With breast reduction surgery becoming increasingly popular in New York recent years, many potential candidates are wondering if there is an optimal age for having the surgery.
As with any surgery, breast reduction also comes with potential risks. For those considering plastic surgery in the New York area, it is important to consider these risks when deciding if it is the right time to undergo the procedure.
BREAST REDUCTION RISKS
Generally, risks of breast reduction surgery include decreased sensation or loss of sensation in the nipple, infection, poor wound healing, asymmetry and the death of fat tissue in the breast. Very rarely there may be a complication resulting in death of the skin on the nipple, which results in subsequent removal of the nipple.
However, in general, most complications to be expected with breast reduction are minor and temporary.
There have been reports that found a correlation between a trend of higher infection rate and poor wound healing and women who underwent the procedure in their 40s and 50s. Based on these findings, it appeared that women over age 50 had a higher rate of post-operative complications, when compared to their younger counterparts. It was also noted that women on hormone replacement therapy tended to fare better, whereas those who had a hysterectomy fared worse, suggesting that declining estrogen levels might play a role in poor healing.
YOUNGER CANDIDATES
For younger women, opting for breast reduction surgery, difficulty in breast feeding is a common concern. The verdict on this is still undecided, because although some studies have indicated a lower rate of breast-feeding success after reduction surgery, others have indicated a rate is similar to that of women in the general population.
Judging by the potential complications, logic may conclude that there is indeed an ideal age for the surgery — after childbearing, to eliminate worries about breast-feeding complications, but before the hormonal decline of menopause. However, medical experts claim that it does not work this way. They state that rather than looking for a cut-off age, instead, women should ask themselves whether they are healthy candidates to begin with.
BREAST REDUCTION SURGERY
Typically, breast reduction is designed for women who are in overall good health, both physically and psychologically. Some medical conditions, such as cancer and severe obesity, may make the surgery unsafe. Candidates who are in good health, regardless of their age, should generally be able to enjoy the physical and emotional benefits of breast reduction surgery without serious complications.
In order to minimize risk and complications it is also important to select a well-reputed and reliable surgeon. Dr. Michael Gartner is fully certified as a plastic surgeon by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is also fully certified as a general surgeon by the American Board of Surgery. He is one of the few plastic surgeons in the country who have Double Board Certification.
Breast reduction surgery is routinely performed both in the Manhattan office as well as both of the New Jersey locations.
As one of the most popular plastic surgeons in New York, Dr. Gartner’s practice specializes in breast reduction procedures and it remains one of their most rewarding treatments.