Liposuction for Breast Reduction

Liposuction surgery is often used to remove the fats in the abdominal area, however, what many people don’t know is that the procedure can also serve as a replacement for traditional breast reduction.  When given to the right patient, it can reduce the size of female breasts by more than 50 percent.

In many cases, liposuction can also have a slight to moderate lifting effect because it can remove the weight of the excess fats.

Compared to the traditional breast reduction in which the excess fats, glandular tissue, and skin are removed, liposuction is less invasive; in fact, most patients can resume to most of their daily activities two to three days after the procedure.

But perhaps the most notable advantage of liposuction over traditional breast reduction surgery is that the risk of scar is almost eliminated.  This is possible because plastic surgeons only use a few small round incisions where they insert a pen-like device that suctions out the fats.

Some women achieve better results than others after breast reduction via liposuction, especially those whose breast enlargement is primarily caused by excess fats rather than tissue.  Many doctors have noticed that patients who have passed through their menopause tend to have more glandular fats than teenagers, making them a great candidate for this procedure.

However, younger women may also enjoy the benefits of breast reduction via liposuction as long as the excess fat is one of the contributing factors of their breast enlargement.  To determine the amount of glandular fats, most doctors require their patients to undergo mammogram.

But still, not all women with exceedingly large breasts are a good candidate for liposuction.  Those with macromastia—a condition in which the breasts are extremely big due to abnormal development of the glandular tissue—will likely need the excision-based breast reduction surgery.

Thin women with excessively large breasts often have more glandular tissue and little fats, making them a bad candidate for liposuction.  For these patients, only the excision-based breast reduction can provide them good results.

After liposuction, the result is a smaller version of the breasts; however, patients should remember that the procedure cannot change the shape of the bosom. 

In many cases, it can also create a slight to moderate lifting effect because the weight of the excess fats is remove, though patients should remember that the final result also depends on the elasticity of their breast’s suspensory ligaments.

Because there is only minimal trauma to the glands and nerve, there is little chance that breast reduction via liposuction will affect breastfeeding.

Celebrity Body-Builder to Downsize Her Breast Implants

In a recent interview, celebrity body-builder Jodie Marsh said she wants to downside her breast implants with a revision plastic surgery that is going to be performed this year.  Her decision to get another “boob job” came after dropping to a size 6 over the past couple of months.

The British tv personality, who has appeared topless on numerous tabloid newspapers, was quoted saying that her large implants seem out of proportion with her smaller body-frame.  In fact, she even admitted to “lifting her breasts” during body-building competitions because they hide the “first couple of rows of her abs.”

Meanwhile, Dr. TarickSmaili, a cosmetic surgeon who did not treat Marsh, said that he is seeing more patients wanting to downside their breasts in order to achieve a more natural look.

“In general, very large breast implants lead to the heavy top look which often looks unnatural, especially if you have a small frame and limited chest width.  Surprisingly, this was a trend during the previous years although I am now seeing that many patients are opting to replace their implants with smaller ones to look natural,” Smaili said.

Another concern with extremely large breast implants, Smaili said, is that the patients are at higher risk of rippling, which is more of a problem if they have a limited amount of breast tissue and fats to cover the implant shell.

Citing the body-builder’s recent photo, Smaili said that her upper and medial cleavage has some visible rippling, which the doctor explained is caused by implants that are too large for her body.

Marsh is not the only celebrity who is shifting to the natural look.  In fact, Denise Richards and Pamela Anderson have been reported to undergo a revision breast augmentation to downsize their implants.

Another good example is Kate Hudson who has been reported to have plastic surgery in 2010 to receive small breast implants that no one would even be able to tell she have them if not for her previous videos and photos.

Going back to Marsh, she previously said that she was concerned if she had the controversial PIP breast implants which have been pulled out in the UK market and other countries after findings suggest the devices have a very high failure rate.

However, she did not mention if her decision to replace her breast implants with smaller ones has also something to do with the controversial PIP devices.

Are You a Good Candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery?

While breast augmentation aims to increase the bust size, the goal of breast reduction surgery is the total opposite.  This procedure typically involves extensive incisions to remove a certain amount of tissue, fats, and skin, which in turn can lessen the size of the female chest.

Breast reduction surgery is particularly ideal if you are suffering from chronic back pain, limited movement because of the extra weight of your bust, non-healing irritation in the cleavage and along the crease, and shoulder strain, just to name a few.  However, you may also have the procedure even without these symptoms if you like to improve your figure.

But as with any major surgery, you must be in good health as it requires several weeks of recovery.  It simply means that you must not be suffering from serious medical conditions that may delay your recovery or result to undue risks.

You are not a good candidate particularly if you have wound healing disorders, diabetes, heart problems, and kidney disorders.  As much as possible, these conditions should be treated first or at least “controlled” before you undergo any surgery, particularly if it involves extensive incisions.

You should also think twice of having breast reduction surgery if you have a history of irregular mammograms and undiagnosed lumps in the breasts.

Another important requirement is to be in normal weight.  You should remember that if you are obese or are experiencing significant weight changes, the result of surgery may be reversed and/or you may end up with a deflated-looking, sagging bust.  While repeating the procedure is possible, doing so will result to more scarring and higher risk of asymmetrical appearance.

Meanwhile, smokers in general are not a good candidate for any cosmetic surgery as they are very prone to gangrene (manifested by purplish color which doesn’t seem like common bruises) and delayed healing.  Because the nicotine stiffens the blood vessels, the oxygen-rich blood finds it hard to reach the wound.

As with any plastic surgery, you will undergo a lengthy consultation with your doctor so he can determine if your expectations and goals are realistic.  You should remember that breast reduction cannot change the fundamental shape of your bust, and the result will only be a smaller version of your breasts.

You should also accept the fact that scarring is just one of the tradeoffs of having breast surgery.  These are the other things you also have to consider: risk of asymmetrical appearance, puckery skin, infection, and delayed healing; however, these can be minimized or even avoided if you will choose a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.