Having breasts that are too big for your frame can be even more traumatizing than having breasts that are too small. It not only adversely affects your quality of life emotionally, but also physically. Women with large, pendulous breasts often experience the kind of severe neck, back and shoulder pain that can inhibit daily life. Sometimes, their breasts chafe or the skin underneath develops a rash. Emotionally, the scars may run even deeper. Most girls with large breasts are incredibly self conscious. They literally feel uncomfortable in their skin. A breast reduction is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of your breasts. The result is a smaller, more lifted breast that can completely rejuvenate your entire torso as well as your sense of self.

Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Bruce Van Natta is a leading expert in the field of breast surgery. He loves performing breast reductions because it is so life altering for his patients. It’s why it has one of the highest patient satisfaction ratings of any plastic surgery procedure. After your breast reduction, you can finally wear the clothes that you like. And you’ll look like you’ve lost weight because your body will actually be in proper proportion. A total win-win.

Are You a Candidate for a Breast Reduction?

Some women are just born with large breasts while others develop them over time thanks to:

• pregnancy
• weight gain
• hormones
• aging

If you are someone who is self conscious about the size of your breasts or who experiences pain, either physical or emotional, then it’s high time to schedule a breast reduction consultation to discuss your options. During your initial consultation in his Indianapolis office, Dr. Van Natta will listen carefully to what bothers you about your breasts. He will ask you about your lifestyle as well as your goals and desired outcome. Then, he will conduct a thorough physical exam to assess your breast tissue and skin elasticity.

Depending on the amount of breast tissue that is removed, your breast reduction may be covered by insurance. Though Dr. Van Natta doesn’t participate with any of the insurance carriers’ programs, he can still perform your surgery. However, you may have higher out-of-network deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. Please feel free to call our office with your insurance information before your consultation so that we may determine your benefits ahead of time. With his expertise in breast reduction surgery and low complication and re-operation rate, it may well be worth it to consider paying a little more for truly superior results. As with most things in life, you often get what you pay for.

Breast Reduction Procedure

A breast reduction surgery with Dr. Van Natta typically takes about 2 hours under general anesthesia. It’s done as an outpatient procedure so you can sleep in your own bed that night. First, Dr. Van Natta will make an incision around the nipple, down the center of the breast and underneath the smile or crease of the breast. This pattern forms almost an anchor shape. Then, he will remove the excess breast tissue, fixing any size asymmetries that may exist between your two breasts. He will trim the extra skin and tighten the breast envelope to lift your breast mound to its new, higher location. Last, he will reposition your nipple so that it’s centered on your new breast. Dr. Van Natta routinely uses GALAFlex mesh to support the breast tissue which will help maintain your new breast shape over time. The end result is a smaller, perkier breast that is proportional to the rest of your body.

Breast Reduction Recovery

After your breast reduction surgery, you will be placed in a surgical bra, sometimes with an ace wrap. Dr. Van Natta rarely use drains in breast reduction surgery, but if he does, they can be removed the next day or so at the office. This will be discussed in detail during your initial consultation. Although you can go home that night, you may need some help from family or friends for the first couple of days. But really, that’s it. Most patients can return to their daily actives fairly quickly although Dr. Van Natta does restrict the repeated outstretching of the arms so no sweeping, upper body work or cleaning the countertops.

You can expect to be bruised and swollen for the first couple of weeks, but most patients feel more of a burning, stinging discomfort than actual pain. It is typically treated with an over the counter pain medication such as Motrin or Aleve. Although it may take anywhere from 3-6 months for your swelling to fully subside and for you to see your final results, you will notice an improvement in your contour immediately. Breast reduction surgery is a fantastic procedure that can completely change your life. In fact, one of the first thing that most patients say after the procedure is “Why did I wait so long to do this for myself?”

To find out more about a breast reduction with Dr. Bruce Van Natta at Meridian Plastic Surgeons in Indianapolis, contact us today or call (317) 575-0330 to schedule a consultation.