Breast reduction cosmetic surgery is considered to be a fairly safe procedure. However, patients should understand the possible risks associated with this procedure.
Typical surgical risks include the possibility of infection, adverse response to anesthesia, asymmetrical breasts or uneven nipple height. But the potential advantages of breast reduction surgery are usually greater than the risks inherent to the procedure.
The surgeon will inform the patient about the possible risks and complications during the pre-operative consultation. The first goal of a dedicated surgeon will be to enable the patient to make a well-informed choice. Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom provides breast reduction to patients in Chicago, IL, and other neighborhoods and suburbs in this area of the Midwest.
Asymmetrical Breasts
A potential risk of breast reduction plastic surgery is conspicuous asymmetry in the breasts. But this risk is minimized when the procedure is performed by a qualified and experienced surgeon. If this condition does occur, the patient will require revision surgery to correct it.
It is also important for patients to understand that natural breasts are not completely symmetrical. A small variation in size and shape is normal and looks natural. Such a minor difference will not warrant further corrective surgery.
Uneven Nipple Height
A breast reduction surgery changes the shape and size of the breasts while moving some skin. This means that the surgery will carry some risk of the nipples not being positioned at the same height following the reduction. In certain cases, the surgeon will detach the nipple and areola and reattach them to a different location on the breast.
In some patients, the surgeon will allow the nipple to remain attached. However, they will alter the breast skin to fit the new, smaller size of the breasts. The risk of the nipple height being irregular exists in both of these approaches.
Changes in Skin Sensation
A breast reduction surgery carries the risk of loss of sensation, especially if the areola is detached and grafted at another site. Grafting the areola at a more appropriate position is aesthetically desirable but detaching the areola from the breast tissue may cause sensation loss in the nipples.
To a certain degree, non-grafting procedures also carry a risk of change in sensation in the nipples or even the entire breasts. At times, this alteration in sensation may resolve over time. But in exceptional cases, the loss of sensation could be permanent.
Breastfeeding Problems
A woman may be unable to breastfeed after a breast reduction surgery. The level of risk depends on the surgical technique utilized in the surgery. The risks in the nursing abilities are higher in the case of a traditional anchor pattern breast reduction procedure. In this technique, many milk ducts are eliminated. This makes it challenging for a woman to breastfeed.
If the surgeon uses the vertical incision breast reduction technique, the risks to the ability to breastfeed are lower. In such cases, a part of the nipples remains attached to the milk ducts. The risks to breastfeeding in a breast reduction surgery are typically minimal. In case the patient has less glandular tissue, and more fatty tissue, the breast reduction surgery may be performed via liposuction.
Committed cosmetic surgeon Dr. Jacob Bloom receives patients from Chicago, IL, and nearby areas in The Land of Lincoln for breast reduction.