How Is a Breast Reduction Performed?
At the beginning of the procedure, you will be administered general anesthesia to keep you comfortable during the surgery. Dr. Franco will then make an incision around the areola and reduce the underlying breast tissue. In some cases, he may also reposition the areola higher on the breast. After achieving your desired shape, Dr. Franco closes the incisions, providing immediately visible results.
What Types of Incisions Are Used?
There are three popular breast reduction incision techniques that Dr. Franco uses. This includes the:
- Donut incision. This technique utilizes an incision around the areola. Since there is a natural transition between the areola and the skin, the scar is hardly noticeable at the edge of the areola. The donut incision is ideal for patients who only have mildly large breasts.
- Lollipop incision. Also known as a vertical incision, this technique requires one incision around the edge of the areola and another down to the bottom of your breast. For most patients, the vertical incision on the lower portion of the breast will be noticeable after surgery. This method is best for patients who have moderately large breasts.
- Anchor incision. The anchor is one of the most common incisions for breast reduction and is used for patients who need substantial adjustments to their breast tissue. Like the lollipop incision, it includes a vertical line from the areola down to the bottom of the breast. However, it also has an additional incision along the bottom crease, making a distinctive T-shape. This technique produces the largest amount of scarring, but in all cases, Dr. Franco works to create the most minimal scars. We will provide you with scar aftercare instructions so that the incisions heal properly. After a year, incisions will flatten and fade so that they are far less obvious.
The type of incision Dr. Franco uses will depend on the size and shape of your breasts. No matter which incision is needed, he will make sure that you are happy with your results.
What Is Recovery Like?
In general, breast reduction recovery is relatively straightforward. After your breast surgery, you will need someone to drive you home since you will still be groggy from the anesthesia. A day or two after the procedure, Dr. Franco will see you to make sure you are on track for recovery.
For the first couple of weeks, you may feel a burning sensation around the incision and some breast soreness. Try to rest as much as you can and take a week or so off from work. Many patients return to work in as little as one week depending on the physical demands of their job.
While the scar from the incision is mostly permanent, it can easily be hidden under a bra. After a year or so, the scar will flatten and gradually fade into a light pink color.
How Much Does a Breast Reduction Cost?
Dr. Johnny Franco believes that every patient deserves to know the cost of breast surgery upfront. Please visit our pricing page to see the cost of breast reduction surgery and other types of procedures.
Schedule Your Breast Reduction Consultation With Dr. Franco Today
If you want to learn more about the breast reduction options available to you, call Austin Plastic Surgeon today at 512-827-0638 to setup a free appointment with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Johnny Franco. He will create a custom breast treatment plan that meets your personal goals. We welcome patients living throughout Texas and the United States to our office in Austin.
