5 Things You Should Know Before Getting a Breast ReductionYou’ve given it some time, you’ve weighed your options and decided that getting a breast reduction is right for you. Perhaps you’re suffering from constant back and neck pain or feel self-conscious about the size of your breasts. Maybe you’re tired of not finding any clothes that fit you. Regardless of why you’re getting a reduction, the important thing is that you’re taking the big step to better your life by letting go of your big bust.
Like all major surgeries, going into it without knowing what you’re getting into can be intimidating and maybe even frightening. At the office of board-certified plastic surgeon Richard J. Brown we think it’s pivotal that our patients feel informed and educated before getting work done. Here are five things you should know before getting a breast reduction.
1. Breast reduction may be covered by your insurance.
Most forms of plastic surgery are considered “non-essential” by health insurance companies, which is why many plastic surgery procedures aren’t covered. Breast reduction surgery, however, is an exception to this rule.
Insurance companies have accepted macromastia, which is the condition of having excessively large breasts, as being a genuine health concern that needs coverage. Having large breasts can exert serious strain on women’s bodies and act as a source of chronic pain. They can also take a psychological toll by creating body image issues and making social situations awkward. It’s for these reasons that insurance companies recognize that breast reduction surgery can markedly improve the quality of life for patients who undergo it.
[Tweet “#Insurance recognizes that #breastreduction improves for those who undergo it. #ReleaseYourInnerBeauty”]
You should do your due diligence, though. While most insurance providers will cover reductions, not all do. It’s important that you contact your provider to make sure that this is a part of your plan before going forward.
Related: When You Should Consider a Breast Reduction
2. You’ll have to say no to some things.
If you’re a smoker, you’ll have to stop smoking six weeks before surgery and stay off of it until you’ve healed. Nicotine and tobacco can affect your immune system and can slow down and complicate your recovery process. It would do your health a world of good to stop smoking entirely, so this might just be the kick start you need!
You’ll also need to avoid certain kinds of medications during this process. It’s recommended that you avoid anti-inflammatory drugs, blood-thinning medication like aspirin and Ibuprofen and herbal supplements. All these substances can have an effect on how you bleed which could pose problems during your surgery and in the healing process afterward.
If you’re breastfeeding, you’ll want to wait until you’re finished feeding before getting the reduction. It’s crucial that you talk to Dr. Brown about any health conditions you have, any medication you’re taking and that you get yourself checked up to make sure you’re healthy enough to proceed with the surgery. This is a major surgery and should be taken seriously, so make sure your doctor has all the facts before you get the work done.
Related: Medications to Avoid Before Plastic Surgery
3. You’ll need to plan your recovery.
Recovering from breast reduction takes time. Before getting your surgery done, arrange things so that you don’t have to worry about doing anything for the first few days after surgery. You’ll be too sensitive and tired to do anything physically intensive for the first week or so of healing. Have someone drive you to and from your surgery and get someone to watch over you for the first 24 hours.
Tell your family and friends about your procedure so they know to support you and give you the care you need during this time. It’s an exciting time for you but also a trying one: You’ll be exhausted and at times in pain during your recovery. If you have little children, have someone there to take care of them while you recover. You don’t overexert yourself, you need to put yourself first in order to heal with no complications.
Related: 5 Ways to Decrease the Healing Time of Your Plastic Surgery
4. Hold off on updating your wardrobe.
Getting a breast reduction can open up a whole new world of fashion to you! The prospect of getting clothes that fit you and don’t come from overpriced specialty stores is an appealing one, but don’t jump the gun on switching out your wardrobe just yet. When getting a breast reduction, it’s hard to predict with 100 percent accuracy what size your breasts will be after the reduction.
During the first few weeks of recovery your breasts will swell as you recover. It will take about a month before your breasts finally settle into their new size and shape. That’s why you’ll want to hold off on buying new clothes because until the swelling goes down you’ll have no idea what size your breasts are now.
Related: 5 Biggest Myths About Breast Reductions
5. You should feel more like yourself again
You are more than your breasts. It can be hard to believe that if you have very large breasts. It can be the first thing that people notice about you and the one thing they don’t forget. They can become the source of unwanted attentions and advances, they can make you stick out in any social situation and weigh just as heavily on your mind as they do on your body.
By getting a reduction, you’re freeing yourself up to feel more centered and whole again. You’ll be able to go to places like the beach and engage in activities like athletics that would have been hard or embarrassing to do with larger breasts. You can feel confident and in control of your body, instead of feeling dominated and defined by it.
[Tweet “With #breastreduction, feel in control of your body, not defined by it. #ReleaseYourInnerBeauty”]
Related: 5 Biggest Myths About Breast Reductions
More Information On Getting A Breast Reduction
If you want to know more about getting a breast reduction, give board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Richard J. Brown a call at 480-568-3804.
