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Breast Reduction Surgery in Toronto
Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammaplasty) surgery is a procedure that provides relief from symptoms caused by having large breasts. It reduces the size of the breasts and simultaneously lifts the breasts. Thus, Breast Reduction surgery is performed for functional reasons, cosmetic reasons, or a combination of both. Your particular goals and anatomy determine if a Breast Reduction is right for you, and which method of Breast Reduction is the most appropriate. Dr. Lawrence Tong—our plastic surgeon in Toronto—can help you decide if a Breast Reduction is the right procedure for your goals.
Breast Reduction surgery may be covered under OHIP if you meet certain medical criteria. Dr. Tong does not perform OHIP covered breast reductions at his practice. For OHIP covered procedures, we recommend reaching out to your family practitioner for a referral to the appropriate clinic.
Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery
As the name implies, Breast Reduction surgery reduces the size of the breasts. A reduction in the weight is key to eliminating the symptoms associated with having large breasts (such as neck pain, shoulder grooving, and inframammary rashes). While it reduces breast size, breast reduction also accomplishes a number of cosmetic improvements as well.
After surgery, the breasts are much lighter and patients tend to feel much more comfortable. The breasts look rounder, the nipples are re-positioned higher, to the centre of the breast mound, and the areolas (the darker skin around the nipple) are made smaller— which is especially important if they are stretched wide from breast enlargement.
In summary, Breast Reduction is designed to:
- Decrease overall breast size and weight
- Elevate the breast mound
- Build a rounder breast shape
- Raise the descended nipple-areolar complex
- Reduce the areolar size
Who is a Candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery?
You may be a candidate for breast reduction if:
- You have large breasts that affect your daily activities
- You have large breasts that are causing symptoms
- The weight of your breasts causes grooves in your shoulders from your bra
- You have neck or back pain related to strain from heavy breasts
- Your breasts are too large for your preference
- You want to correct droopy breasts and also want them smaller
Other Criteria for Candidates:
- Patients should be generally fit and relatively healthy; Dr. Tong will make an assessment of your general health and suitability before undergoing any type of surgery.
- Smokers should quit smoking at least 2 weeks prior to surgery.
- Patients who are breastfeeding should wait 4-8 weeks after completing breastfeeding before having surgery so that the true breast size can be determined.
- A patient should have realistic expectations about what can be accomplished though Breast Reduction.1
Candidates for Breast Reduction may have this procedure covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) when there is a medically necessary reason. Otherwise, patients are responsible for out-of-pocket costs if they do not go through OHIP.
Methods of Breast Reduction and Their Incisions
Any surgical procedure will leave some type of scar. A plastic surgeon specializes in obtaining the least visible scars and putting them in the least visible places. There are two main techniques of Breast Reduction leading to two different Breast Reduction incisions.2
| Technique: | Incision: |
|---|---|
|
Short Scar Breast Reduction
|
Around the areola plus a vertical incision below the areola
|
|
Traditional Breast Reduction
|
Incision for a short scar Breast Reduction plus a horizontal incision in the breast fold
|
The method of Breast Reduction for an individual depends on the amount of ptosis (drooping) and breast size. In general, smaller breasts with less drooping require fewer incisions (short scar technique), and larger breasts with more drooping require more incisions (traditional technique). During your evaluation, Dr. Tong will inform you which method is recommended for your particular anatomy. Wearing any type of clothing will generally cover all of these scars, regardless of which method is performed as the scars are located at the nipple and do not extend below the breast fold.
The Breast Reduction Procedure
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. With this type of anesthesia, you will feel no pain and are completely unconscious during the entire procedure. The surgery is performed at St. Thomas Surgery Centre, located within Dr. Tong’s plastic surgery office in downtown Yorkville, Toronto.
Breast Reduction is carried out by removing excess skin and breast tissue. Most of the skin and breast tissue is removed from the lower part of the breast. The nipple position is lifted to a more aesthetic position on the breast mound but remains attached to the breast tissue at all times, so that sensation and circulation is preserved. Additionally, the areola, (which has usually been stretched with large breasts) is reduced to a more proportional size in relation to the new breast size.
After Dr. Tong reduces and lifts the breasts, he positions the operating table so that you are sitting upright. This allows him to judge the breast shape and symmetry in the most accurate manner. Dr. Tong will fine tune the appearance (as needed) to obtain the most optimal breast appearance for you.
Finally, Dr. Tong meticulously sutures the incisions together using plastic surgery techniques. You are placed in a surgical bra, and then gently awakened from anesthesia.
Recovery from Breast Reduction
Right after your Breast Reduction, the nurses bring you to the post anesthesia recovery area, where they monitor you as you slowly wake up. Dr. Tong will allow you to go home, accompanied by a friend or family member after ther effects of anesthesia have worn off.
At home, you are advised to rest and avoid strenuous activities. Limit your routine to sleeping, watching TV, or reading for the first day. Your chest may feel sore for the first 3-7 days. Dr. Tong will provide you with prescriptions for pain medication, which you may use to relieve discomfort. Antibiotics are also given as a precaution for the first 5 days. Sleeping with the back elevated, propped up by extra pillows, or sleeping in a reclining chair is important to reduce the swelling and discomfort in the first 7-10 days. Patients generally return to non-strenuous employment after one week.
Your first postoperative visit occurs at 1 week after surgery. Dr. Tong checks the incisions and removes your stitches. Activity instructions will be given; most patients are allowed to perform light exercise (walking for exercise) at 2 weeks after surgery and strenuous activity (weight lifting, aerobics, sports) at 4-6 weeks after surgery.
Expect your breasts to be swollen and slightly bruised in the first 1-2 weeks. Wear the bra that we provide, even when sleeping, for the first 3 weeks. The breasts may have a slightly unnatural shape to them. This is entirely normal, and it takes between 1-3 months for them to settle. With time, you will notice that the breasts take on a much more natural look and shape. You will see Dr. Tong at 6 weeks and 6 months after surgery as well. Post-operative photos are taken to document your progress at some of these visits.
Risks and Complications of Breast Reduction
As with any surgery, there are risks involved with having Breast Reduction. Although the procedure has a low risk profile, Dr. Tong will make sure to go through the pertinent potential problems associated with Breast Reduction at the time of your consultation.
Risks of Breast Reduction Surgery may include:
- Anesthesia complications
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Wound healing issues
- Scarring
- Changes to or loss of sensation in nipples and areolae
- Breastfeeding difficulties
- Asymmetry3
How to Choose the Best Plastic Surgeon For You
Your Breast Reduction Consultation
A Breast Reduction consultation provides you with a significant amount of information to digest. Dr. Tong will make sure that you understand every important detail. Dr. Tong will answer all of your questions, and you will never be rushed. Our goal is to make you an educated patient. We know that an educated patient makes better decisions about their surgery and their surgeon.
To learn more about how Toronto Breast Reduction surgeon Lawrence Tong, MD can help you with Breast Reduction, set up a consultation with Dr. Tong by giving us a call at (647) 723-0827, or let us give you a call; just fill out our contact form and we will contact you on the same or the next business day. No physician referral is needed.
See Dr. Tong’s work in our Breast Reduction before and after photos.
Breast Reduction at a Glance
- Placement of nipples too high
- Asymmetry
- Employing the wrong surgical method (more ptotic breasts require the traditional method best results)
1 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Breast Reduction Candidates. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reduction/candidates. Accessed August 31, 2020.
2 Hammond DC. The Short Scar Periareolar Inferior Pedicle Reduction (SPAIR) Mammaplasty. Semin Plast Surg. 2004;18(3):231-243. doi:10.1055/s-2004-831910. Accessed August 31, 2020.
3 Mayo Clinic. Breast Reduction. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-reduction-surgery/about/pac-20385246. Accessed August 31, 2020.
Dr. Lawrence Tong has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.