Breast reduction | Reduction mammoplasty

Summary of surgery

TIME

2 - 3h

ANESTHESIA

General

HOSPITALIZATION

1 Night

RECOVERY

2 Weeks

English subtitled video

The breast reduction treatment or reduction mammoplasty at Clínica Sanza in Barcelona consists of the correction of breast hypertrophy, a pathology caused by an exaggerated increase in breast volume. This increase may occur at puberty. It is known as virginal mammary hypertrophy and is due to a hypersensitivity of the breast to female hormones. In these cases the breast usually looks homogeneous, turgid, strong and elastic, but large and uncomfortable, or uncomfortable.

As age advances, breast hypertrophy is usually due to the progressive increase in the fatty tissue that makes up the breast and may or may not be accompanied by hyperdevelopment of the glandular tissue. The breast is large, less turgid, inelastic, with poor internal vascularization and a marked superficial venous network.

The increase in volume in conjunction with the characteristics of the skin usually causes stretch marks, which are nothing more than scars caused by the rupture of the skin when it is unable to contain the expansion of the tissue.

The considerable increase in breast volume often affects the quality of life of many patients, stigmatizing the way they dress, the practice of sports, their social development and affecting their individual self-image. Apart from the aesthetic considerations already mentioned, there are also functional affections, since the overdeveloped breast causes alterations in the dynamics of standing, with imbalance of the balance of forces supported by the dorsal spine and skin alterations at the level of the submammary fold or shoulder pain due to the bra, among other pathologies.

WHERE DO WE OPERATE?

At Clínica Sanza we rely on the Sagrat Cor Hospital, part of the Quirónsalud group, to perform our surgical procedures.
Its prestige, facilities, medical and healthcare staff, as well as its technology are a guarantee.

BARCELONA: A HEALTH HUB

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WE ORGANIZE EVERYTHING FOR YOU

Your trip, your flight, your operation, your transfer and your hotel with our support agency. We work with the best travel agencies worldwide.

Book a visit

You can do it in 3 ways:

– Free on-site visit: Call +34 932066540 from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

– Free on-site visit with IMMEDIATE booking: For booking outside office hours. We charge 60 € on your card to avoid false bookings. It is refunded on the day you come to the consultation.

– ONLINE Visit: Video conference using whatsapp or Zoom. Cost of 60 € non-refundable. When booking indicate in the comments that you want videoconferencing and not on-site.

Book a visit

You can do it in 3 ways:

– Free on-site visit: Call +34 932066540 from Monday to Thursday from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

– Free on-site visit with IMMEDIATE booking: For booking outside office hours. We charge 60 € on your card to avoid false bookings. It is refunded on the day you come to the consultation.

– ONLINE Visit: Video conference using whatsapp or Zoom. Cost of 60 € non-refundable. When booking indicate in the comments that you want videoconferencing and not on-site.

PATIENT PROFILE

Typically, women who feel their breasts are too large and desire their size and shape.

PROCEDURE

There are different techniques for the resolution of this pathology, and all of them aim to elevate the nipple-areola complex; reduce the size of the breast; achieve a volume, shape and symmetry as perfect as possible, and all this with a minimum of residual scars that are as hidden as possible. Dr. Sanza places great importance on scars and is well known for his minimal scarring techniques and improved results.

The choice of one technique or another will depend on the characteristics and volume of the breast. Among the breast characteristics that most determine it are the height of the nipple, the width of the breast base, the extension of the breast and the intermammary distance.

Reduction and elevation surgery are similar and share common steps. Most patients who come to the office for a problem of breast hypertrophy usually also have some degree of breast ptosis (i.e., breast drooping), so both problems should be corrected in the same procedure.

During the procedure, we always try to minimize scarring, which is why we never or almost never leave any horizontal scars (the famous inverted “T” or anchor), a technique that despite the scar stigmata is still too often done today (unfortunately).

The scars are usually very fine and barely visible in most cases, and in the rare occasions in which a scar is too evident, corrective procedures can always be carried out; either by a small touch-up of these scars in order to make them practically imperceptible, or even by tattooing them.

We currently have a device that we are already using in the breast surgery unit of Clínica Sanza for the disappearance of scars or at least to achieve their maximum attenuation, even in cases of breast stretch marks or other body areas. If they do not disappear completely, we can bet to make them much more imperceptible and improve incredibly.

DURATION OF THE INTERVENTION

2 to 3 hours

PROTOCOL

Preoperative

Evaluation of the area to determine the adequacy of the treatment.
Follow specific guidelines determined by the doctor
CBC and tests on cardiac and respiratory status
Ultrasound and/or mammography

Anesthesia

Local and sedation; in a few cases, general sedation

Hospitalization

Ambulatory or 24 h admission

Postoperative

Medication if required
Drainage and compressive bandage from 24 h to 48 h.
Special plasters for 4 to 5 days
Once the drainage, bandage and adhesive tape have been removed, a special bra is used.
Mandatory check-ups after a few days, a few weeks and a few months, according to prescription

Convalescence

3 to 4 days
Avoid carrying weights and sudden movements for 10 to 15 days.
Wearing a sports bra and comfortable, loose-fitting clothing for one week.
Do not practice sports or activities that require effort and extensive movement for at least one month.

RESULTS

- Beautiful and elegant breast repositioning

- Breast balance and symmetry

- Excellent results, very natural and with minimal scarring.

Improvement of the patient’s psychological profile and self-esteem.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY

Simple-medium intervention

LEVEL OF RISK

- Low-medium, according to breast size

- Risks inherent to the procedure: alterations in the sensitivity of the nipple-areola complex, possible alterations in breastfeeding, scars requiring touch-up to improve them.

Risks of any operation: bleeding, infection, impaired healing

BEFORE/AFTER PHOTOS

Do you want to know what breast scars look like?

We have a very informative article that talks in detail and shows graphics of what breast surgery scars look like, where the scar is made, and much more.

If you are interested click on this button:

Whatever your case may be, do not hesitate to contact us.
Sanza Clinic in Barcelona, quality of service

Frequently asked questions about breast reduction surgery

What is a breast reduction?

Breast reduction, technically called reduction mammoplasty, is the surgical procedure aimed at reducing the gland, fatty tissue and the skin that surrounds it, making the breasts smaller, higher, tighter and more harmonized.

Who are the candidates for breast reduction?

Most patients undergo surgery because the large breast volume restricts their normal activities. Women with large breasts may experience a number of problems resulting from the weight and size of the breasts, such as back, neck and shoulder pain and skin irritation. Any woman who has large breasts and/or presents any of these symptoms is a good candidate for surgery. Also in asymmetrical breasts or women who have a psychological problem when undressing.

What is the procedure?

The techniques are very varied, in Clinica Sanza we adjust them to the best result for each patient. While all of them seek a higher areola position, a narrowing of the base and above all a natural shape. The surgery consists of the removal of skin, gland and fat, mobilizing the mammary areola to its new position. The scar in this surgery is generally around the areola and a vertical scar and in some cases requires a horizontal scar that with special care may be barely visible.

How long does the surgery last?

Approximately 2 or 3 hours.

Will I lose sensitivity of the areola and nipples?

Generally it is not lost and if it happens, sensitivity is recovered after a few months. This will depend fundamentally on the type of breast reduction, that is to say, on the volume prior to surgery, since in situations of gigantomastia, the mammary nerves are so distended that they will not be able to recover. During the first few weeks it will be normal to have a sensation of tightness, but it is normal for the sensitivity to recover in the months following surgery and to be as it was before the intervention.

Are the results permanent?

The results are permanent but not lifelong. All breasts tend to sag as a result of gravity. Since the volume of your breasts after breast reduction will be smaller, they will sag more slowly, but you should keep in mind that it is the quality of your skin that will primarily determine the rate of breast sagging.

What is the postoperative period like?

The postoperative period is mildly painful and tolerable. In the first 24 hours the patient will wear a compressive bandage and drains, which will later be removed. Then we will place a special postoperative bra. Recovery is gradually progressive with noticeable improvement after 72 hours, when the patient can resume normal activities of little physical effort.

Is it possible to breastfeed after breast reduction?

Of course it is. If the patient is young and wishes to breastfeed, we will remove more fatty tissue and less breast tissue. If, on the other hand, you do not want to breastfeed or you have already had children, we advise you to remove more glandular tissue so that your breasts cannot grow during menopause.

Can it be done without scarring?

There is no way to reduce breast size other than surgery. Now, depending on the previous and desired size we can do three techniques: -Periareolar: scar only on areolas -Vertical: scar on areolas and up to submammary fold. -Inverted T: as the vertical one but one more scar in the submammary sulcus in the form of an anchor. In Clínica Sanza we perform 90% of reductions only with periareolar or vertical, and the scars are barely noticeable after 1 year of surgery.

Does a breast reduction look good?

Of course it is. It is one of the most rewarding cosmetic surgeries for several reasons: more beautiful breasts, more youthful, more comfortable and more elegant and discreet.