SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Breast Reduction

Large breasts can cause problems in many aspects of a woman's life.

What is a Breast Reduction?

A full-breasted woman may appear heavier than she really is and she may have difficulty obtaining stylish clothing. In some cases, it may even be difficult to find a properly fitting bra. Often, women with large breasts feel very self-conscious. The goal of breast reduction surgery is to reduce, recontour and reshape the breasts. The breasts are made smaller. The nipple areola complex is repositioned upward, and if indicated, reduced in size. Excess skin and breast tissue is removed from the lower and outer portions of the breast.

Preparing for breast reduction surgery

A preoperative plan is made which allows both the surgeon and the patient to share in the decision as to the proposed size of the breast after surgery. The surgeon will attempt to make the breasts as identical as possible, but some asymmetry may remain. Furthermore, it is not possible to predict exactly how large the breast will finally be after surgery. Healing results in some progressive change in breast size, since some swelling may be present for several months following surgery.

How is breast reduction surgery performed?

Incisions are made in the lower breast resulting in three scars: one around the nipple, which usually heals very nicely; a vertical incision from the nipple to beneath the breast, which remains visible; and finally, an incision in the fold beneath the breast. Breast tissue is sculpted using a combination of sharp dissection and occasional liposuction.

The nipple remains attached to the deeper breast tissue. The remaining breast is folded around the nipple and its attachments and the incisions are closed. Care is taken to close these incisions as carefully as possible. Nevertheless, patients must realize that resultant scarring is as much a factor of tissue response as it is surgical skill, and occasionally wide scars can form despite a nice overall breast shape.

Minimizing scars following breast reduction

With time, these scars do tend to blend into the normal skin, becoming less noticeable. Sometimes, a short scar breast reduction technique or vertical mammoplasty technique can be performed to limit the incisions used. We will determine if you are a candidate for this at your consultation.

In the past, breast reduction was considered a major undertaking, requiring several days of hospitalization, long hours in the operating room, and frequently the use of blood transfusions. Fortunately, this has changed.Dr. Angelo Cuzalina performs breast reduction surgery under general anesthesia on an outpatient basis at Dr. John Stover's Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii in Waimea.

Dr. Angelo Cuzalina, an internationally recognized breast surgery expert, performs all cosmetic breast surgery in our Waimea surgical suite under general anesthesia and on an outpatient basis.

Breast Reduction is available in Hawaii through Dr. John D. Stover's Cosmetic Centers of Hawaii. Dr. Stover is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon with offices in Kona, Hilo and Waimea on the Big Island of Hawaii. He is a fellow of both the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Stover continually updates his knowledge, skills and practice in the latest surgical and non-surgical procedures, which has made him one of Hawaii's top-performing cosmetic surgeons.