Breast Reduction

Enjoy smaller, more shapely breasts using state-of-the-art breast reduction techniques. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Farber and Dr. D’Agostino, can help you achieve the look you’ve always wanted with a breast reduction procedure performed at 5th Avenue Plastic Surgery.

What is Breast Reduction?

Breast reduction aims to reshape and reduce the size and projection of the breasts. This procedure is highly customizable, with many options for incision patterns, the amount of tissue removed, and more. Breast reduction surgery helps to create a smaller and more proportionate chest size.

Breast reduction can:

• Improve self-confidence
• Decrease back, shoulder and neck  pain
• Decrease skin irritation
• Make shopping for clothes easier

How Much Breast Is Too Much?

Are your breasts too large for your frame? The medical term for very large breasts is macromastia or breast hypertrophy. Some women experience a rapid expansion of the breast tissues, others a slow, steady gain over many years. Breast growth is most common during puberty or pregnancy.

Breasts come in many shapes and sizes. Many of our breast reduction patients know their breasts are large but aren’t sure exactly where they fall on the spectrum of breast size. Large breasts are prized and sought after by many women, but how large is too large?

Since cup size is highly subjective, there isn’t a clear line for dividing moderately sized breasts from oversized ones. We tell our patients to go by feel. Do your breasts feel too large for your body or lifestyle? Do you like your look or do you feel embarrassed by your breast size? Do your breasts cause the following symptoms?

• Shoulder, neck, or back pain
• Difficulty exercising
• Unwanted attention directed at your breasts
• Sleep disturbances
• Poor posture
• Bra strap grooves or indentations on the shoulders
• Rashes under or between the breasts

If you have large breasts and regularly experience symptoms on this list, it may be worth exploring breast reduction. Come in for a consultation and discuss your options with us.

Breast Reduction Candidates

To be considered a good candidate for breast reduction surgery, you should be in overall good health, a non-smoker, and have a BMI of 30 or less. Dr. Farber and Dr. D’Agostino also recommend you be at a stable weight for at least 6 months. Most women who opt for breast reduction aim to have more proportionate breasts. Overly large breasts can cause physical and emotional problems. Ideal candidates include individuals who:

• Have concerns about their breast size
• Struggle to participate in physical activity due to breast size
• Experience physical discomfort in the back, neck, and shoulders
• Struggle from skin irritation under the breast and shoulder indentations from their bra straps

Breast reduction can easily be combined with a breast lift or included in a mommy makeover. If you plan to become pregnant or breastfeed, Dr. Farber and Dr. D’Agostino can discuss your options for taking extra steps accordingly.to become pregnant or breastfeed, Dr. D’Agostino can discuss your options for taking extra steps accordingly.

Your Breast Reduction Consultation

What do your ideal breasts look like? As you prepare to meet with us, think about your goals for your breast appearance and quality of life. We need to know exactly what you want to help you achieve it.

We take our time with each consultation, partnering with our patients and working together to achieve a beautiful result. Get ready for a lot of information and patient education. We want you to be informed and actively involved in your procedure.

If you have questions about breast reduction, write them down. We love when patients bring a list of questions with them, and we’ll take the time to answer every single one. As you browse our before and after galleries of breast reduction patients, make note of results you love, especially if the patient has a similar body type. Photos are one of the best ways to communicate desired aesthetic outcomes.

The Breast Reduction Procedure

On surgery day, you’ll arrive at the facility and check-in. Dr. Farber and Dr. D’Agostino  will meet with you in a pre-op meeting, answering final questions and calming any last-minute nerves before surgery. We also have our patients meet their anesthesiologist. We find that patients have many questions about anesthesia and meeting with their anesthesiologist before surgery makes the process less intimidating.

Breast reduction begins by administering anesthesia. Dr. Farber and Dr. D’Agostino will reposition the nipple and remove unwanted volume while lifting and shaping the remaining breast tissue. In certain cases, the nipple and areola must be entirely removed and repositioned. Excess breast tissue, skin, and fatty tissue are removed and the breasts are lifted and shaped. Breast reduction surgery does not only reduce the overall size of the breast but also improves the shape of the breast. It may be combined with a breast lift if significant sagging is present. The incisions will be closed with absorbable sutures and a drain may be placed.

Breast Reduction Recovery

Breast reduction typically requires 2-3 weeks of downtime. You’ll be instructed to limit your activity level and focus on resting throughout this phase, regularly checking in with our team to monitor your progress. One necessary step is wearing a specialized surgical bra, which helps support your new breasts and relieves pressure from your incisions. Throughout your recovery phase, also follow these steps:

• Don’t Smoke – Smoking can cause severe complications after breast reduction surgery. We instruct our patients to stop smoking at least three weeks before surgery and throughout the recovery process.
• Avoid Certain Medications – We provide our patients with a list of medications to avoid before and after surgery. These include aspirin and ibuprofen (and any medications that contain them), anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-coagulants, and vitamin E taken internally. If you use these or any medications currently, let Dr. Farber and Dr. D’Agostino know.
• Eat Healthy Foods – We recommend a low-sodium diet with lots of fruits and vegetables after breast reduction surgery.

Our medical professionals will provide detailed instructions on caring for your incisions, taking medications, and more during your pre-operative appointment. It may take up to six weeks to resume your normal activities. Your immediate results after surgery include reduced breast size and volume, improved breast shape, increased physical comfort, and heightened self-confidence.

Schedule a Consultation

Breast reduction can help minimize pain and create more proportionate and shapely breasts. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Farber and Dr. D’Agostino, at 5th Avenue Plastic Surgery can help you achieve your desired look. Contact our office today by calling or booking an appointment through our online platform.