BREAST REDUCTION & SUBSTANTIAL WEIGHT LOSSThe Clinic for Plastic Surgery

After achieving the goal of substantial weight loss, many women are faced with a new problem: sagging skin and pendulous breasts that are uncomfortable and not in proportion with their current body size. Diet and exercise alone are not capable of restoring firm and uplifted breasts but there is a procedure that is tailor made for this problem.

Breast reduction surgery, called reduction mammoplasty, removes excess skin and any pockets of fat that remain, creating an attractive breast profile that compliments the weight loss efforts of months or even years.

Additionally, a breast reduction will also reposition the nipple to a higher position, will reduce the size of the areola if needed, and will tighten and lift the underlying muscles. Many women find that breast reduction surgery has multiple benefits ranging from relieving back pain and skin chaffing to making shopping for clothes a pleasure. The boost in self confidence for many women is the biggest benefit of all.

Candidates

Breast reduction surgery after substantial weight loss should only be considered after weight has been stable for six months to a year. This will allow the skin to shrink as much as possible and will ensure that large swings in weight are not going to sabotage results in the future.

Good candidates have achieved their desired weight yet have sagging skin that makes it difficult to fit into clothing of their choice and causes irritation particularly in hot and humid weather.

Candidates for breast reduction surgery should be in good health with no uncontrolled medical conditions. Since breast reduction surgery will create some visible scars, candidates should feel that the improvement in breast profile is worth dealing with some scarring which will not be visible when wearing clothing.

Body contouring

Following substantial weight loss many patients find that they have sagging skin in other areas such as the upper arms, thighs and abdomen. In these cases body contouring can be performed, usually over several sessions, to restore a more natural contour to these areas. Breast reduction may be done in conjunction with other procedures in some cases if Dr. Sukkar feels the patient would benefit from combining procedures.

Obesity and Breast Reduction Surgery

Obese patients who wish to have breast reduction surgery may need to wait until they have lost some weight before having reduction mammoplasty. A recent study reported in the American Society of Plastic Surgeons official journal found that obese patients have a 35% higher risk of complications following surgery.

The study followed almost 48,000 adult patients who had received common cosmetic procedures including breast reduction. Of the 4% of these patients who were determined to be obese by their body mass index (BMI) it was found that they had a 35% higher risk of postoperative complications.

Risks vs. Rewards

Assessing the risk is one of the components of planning any surgery. Houston plastic surgeon, Dr. Sukkar has thousands of procedures to his credit and his job is to weigh the risks and benefits of procedures that can increase the quality of life for his patients. If you are suffering from back pain and irritation and want to find out if this procedure is safe at your weight, book an appointment with Dr. Sukkar. As a board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, he has helped countless women achieve the comfort and improved appearance that breast reduction surgery was developed to provide.