Breast Reduction
Conveniently located to serve the areas of New Jersey
Breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) is a procedure that reshapes the breasts and decreases their size to balance your body proportions. Large breasts can cause neck, back, and shoulder pain that affects your quality of life. Breast reduction has helped many women find relief and achieve a curvier, more youthful figure afterward. In 2023, specialists performed more than 76,000 times (1) to help patients enhance their figures.
Dr. Michael Gartner is a double board-certified plastic surgeon who was instrumental in developing awake breast augmentation– a cutting-edge breast enhancement technique that does not require general anesthesia. With his extensive expertise, Dr. Gartner has helped many women transform their figures with life-changing procedures that take an hour or less.
Contact our office to learn more about how breast reduction can improve your quality of life:
Contents
About Breast Reduction
Breast reduction is a procedure that removes both the granular and fatty tissue from the breasts to create a smaller breast mound. Large breasts can make participating in exercise difficult, and droopy skin can cause skin irritation along the lower breast crease. Large breasts can also affect your proportions and the way your bras fit.
With breast reduction, Dr. Gartner can reduce your cup size while taking care to reshape the breast mound in an attractive way. He can improve your breast projection with a discreet incision to create a perkier appearance. Some women may choose to combine breast reduction with a breast lift to remove significant excess skin.
Scarless Breast Reduction vs. Vertical Breast Reduction
During a scarless breast reduction, Dr. Gartner will perform liposuction to remove fatty tissue from the breasts to reduce their size. Dr. Gartner will use a special technique that naturally raises the nipple to a higher position for a balanced look. If you would like to remove a small amount of tissue with minimal scarring, a scarless breast reduction is likely a good fit for you. Scarless breast reduction is best for patients whose breasts are primarily composed of fatty tissue. However, if your breasts have a lot of granular tissue or you would like a larger reduction, Dr. Gartner will likely recommend the vertical breast reduction technique.
Contact our office to schedule a consultation and learn more about how breast reduction can enhance your figure.
Benefits
There are several benefits to breast reduction, including:
- Improved posture: Since the procedure can help you find relief from back, neck, and shoulder pain, many women find that their posture improves afterward.
- Better fitting clothing: You can feel more comfortable wearing different types of clothing with breasts that are proportional to your figure.
- Minimal scarring: Dr. Gartner can reshape the breasts with incisions that are just a few millimeters long for a natural appearance.
- Enhanced self-confidence: Many women feel better about their appearance afterward.
- Less skin irritation: If you regularly experience rashes from droopy breasts, repositioning them with a breast reduction can help.
- Minimal downtime: Since Dr. Gartner only uses local anesthesia with oral sedation, you can enjoy a shorter recovery period. Most patients can return to work within a week or less.
- Improved breast symmetry: If your breasts are asymmetrical, breast reduction can balance them for a more even look.
- Long-lasting results: If you take good care of your body and maintain a stable weight, you can enjoy results that last for several years.
Candidates
Suitable candidates for breast reduction would like to reduce the size of their breasts for a more balanced silhouette. If you would like to find relief from back, neck, and shoulder pain that is caused by large breasts you are likely a good candidate for the procedure.
Suitable candidates are generally healthy and do not have any medical conditions that could impact their procedure or recovery. If you are a candidate for the procedure, you will need to have realistic expectations as well.
Consultation
During your consultation, Dr. Gartner will ask about your medical history, current medications, and lifestyle. He will also perform a physical exam to determine the best treatment plan for your needs, including the best surgical techniques to perform based on your underlying anatomy.
During your meeting, he can also discuss the recovery process with you. Dr. Gartner takes great care to understand your goals and how he can help you achieve stunning, natural-looking results.
Preparation
To prepare for breast reduction, Dr. Gartner will ask you to take the following steps for a smooth recovery:
- Avoid taking supplements and medications that thin your blood.
- Stop smoking temporarily for at least two weeks before.
- Take a shower with antibacterial soap and wash your hair on the day of your procedure.
- Arrange for a trusted adult to drive you home and care for you.
- Prepare your home for your recovery– set up a comfortable place to rest, prepare your meals, do any grocery shopping, and arrange for childcare.
- Fill prescriptions for your recovery ahead of time and stock up on any medical supplies you need, such as bandages, antibacterial soap, hot water bottles, and ice packs.
- Stop eating and drinking eight hours before your surgery.
Dr. Gartner can provide specific instructions to help you prepare based on your treatment plan.
Procedure
To begin your procedure, our team will cleanse your skin and administer anesthesia. Dr. Gartner will mark your skin and make thin incisions along your breast fold that are easy to conceal.
Through the discreet incisions, he will reshape the breast mound, remove the excess tissue to reduce your breast size, and reposition the nipple for a natural appearance. The technique he uses will depend on your personalized treatment plan and underlying anatomy. He will close the incision with dissolvable sutures and you can return home to rest after a monitoring period.
Scarless Breast Reduction
Scarless breast reduction decreases the size of your breasts without extensive scarring. Dr. Gartner will make a thin incision beneath the breasts along the inframammary fold. The incision is approximately 5 mm long, about half the size of a green pea. He takes care to hide the incisions along the natural breast creases. He can remove fatty tissue from the breasts with liposuction and close the incision with sutures for a smoother, curvier appearance.
Vertical Breast Reduction
During a vertical breast reduction, Dr. Gartner will make an incision that encircles the areola and extends downward to the base of the breast (lollipop incision). This technique provides more fullness to the upper pole without long horizontal scars beneath the breast. This technique minimizes downtime and reduces scarring for a more natural look. He will reposition the excess breast tissue to create a firmer and perkier breast shape. This technique is suitable for patients who wish to have a larger reduction.
Recovery
After the procedure, our team will take you to a recovery room to monitor you until you wake up. It is common to experience temporary swelling, bruising, and some mild discomfort for approximately a week afterward. You will be able to take a shower once any drains have been removed. Use mild soap without rubbing the area, and gently pat your skin dry afterward to help your body heal.
Most patients return to desk work in about 7-10 days.
Most patients resume strenuous exercise two weeks after a scarless breast reduction, and four weeks after a vertical breast reduction. Dr. Gartner can prescribe pain medications for a comfortable recovery. You will need to follow up with the office so Dr. Gartner can monitor your recovery and make sure you are doing well. Although scarless breast reduction does not require drains, we may place them if you receive a vertical breast reduction.
Results
Once you have had your breast reduction surgery, you will probably be able to notice an immediate improvement in your breast size. However, you will not be able to see the final results of your surgery until a few months down the road, as you will need some time to recover.
After the procedure, you can enjoy a more balanced body contour and improved self-esteem. Breast reduction can reduce the pain, irritation, and discomfort caused by larger breasts which makes it easier for you to participate in exercise.
The Cost of Breast Reduction in New York
The cost of breast reduction will depend on your personalized treatment plan and the amount of tissue you would like to remove. We can provide an all-inclusive quote to help you enhance your breasts so you can enjoy a more proportional look.
Contact our office to learn more about how breast reduction can improve your figure:
FAQ
Can I breastfeed after breast reduction?
This depends on the surgical method for your breast reduction. With a scarless breast reduction (liposuction), you would be able to breastfeed. With the short scar or vertical breast reduction technique, you will most likely not be able to breastfeed.
Will I have a change in nipple sensation after breast reduction?
Some patients experience temporary changes to nipple sensation which should resolve after 1-2 weeks.
Will I have scars after breast reduction?
We take care to make thin, discreet incisions that are hardly noticeable and very easy to conceal beneath your clothing.
Can I combine breast reduction with other procedures?
Yes, many patients choose to combine breast reduction with a breast lift to remove excess skin, and we can discuss the best treatment plan for your needs during your consultation to create a personalized plan.
References
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons ® Endorsed Partner. https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/news/statistics/2023/plastic-surgery-statistics-report-2023.pdf
- Sadiq KO, Ruiz Cota P, Creamer R, Mahedia M, Dobke MK. Reduction mammaplasty relieves depression in women with macromastia: A systematic review. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. 2024;99:502-505. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjps.2024.10.011
- Sachs D, Szymanski KD. Breast Reduction. PubMed. Published 2024. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28723003/
