Breast reduction surgery addresses excess breast tissue that may be causing both physical and emotional discomfort. With this procedure, board-certified Indianapolis plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph Fata can reduce the size and weight of your breasts while also producing a more symmetrical and balanced appearance. This, in turn, can have a profound impact on your physical abilities and emotional comfort, improving range of motion, relieving back and neck pain, and restoring a better contoured appearance to your entire upper body.
If you are considering breast reduction in the Indianapolis, Indiana area, Dr. Joseph Fata can help. Call Renaissance Plastic Surgery at 317-575-9152 to learn how.
The Vertical Breast Reduction Technique
Dr. Fata was one of the first plastic surgeons in Indianapolis to offer the “vertical breast reduction" technique. With this advanced technique, skin and breast tissue are removed from the central lower part of the breast, but the nipple and tissue of the upper breast are preserved. Compared to the traditional “anchor scar” design, the vertical breast reduction technique creates a much shorter scar and results in a better breast shape because the natural contours of your breast are preserved. This technique also helps eliminate the risk of “bottoming out” or sagging following breast reduction, making it ideal for most of our patients.
Breast Reduction Candidates
Many women with overly large breasts experience back, neck, shoulder, and breast pain because of the weight of their breasts. Other women cannot exercise or participate in sports, and some women are self-conscious about the unwanted attention brought by large breasts.
Breast reduction surgery is a reliable way to reduce the size and weight of your breasts and relieve your pain. If you struggle with discomfort from excessively large breasts, you may be the ideal breast reduction candidate.
In addition to having large and heavy breasts, to be a good candidate for breast reduction you will need to be:
- A nonsmoker or willing to quit
- In generally good physical health
- Aware of all potential risks
- Able to follow pre and postoperative instructions
- Realistic about outcomes
Breast reduction can be used to improve symmetry, eliminate pain, and improve physical ability, but even with the short-scar technique, it will leave a scar and may be noticeable when viewed directly. Dr. Fata will listen to your desires and provide you with honest information about what you can expect from this procedure during your initial consultation.
Breast Reduction Costs
Your medical insurance may cover breast reduction if it is for physical comfort. However, individual insurance plans vary and some require a recommendation from your primary care physician and a trial of "conservative" treatment, such as physical therapy, before they approve breast reduction. If your insurance company will not cover your breast reduction, it can be performed as a cosmetic plastic surgery procedure.
Dr. Fata's surgical fee is $5000-5500, depending on the amount of reduction and length of the procedure. This fee includes all of the follow-up office visits after your procedure. The cost for the surgery center, including the anesthesiologist's fee, ranges from $2600-2800 depending on the time, bringing the total cost of breast reduction to $7,600 to $8,300 depending. If you would like information about financing breast reduction, we can provide you with forms during your initial consultation.
To assist you as you gather information on the procedure of breast reduction, Dr. Fata has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions based on his extensive experience with patients who have had breast reduction.
How should I prepare for Breast Reduction Surgery?
Breast reduction surgery is conservative compared to many general surgical procedures. That said, surgery is still surgery and is inevitably stressful for the body. To promote optimal healing, patients may begin planning for recover well in advance. Suggestions for doing so include:
Getting health in order. Patients must be in good general health to be ideal candidates for breast reduction. Once the surgery is scheduled, it is necessary to avoid tobacco and nicotine and to limit the consumption of alcohol. Patients are also encouraged to get plenty of rest before surgery and to maintain a healthy diet with an abundance of nutrients that give the body the energy it needs to heal well. - Plan downtime. Patients realize that they may need some time off work after breast reduction. The general recommendation is 2 weeks, even though much of the postoperative discomfort and side effects diminish in one week. In addition to time off, downtime includes a break from normal daily activities. Patients undergoing breast reduction should arrange to have help at home for at least one week. Tasks to hand off to someone else include cooking, cleaning, childcare, pet care, driving, and laundry.
- Prepare the recovery space. Patients may want to have someone stay with them for a day or two after breast reduction. The space at home in which most time will be spent should also offer an immense amount of comfort. This can look different for everyone. The space could have a favorite blanket or some extra pillows. It should have items for enjoyment, as well, such as books or magazines and movies and music.
Breast Reduction Recovery
Dr. Fata performs breast reduction surgery at the Carmel Surgery Center in Carmel, Indiana as either an outpatient or with a 23-hour overnight stay. The only restrictions are no strenuous exercise or heavy lifting for the first two weeks after your breast reduction surgery, and you will wear a sports bra for four weeks. You will need a few days off from work, but not more than a week.
You will return to Dr. Fata’s Indianapolis, Indiana office within the first two weeks of your breast reduction surgery for periodic check-ups. Your follow-up care will never be delegated to an assistant and it will be covered in the final cost of your procedure.
Are there any risks of Breast Reduction Surgery?
All surgeries have associated risks, many of which are similar regardless of the procedure. Breast reduction surgery has inherent risks associated with anesthesia. Additionally, patients are made aware of the slight risks of the following:
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Changes in nipple sensation
- Asymmetrical outcome
- Changes in skin sensation
How small can I go with my Breast Reduction?
Many patients ask about the extent of reduction they can get. After years of living with back, shoulder, and neck pain, many women believe that the opposite of what they have would be ideal. This is not our objective. Breast reduction surgery can achieve results that are both physically and aesthetically pleasing. Sometimes, women who find a surgeon who will make them nearly flat-chested regret their decision.
The goal of breast reduction surgery is to improve comfort while maintaining natural physical proportions. Achieving this, we are far more likely to avoid complications and allow the patient to feel a sense of emotional and physical relief. Balancing breast and body does two things, it improves comfort and maintains the necessary amount of blood supply to the nipple. Balancing breast and body may look like reducing a G cup size to a DD, not to a B. Drastic reduction may cut off blood supply to the nipple area and result in prolonged numbness or tissue death, not to mention the ability to breastfeed.
Patients interested in breast reduction surgery receive personal care from Dr. Fata, who has performed thousands of plastic surgery procedures. With thoughtful listening, discussion, and planning, we strive to achieve the exact results that will best suit the long-term needs of each patient.
What should I avoid after my Breast Reduction?
After breast surgery of any kind, patients are encouraged to prioritize rest above all else. For healing to occur optimally, most of one’s normal daily activities should be avoided. Tasks like driving, cooking, and housework take a backseat to healing. To maximize circulation to the breast area, patients must avoid smoking and nicotine use and should take short walks a few times a day. It is necessary to avoid lifting, carrying, pulling, and pushing objects that weigh more than a few pounds. Swimming, hot tubs, and saunas should also be avoided.
Our breast reduction patients can expect to receive an outline of post-operative instructions regarding incision care and general recovery. Our team is also available to answer questions as needed during the recovery process.
Is Breast Reduction surgery painful?
Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anesthesia. This type of anesthesia creates a deep sleep state in which pain receptors are shut off. Patients have no physical sensation while under general anesthesia. When waking up from surgery or a short time thereafter, the breast area may feel sore or tender. The discomfort normal to breast reduction is managed with prescription painkillers for a few days, after which patients can manage comfort with an over-the-counter medication provided that they are following their postoperative activity restrictions.
Schedule Your Appointment
If you believe you could benefit from breast reduction, call Renaissance Plastic Surgery at 317-575-9152 to schedule your initial consultation today. Dr. Joseph Fata offers breast reduction to qualified patients in Indianapolis, Carmel, and all surrounding areas of Indiana.
