reduction surgery. Therefore, if breast-feeding is an important consideration, I advise my patients to postpone breast reduction surgery until they are finished having children.
Friday Photo: Minneapolis Turkey Trot
December 2nd, 2011
My daughter, Ashley participated in this year’s Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. Here we are at the start of the race and then a nice photo of a familiar river bank site along the course.
The inaugural race began in 1989 in downtown Minneapolis. The LifeTime Fitness Turkey Day 5K has grown to host upwards of 15,000 fun-loving walkers, joggers and runners every Thanksgiving morning since then.
Besides becoming a local tradition for many, the event helps to supply the pantries of local food shelves with a record of 50,000 pounds of food being collected on race day.
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