Breast Reduction Beverly Hills

Breast Reduction Beverly Hills: What is it?

Overly large or heavy breasts (macromastia) can contribute to symptoms of back, shoulder, and neck pain.

Macromastia can also lead to difficulty with exercise, feelings of self-consciousness, and chronic pain due to the persistent discomfort caused by heavy breasts.

A breast reduction is a breast surgery designed to reduce the size and volume of the breast.

It also places the breast tissue and nipple in a more youthful position on the chest wall.

Many breast reduction patients that suffer constant pain experience a huge improvement in their quality of life after breast reduction surgery – back and neck pain is relieved and they are able to exercise and move around with greater ease.

To Dr. Rovelo, this is more than just a functional breast reduction Beverly Hills procedure.

She also takes great pride in producing a beautiful breast that matches a patient’s unique body and desired breast size, with a focus on achieving natural looking results.If you are looking for an expert Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, book an appointment with Dr. Rovelo to see how she can help you with a breast reduction.

Benefits of Breast Reduction

Breast reduction surgery offers a wide range of benefits for women struggling with overly large breasts.

One of the most significant advantages is the relief from physical discomfort, such as chronic back, shoulder, and neck pain, which can be caused by the weight of excess breast tissue.

Many women also find that breast reduction helps eliminate persistent skin irritation beneath the breasts and reduces painful grooving from bra straps.

Beyond physical relief, breast reduction can dramatically improve breast shape and size, creating a more balanced and proportionate silhouette.

This often leads to a boost in self confidence, as patients feel more comfortable in their bodies and are able to wear a wider variety of clothing styles.

Many women also discover that they can participate in physical activities and exercise with greater ease, free from the restrictions and discomfort caused by large breasts.

Overall, breast reduction surgery can enhance both physical well-being and quality of life.

Who is a Candidate for a Beverly Hills Breast Reduction?

Breast reduction surgery can be performed at any age, even in teenagers.

However, with rare exceptions, it is best to wait until the breast has fully developed and growth has stopped prior to proceeding with a reduction mammaplasty. 

For patients seeking to have breast reduction surgery covered by insurance, it is important to understand that insurers often require documentation of the amount of breast tissue removed during the procedure.

Insurance approval frequently depends on whether the amount of excess tissue excised meets the criteria for medical necessity, which is often determined using the Schnur Sliding Scale.

This scale takes into account the patient’s body surface area and the weight of breast tissue removed to assess if the procedure qualifies as medically necessary rather than cosmetic.

You may be a candidate for a breast reduction surgery if you:

• Dislike the large size, or they are heavy (excessively large breasts), pendulous breasts.
• Experience embarrassment or feel self-conscious or low self confidence about having very large breasts.
• Have symptoms associated with overly large breasts including back pain, shoulder grooving from your bra straps, constant pain, and shoulder pain.
• Recurrent rashes, infections, or skin irritation beneath the breast crease.
• Breast reductions are sometimes covered by insurance if certain conditions are met.

General considerations for coverage require that the size of the breasts is directly contributing to pain, discomfort, and/or rashes under the breasts.

In addition, coverage typically requires that a certain amount of breast tissue be removed.

How much excess breast tissue should be removed is determined by the Schnur Sliding Scale.

This scale calculates how much excess breast tissue needs to be removed by correlating the amount removed with the patient’s weight, or BSA (body surface area).

 If insurance is not paying for performing breast reduction surgery, there is more flexibility in the amount that needs to be removed.

 In this situation, board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rovelo will discuss with the patient her desired size and post-operative goals for symptom relief and aesthetic appearance.

How is Breast Reduction Surgery Performed?

Breast reduction surgery can be performed using several different incision patterns.

•  The vertical reduction (“lollipop incision”) places the incision around the areola and down the midline of the inferior breast. Occasionally this incision is extended horizontally in the inframammary fold (IMF) for a short distance. This technique works well for patients that need a very small reduction in size and who do not have an excessive amount of extra skin or breast tissue.
• The Wise pattern reduction (“anchor incision”) places the incision around the areola, down the midline of the inferior breast, and across the entire length of the inframammary fold (IMF). This technique is used for patients who require a significant reduction in breast size and who have a large amount of skin and tissue that needs to be removed. Although the incisions are long, a large portion of the incision pattern is hidden under the breast, while the visible portions tend to heal well.

Breast Lift and Breast Reduction: What’s the Difference?

While a  breast lift and breast reduction are sometimes performed together, they are distinct surgical procedures with different goals.

A breast lift, or mastopexy, is a cosmetic procedure designed to raise and reshape the breasts, restoring a more youthful appearance by addressing sagging and improving breast contour.

This procedure does not significantly change breast size, but it does enhance the position and firmness of the breasts.

In contrast, a breast reduction is a surgical procedure focused on reducing the size and volume of the breasts by removing excess breast tissue and skin. A breast lift is inherent and included in a breast reduction.

A breast reduction iis often pursued to alleviate physical discomfort, such as back or neck pain, and to achieve a breast size that is more in proportion with the patient’s body. 

A board certified plastic surgeon can help determine whether a breast lift, breast reduction, or a combination of both surgical procedures is best suited to your needs and desired outcome.

How Long After Breast Reduction Will I Know My Size?

For most patients, it takes a few months after a breast reduction to arrive at your final size.

During the initial recovery period, swelling is most pronounced and can make the breasts appear larger and firmer than usual.

In the initial few weeks, there is a significant amount of swelling.

To help reduce swelling during this time, it is important to wear a support bra as recommended by your surgeon.

Over the next few weeks, this swelling will start to go down.

Usually, by 6 weeks, the breasts are close to their final size.

At this stage, it is recommended to be sized for an underwire (or non-surgical) bra.

The breasts will still continue to go down in size, but to a lesser degree, up until about 3 months post-operatively.

They will also become much softer and have a more natural feel and position on the chest wall.

Breast Reduction Scars & Excess Breast Tissue

All breast reductions require incisions to be placed on the breasts.

These incisions typically go all the way around the areola (making it smaller in diameter), down the center of the breast and horizontally underneath the breast.

This is classically known as an anchor-pattern incision.

The horizontal incision that sits underneath the breast is typically not visible, but the incisions that go around the areola and down the center of the breast are visible.

A lollipop-pattern incision uses only the incisions around the areola and down the center of the breast.

This is typically reserved for patients that just need a breast lift (mastopexy) and is very rarely used for patients that require an actual reduction.

For the first few months, the scars will appear pink/red.

After 3-4 months, the red pigment will start to fade.

Over the course of the next year, the scars typically fade pretty well.

However, there are some scar treatments that can be initiated to improve the overall healing.

As soon as the incisions are fully healed (around 3-4 weeks), a silicone scar treatment in either a gel or an adhesive strip formulation is recommended.

There are also various laser and microneedling options for management of the scars.

Problematic scars can also be treated with injections and/or revision.

Asymmetry and Breast Reduction

Breast asymmetry is a common concern for many women, and breast reduction surgery can be an effective way to address this issue.

During the procedure, a skilled plastic surgeon carefully removes excess breast tissue and reshapes each breast to create a more balanced and symmetrical appearance.

In some cases, one breast may require more tissue removal than the other to achieve the best possible symmetry.

Every patient’s body is unique, so it’s important to discuss your specific concerns and goals with your plastic surgeon.

By customizing the breast reduction surgery to your needs, your surgeon can help you achieve a natural, harmonious look that enhances your confidence and comfort.

Can you do a breast reduction with just liposuction?

Breast tissue is fundamentally different than regular fat.

It contains glandular tissue (milk ducts) and fibrous elements.

These more structural components make it difficult to remove volume through liposuction alone.

Older patients may have less of this structural tissue and may be able to have liposuction alone, but this would be an extremely rare case.

In addition to its limitations in volume removal, liposuction does not remove the extra skin that is left behind.

Similarly, it does not provide the breast lift that is inherent in a classic breast reduction.

Liposuction can be used as a supplemental procedure to a breast reduction.

It is not uncommon to require liposuction of the sides of the chest wall and armpit area.

This is not breast tissue, but liposuction of these areas results in a more harmonious and aesthetically pleasing shape to the breasts.

Breast Reduction FAQs

How long should I wear my surgical bra after breast reduction?

Surgical, or post-op bras are special bras designed to improve the healing after a breast reduction.

They typically have some compression (similar to a sports bra) that assists with decreasing swelling, helping to reduce swelling, and improving post-operative comfort.

They button or zip up the front for ease of placement and easy access to any dressing changes that may be required.

Also, they do not have an underwire, in order to avoid too much compression on the incisions under the breasts.

It is generally recommended to wear a surgical bra the first six weeks after surgery.

This bra is typically applied right after surgery.

After 6 weeks, you can transition to a more traditional underwire bra.

Some patients find that they prefer to wear the post-operative bra for longer, or at night.

Supportive bras should be worn day and night as much as possible during the first 6 months after surgery. 

This will support the scars and prevent them from stretching out during the early scar maturation phase.

When can I sleep without a bra after breast reduction?

Never!

Just kidding, but seriously, not that often.

Even after a reduction, breasts will continue to respond to time, age, and gravity.

These factors will be in effect even at night while you are sleeping.

In order to preserve the long term results of your breast reduction, wearing either a regular underwire bra or a night-time sleeping bra is highly recommended.

Similarly, a good supportive bra should be worn most days.

Obviously, there are times when no bra or a light bralette may be preferred, but in general, a good supportive bra should be worn at all times to counteract the forces of gravity and to preserve your results.

Why Choose Dr. Rovelo for a Breast Reduction Surgery in Beverly Hills?

 Dr. Rovelo is a board certified plastic surgeon and truly a breast reduction expert.

She listens to the patients and works with them to obtain a size that they desire and that is proportionate to their body.

She has an eye for what makes a breast beautiful, natural, and in harmony with the rest of the body.

Keeping these goals in mind, she spends extra time with you in a private consultation as well as the operating room to ensure that the final result is not only a smaller breast, but also a beautiful breast.

Dr. Rovelo is also very aware that a breast reduction surgery can result in a range of emotions, and she is there to support the patients throughout the entirety of their surgical journey.

Her expertise covers both the functional and cosmetic surgery aspects of breast reduction, ensuring optimal results for both health and appearance.

Dr. Rovelo also offers other breast surgical services and cosmetic surgery services in Beverly Hills.

Breast Reduction Dr Qualifications

Choosing the right surgeon for your breast reduction surgery is essential for achieving safe, satisfying results.

It’s important to select a board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in breast procedures and has extensive experience performing breast reduction surgeries.

Board certification ensures that your surgeon has completed rigorous training and meets high standards of skill and patient safety.

Look for a plastic surgeon with a strong reputation, positive patient reviews, and a proven track record of successful outcomes.

Affiliation with reputable medical facilities and ongoing education in the latest surgical techniques are also important factors.

By entrusting your care to a qualified and experienced breast reduction dr, you can feel confident in your decision and look forward to excellent results.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Breast Reduction?

Breast reductions can be done as soon as breast development is complete and has stabilized (i.e. breasts are no longer growing).

In some patients, this can be as early as their mid-late teen years.

That being said, breasts may continue to have a slow amount of growth into late teen years, but this is usually not a substantial amount.

However, any weight gain or changes in hormone status (birth control, pregnancy, etc.) may cause the breasts to grow larger and a repeat or revision breast reduction may be required in the future.

Types of Breast Reductions

Teen Breast Reduction

Teen breast reduction surgery is fairly common.

There are many reasons why teens may want to have a breast reduction.

Frequently, the size of their breasts make it difficult to play the sports that they enjoy playing.

The size of their breasts may also make it difficult to just do regular physical activities for their age.

There can also be feelings of self-consciousness and the physical and emotional burden related to the size of the breasts.

For these reasons, a teen breast reduction can provide dramatic improvements in overall physical and emotional well-being.

An ideal teen breast reduction patient has completed breast development, can verbalize why they wish to have a reduction, and is emotionally mature enough to understand the risks/benefits of a breast reduction surgery.

Areola Reduction Surgery

Areola reduction is typically included in a breast reduction surgery.

This is because the areolas are frequently enlarged in a ratio consistent with the size of the breasts.

Once the breasts are reduced, the areolas also require a reduction in order to maintain size symmetry and proportion.

The areola reduction is included in the pattern of the skin incisions.

Heart Shaped Areola Reduction Surgery

Can you make the areolas a different shape when reducing them?

Wouldn’t that be great!

Unfortunately, this is not a reliable option.

Theoretically, the areolas could be cut into different shapes, however the long term results are not ideal. 

Areola tissue is very thin, and it is prone to stretching over time.

When cut into a classic circle pattern, stretching is not that noticeable and relatively symmetric.

However, when cut into a different pattern, such as a heart, the stretching can be inconsistent and asymmetric and result in a very strange and unaesthetic shape that may be different between the two breasts.

Nipple Reduction Surgery

 Nipple reduction frequently refers to changing the height/width of the nipple.

This is not typically addressed in a breast reduction.

Blood supply to the nipples is critical after a breast reduction, and combining a breast reduction with a nipple reduction may compromise the overall blood supply and healing.

Additionally, breast reduction surgery can affect nipple sensation, with patients sometimes experiencing increased or decreased sensitivity; these changes are often temporary and related to the surgical impact on nerve pathways.

If nipple reduction is desired, it would be best performed as a stand-alone procedure either before or ideally after a breast reduction.

This is a procedure that does not require general anesthesia and could be done as a local, in-office plastic surgery procedure.

How to Lose Belly Fat after Breast Reduction

It is not uncommon for patients to notice that their abdomen appears larger after a breast reduction.

This is not because the abdomen has actually become larger, but because the breasts are no longer covering it, and because the breasts have become disproportionately smaller, relative to the abdomen.

If this is a potential concern, fat reduction techniques such as liposuction and/or a tummy tuck can be added to a breast reduction procedure.

It is best to talk to your surgeon and determine if these are possible options when you pursue breast reduction surgery.

Breast Reduction Risks

A surgical procedure is associated with risks.

The risks associated with breast reduction include bleeding, infection, scarring, asymmetry, and need for revisional procedures.

Sensation to the nipple can be diminished or impaired.

The ability to breast-feed or produce milk may be compromised.

On rare occasions, blood supply to the nipple is compromised and the nipple undergoes partial or complete loss.

It is important to talk with Dr. Rovelo about the risks of your surgery and how the risks can be minimized to provide the best possible outcome.

Breast Reduction Recovery

Breast reduction in Beverly Hills or Los Angeles is performed in the outpatient surgical setting, under general anesthesia.

Depending on the extent of the surgery or patient preference, some patients may choose to stay one night in an aftercare facility.

During the initial healing phase, patients will be seen within a few days after surgery and then again at 1 week after surgery.

Light activity and return to work can resume after 1-2 weeks.

Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise may be resumed after 6 weeks.

Patients will need to wear a soft bra until healing is complete, typically 6 weeks.

Long-Term Results of Breast Reduction

The long-term results of breast reduction surgery can be transformative for many patients.

By removing excess breast tissue and reshaping the breasts, this procedure provides lasting relief from physical discomfort and creates a more balanced, natural looking result.

Many patients report a significant improvement in their quality of life, including increased mobility, reduced pain, and enhanced self-esteem.

With proper care, the benefits of breast reduction surgery can last for many years.

It’s important to follow your plastic surgeon’s post-operative instructions and attend all follow-up appointments to ensure optimal healing and maintain your results.

By choosing an experienced and skilled plastic surgeon, you can enjoy the confidence and comfort that come with a more proportionate and harmonious figure.

How Much Does a Breast Reduction Cost with Insurance

Obtaining insurance coverage for a breast reduction can be difficult to navigate, even when insurance requirements have been met and you require the medically necessary procedure.

Dr. Rovelo is an out-of-network provider, therefore all surgical fees will be due up front prior to surgery. Reimbursement from your insurance company is possible, but not guaranteed. The amount of reimbursement usually does not cover the entirety of fees.

Dr. Rovelo and her office staff are accustomed to working with insurance companies and will be able to assist you with your coverage questions.

With years of experience, Millicent Rovelo MD is considered one of the best breast reduction surgeons in Beverly Hills.

 For questions on cost and realistic expectations, contact Dr. Rovelo for a breast reduction consultation in southern California today.