BREAST REDUCTION
Breast reduction is important to many women. From a physical standpoint, it can lead to less pain in the neck and upper back area and shoulder region, along with reduction in headaches. This surgery may also improve the woman’s ability to wear more fashionable clothing, improve body image and significantly enhance confidence. Our past clients have been kind enough to allow their before and after photos to be available to you.
BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY CONSULTATION
At the initial consultation of breast reduction surgery, a pertinent medical and family history will be taken with particular emphasis on breast issues. You will see a film that outlines the procedure of breast reduction. Dr. Vogt and his nursing staff will then meet with you and explain the surgical procedure in a personalized fashion. All efforts will be made to answer all of the questions you may have regarding breast reduction surgery.
You are encouraged to bring a friend or significant other with you to be present during the discussion and the question-and-answer phase for greater comprehension and retention of the information that is given at the time of the consultation. After this, your surgeon will perform a focused physical examination, addressing important issues such as the size and symmetry of your breasts and chest wall. This may include areas of fatty deposits in the folds in front of the armpit and the side of the chest wall that could be treated at the same time as the breast reduction surgery.
There are numerous ways of trying to determine a woman’s objective in breast reduction surgery. A frank discussion needs to be held regarding this matter. Dr. Vogt encourages patients to discuss the size that they would like to become after their breast reduction surgery. Often patients would like to have their breasts reduced to a much smaller size, but caution has to be exercised to avoid damage to a patient’s body image.
A detailed discussion is held with the patient at the time of the office consultation as to medications that need to be avoided, time required off from work if undergoing breast reduction surgery and the level of activity following the surgical procedure. The patient will also meet with the surgical and scheduling director who will outline the costs of the operative procedure, which will be all-inclusive of the operating room, anesthesia, and the surgical fee. Sometimes the patient will be able to submit a report to their insurance carrier to receive reimbursement because of the physical aspects of the chronic, painful, breast enlargement. This would be the responsibility of the patient.
BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY
We prefer to use an anchor-type of incision in which the final incision is located around the areola, a vertical incision from the areola to the crease, and an incision in the crease itself. There are many incisions that can be employed in breast reduction surgery, but after having performed over 1000 breast reduction surgeries, Dr. Vogt feels that he is able to achieve the nicest shape and projection of the breast utilizing this method of breast reduction surgery.
THE DAY OF BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY
The breast reduction surgical procedure requires approximately five hours of preoperative planning, operating time, and recovery. During the preoperative phase, the patient will meet with their surgeon and a nurse to ensure that all questions are answered before proceeding. Careful markings will be made on the chest wall and often on the fold in front of the axilla and on the lateral chest wall to guarantee as much symmetry as possible during the surgical procedure. The patient will then be given a large mirror to make certain that all areas of surgery have been marked. The board-certified medical doctor anesthesiologist (MDA) at Wayzata Plastic Surgery will then meet with the patient and review the exact type of anesthetic that will be utilized to assure the greatest degree of comfort and safety. After the breast reduction surgery, the patient will be transferred to the Recovery Room in the care of a registered nurse who has Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training.
THE POSTOPERATIVE PERIOD FOLLOWING BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY
A responsible adult must be available to transport the patient following surgery and also be available for the first 24 hours to assist the patient getting up to the bathroom, taking medications, and eating and drinking. A detailed set of instructions will accompany the patient home and the Recovery Room nursing staff will review all of these instructions carefully. A nurse from Wayzata Plastic Surgery will call the patient the evening of the surgery to check postop status and answer questions. If any questions or concern arise outside of normal business hours, our answering service will be able to contact Dr. Vogt for you. You will need to return to the clinic the day after surgery to possibly have drains removed if these were employed, and also to check the vascularity to the nipple and areolar complex and the breasts generally to ensure that no complications are arising.