Patients who undergo breast reduction surgery frequently are seeking relief from physical symptoms caused by the excessive weight of large breasts. Breast reduction usually can solve these problems as well as improve the size and shape of your breasts. Following breast reduction, your breasts will be more proportional to the rest of your body, and clothes will fit you better. Dr Stasch at Vitality Fountain Clinic in Nairobi performs breast reduction for gigantomastia or makromastia on a weekly basis, helping Kenyan woman regain their desired breast shape and size.
Summary
General anaesthesia
Operating time about 2-3 hours
Hospital stay 1 night
Back to work within 1 week
Compression support bra for 12 weeks
Full exercise after 6 weeks
Am I a good candidate for breast reduction?
You may be a good candidate for breast reduction if you have one or more of the following conditions:
Your breasts that are too large in proportion to your body frame
large hanging breasts with nipples and areolas pointing downward
breast asymmetry: one breast is much larger than the other
backpain, neck or shoulder discomfort due to the weight of your breasts
skin irritation underneath your breasts
tight bra straps that cause indentations in your shoulders
restriction of physical activity and exercise due to the size and weight of your breasts
dissatisfaction or self-consciousness about the largeness of your breasts
Breast reduction can be performed at any age. Commonly you will have experienced a life-long struggle with all the problems associated with oversized breasts, and now you feel it is time to do something about it. Ideally, you should have stabilized your weight.
Sometime large breasts cause problems from an early age, but we usually recommend waiting with surgery until breast development has been completed. Pregnancy and breast-feeding may have significant and unpredictable effects on the size and shape of your breasts, which might decrease in size again over time. Sometimes the size stays too large to be comfortable, at which stage breast reduction surgery can be performed. Nevertheless, many women decide to undergo breast reduction before having children.
During the consultation, you will be asked about the results you would like to achieve from your breast reduction surgery. This will help us to understand your expectations and determine whether they realistically can be achieved.
Breast reduction – the operation
There are a number of different techniques used to perform a breast reduction, depending on the size, amount of ptosis and your expectations of the results. In almost all cases of breast reduction, a method is used to reduce the amount of scarring.
The minimal scar breast reduction: vertical scar reduction
The superomedial pedicle in breast reduction; elevation of the areola; minimal scarring
Circumareolar reduction for smaller reductions
The minimal scar breast reduction: vertical scar reduction
Using the safest and aesthetically most pleasing method of the vertical reduction with superomedial pedicle, the incisions and subsequent scars will run around your areola, and from there downwards, curving slightly outwards towards the under-breast fold. Using this type of incision, complications such as wound breakdown are reduced greatly. In much larger breasts, it is occasionally necessary to extend the incision into the fold underneath your breast (anchor- or small inverted T- incision).
Dr. Stasch has published a paper on using the scar-sparing breast reduction even in very large breast (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20179473).
In all reductions, the nipple-areola complex (NAC) is repositioned upwards to the original position and the breast skin is drawn around the areola to define your new breast contour. By excision of the excess breast tissue, the breast is not only reduced in size, but also tightened and molded into a natural shape. The areola, which in large breasts usually has been stretched, is also reduced in size. The amount of fat, tissue and skin removed will depend on the final breast size that you have agreed with us. We usually recommend a size that will fit the proportions of your body.
The superomedial pedicle in breast reduction; elevation of the areola; minimal scarring
The nipples and areolas remain attached to underlying mounds of tissue, and this allows for the preservation of sensation. The ability to breast-feed may also be preserved by this method, although this cannot always be guaranteed. Sometimes it might be necessary to shape the lateral sides of your chest using liposuction, in order to improve the contour.
Circumareolar reduction for smaller reductions
If you only need a mild or modest breast reduction, or there is an asymmetry between the breasts, the incision needed might just be around the areola, which is sutured again after excision of the excess skin and tissue. This technique is suitable when only a small amount of tissue needs to be removed and the breast needs a lift.
After the breast reduction - Your recovery
You will be admitted in the morning of the day of your surgery, and the length of stay depends on your recovery. Usually, you will stay in the hospital for 1 or 2 nights.
You will have tape dressings applied to stabilize your breasts. A small drain (plastic tube attached to a suction bottle) will have been placed to drain excess wound fluid and blood from each side. The drains will usually be removed after 2-3 days. Most women do not find breast reduction surgery to be painful at all.
On the day following surgery, we will encourage you to mobilize (walk) gently. You will also be fitted with a special support bra to gently support your breasts. You will be encouraged to wear this for 12 weeks following the operation.
You will be mobile from day one and should be back to full exercise within six weeks. Stitches will NOT be removed as they are absorbable. Most people have approximately 1- 2 weeks off work following a breast reduction procedure, depending on the type of work you do. It is important in the first 4 weeks to avoid any strenuous activities, which can cause stretching to the incisions and disturbance of the new shape.
We will keep a close eye on you after your surgery and would normally see you for your follow-up appointments at regular dressing clinics every 2-3 days, and 3 weeks and then 6 weeks following surgery, at which point your post-operative photographs will be taken.
Results after breast reduction
Breast reduction often makes a dramatic change in your appearance. Most women feel very pleased with the results of surgery, they often start to exercise again and enjoy new hobbies. Of all plastic surgical procedures, the level of patient satisfaction resulting from breast reduction is among the highest. However, your breasts may require some time to assume a more natural shape – this might take as long as 3 months for the final result to become apparent.
A breast reduction operation is considered a permanent solution to reduce large heavy breasts. Unless you gain or lose a significant amount of weight or become pregnant, your breast size should remain fairly constant. However, gravity and the effects of aging will eventually alter the size and shape of virtually every woman’s breasts over the years. You may choose to undergo a breast “lifting” procedure to restore their more youthful contour at that stage but this might not be necessary.
The incisions from your breast reduction surgery will heal and fade over time. It is important to realize, however, that the incision lines will be permanently visible, more so in some individuals than others. Ideally, the scars will heal well over time and will then be well concealed. Any scar goes through a maturation process, which takes a year to complete.
What complications can occur?
Whilst these operations are generally safe in the hands of a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon and regarded to be highly successful, there are, as with any operation, risks involved and the possibility of complications that patients need to consider.
Finding postoperative pain will vary from person to person, but this is generally not considered as a painful procedure.
Most patients are delighted with the physical and cosmetic improvements that breast reduction brings. It is impossible to guarantee that a particular cup size will result. There will be minor asymmetries between your breasts and the scars. Occasionally patients will bleed immediately after the operation and need to go back to the operating room for this to be dealt with. Wound healing problems can occur, particularly in the anchor scar procedure where the horizontal and vertical scars meet. All breast reductions result in some scarring although the nature of the scars will depend on the technique that has been used. Most patients will form good quality scars over time, but occasionally and unpredictably some patients will get lumpy scars that do not improve unless treated. Especially in African skin, hypertrophic or keloid scarring can occur, in which case appropriate treatment will be initiated.
Most wound problems are minor and can be managed with simple dressings. However, more major wound problems can arise such as infections, skin loss, wound separation and delayed healing. Wound problems, if they occur, can delay your recovery and result in worse scarring. You may notice that you feel less sensation in the nipple and areola areas. This usually is temporary. It may, however, take weeks, months or even more than a year before sensation returns to normal. Using the scar-sparing breast reduction techniques it will still be possible to breast-feed, but this ability might occasionally be lost.
Smokers are strongly advised to discontinue smoking several weeks prior to surgery and after the operation, as smoking increases the risks of complications and delays wound healing by altering blood circulation in the skin. You can reduce your risks of complications by closely following our instructions before and after the surgery.
Breast Reduction COST
The cost of breast reduction surgery depends on your circumstances and the technique we will perform. For more information on breast reduction costs, we invite you to book a consultation session with Dr Stasch. During this confidential appointment, we can discover more about what you would like to achieve and find out if breast reduction surgery is right for you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS about Breast reduction:
It is best to reach your ideal weight before you come in for your breast reduction because if you lose the weight after the surgery, it could affect the results of your breast reduction. If you lose a significant amount of weight after it could result in smaller and slightly droopy breast. However, most of our patients Kenya will struggle to lose weight BECAUSE of their breasts – it is often just too difficult to exercise with very large breasts.
MAYBE! Most medical insurance companies cover breast reduction surgery however we will need to provide you with a medical report to seek approval from your insurance and we always go the extra mile to provide the insurance with all the necessary information for their review and approval. International companies usually have a very well defined recommendation as to who will qualify, while some local Kenyan insurances will decide from a patient to patient basis. A good rapport with your insurance provider will sometimes help to shift the favour to having the op covered. From our point of view, it is a medical condition if the large breast cause discomfort, interfere with daily life and cause emotional distress.
We will provide you with special bras post-surgery which you will need to wear ideally day and night for about 6 weeks after your surgery. As you continue to heal you can start wearing regular bras without the underwire because the underwire is likely to irritate the tissue, rub on the scar and compromise your healing. We recommend to still use the special bra or well fitting sports bras during exercise after 6 weeks. After about 12 weeks post-op all the swelling will have completely subsided so you can now shop for new bras that will fit your new breast size and shape.
Many women who have had a breast reduction have gone on to successfully breast feed their babies but this is a conversation you can have with Dr. Tilman Stasch when you come in for consultation. He uses a special technique where the Nipple-areola-complex (NAC) is preserved complete with nerves (sensation), blood vessels (circulation), and breast ducts (breast feeding).
Winnie Garang
19 December 2023
The customer service is wonderful and everyone is very nice and Kind. Doctor Tilman is very knowledgeable and a wonderful surgeon.I feel lighter, happier and very grateful to him and the team. My experience from the word go has been amazing.
Ekeno Ntabo
13 December 2023
Dr. Stasch has changed my life. I am happier, more confident and grateful that cosmetic services are locally available. He was very professional, and i especially apreciate the care i got during my procedure, both before and after. Highly recommended.
chrissie W
13 December 2023
I could not be more happy with my results. Dr. Stasch is a genuinely kind person and his staff is helpful .
sharon odera
30 November 2023
My appreciation to Dr Stasch from my consultant period to successful leg grafting surgeries. I would highly recommend him and his team for their impeccable services. I would definitely do this again if I need to.
solanna camille
6 November 2023
I had a liposuction and tummy tuck. Dr. Stasch is super friendly, very professional.The surgery went well, recovery as well. The staffs are super nice very professional, always willing to help. I would highly recommend vitality clinic to anyone
Adhiambo Okumu
17 October 2023
My breast reduction is a dream come true and no longer a manifestation. And I could not think of a better doctor for the procedure than Dr. Tilman having consulted 8 years earlier and to now finally go through with it. I felt cared for and supported before, during and post op by Dr. Stasch and the team
I interacted with at Vitality. I am super pleased with the results and my new breast size is beyond my expectations: no more back pains, my posture is improved, dresses fit better and most importantly the unexplainable joy. Truly life changing. Asante Dr. Tilman.
M. S. S.
21 September 2023
I went to Dr. Stasch`s marvellous Vitality Fountain clinic today. I went there for recurrent mole mapping, Microneedling treatment and a also vitamin drip i. V.
Feeling like new. This is how Spa and health procedures should be done.
Definitely warm recommendation and will for sure come again!
Munish Mehta
18 September 2023
I came with no hope as my wound was really bad. Some docs told me it would not be possible to stitch. Dr Tilman took me in and over a few weeks worked on my wound and stitched it !! Now I’m pain free and the wound has healed !! Thankyou Dr Tilman and your team
Nadia Chaudhry
11 September 2023
Good service and very friendly staff. Highly recommended for I magic drips
AHK Transport
7 September 2023
Hat's Off to the treatment and care I was given at vitality fountain clinic. They gave me a new life and healed my wounded toe, which I almost lost. God bless them all a million fold over ..
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Dr. Tilman Stasch
For further information about what is involved in this type of procedure, please contact us.
