Women having had breast reduction surgery are advised to forgo strenuous activities or anything requiring heavy lifting for, at minimum, six weeks. They are also asked to wear properly fitting, support bras (without underwire) that restrict movement, but don’t crush the breasts. After surgery, patients are given a prescription for painkillers and provided with timelines for follow-up appointments. It is important that follow-up appointments are not missed. These are scheduled to ensure that not only are the drains emptying as they should, but also that infections have not set in and that everything is healing as it should.
How old do you have to be to in Chicago for breast reduction?
While there are no defined age limits, it is advisable for women to wait until they have reached the age of 20 and their breasts have fully developed prior to having any form of breast augmentation or reduction surgery. It is also recommended that women wait until after they have had children as pregnancy and childbirth can cause changes in the breasts and one of the potential risks involved is difficulty breastfeeding.
What risks are involved in breast reduction surgery?
Medical technology has advanced greatly over the years and, as a result, the risks associated with these types of procedures have gone down drastically – provided that they are carried out by trained and licensed practitioners in clean and sterile facilities. That being said, no surgery is completely void of risks. The most common risks associated with breast reduction surgery include:
Scarring – while the severity of such scars depends largely on the person, those with darker skin often have more visible scaring. Most scars do fad over time.
Infection – patients are often advised to take a course of antibiotics prior to surgery to reduce the risk of infection. Following after-care and cleaning instructions will also help.
Necrosis of the nipple – this means that the nipple essentially dies. This complication is extremely rare.
Hematoma – this occurs when the drains inserted into the breasts are not effectively draining the blood. Blood will pool underneath the breast and cause extreme pain. Typically additional surgery will be required.
Decrease or loss of nipple sensation – this is a rare occurrence, on the opposite, some patients may report hypersensitivity.
Breast asymmetry – this has become a very rare occurrence and can easily be corrected if needed.
Michael Horn is Chicago’s breast augmentation and reduction expert. He has been providing high quality services for years. Visit our website for more information.
