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Breast Reduction

At the Toronto practice of Dr. Derek Ford, breast reduction is an especially rewarding procedure for both doctor and patient. Women who consider surgery to reduce the size and weight of their breasts often come to the office after years of emotional and physical discomfort, and they report a near-immediate improvement in back, neck, and shoulder pain. Best of all, the results of breast reduction are typically long-lasting, meaning that these women can enjoy their renewed comfort and mobility for life.

If the large size of your breasts is affecting your emotional or physical well-being, request a consultation online with Dr. Ford, or call our Toronto office at (416) 925-7337 or our Oshawa office at (905) 743-9888 to schedule your appointment.

Introduction and Indications

Surgical breast reduction has one of the highest patient satisfaction rates of any elective procedure. A large part of its success is due to the fact that the surgery treats physical symptoms as well as emotional discomfort. Very often, Dr. Ford's breast reduction patients have struggled for years with excessively large, heavy, pendulous breasts. Breast reduction may be appropriate for you if any of the following apply to you:

• Your breasts appear disproportionately large compared to the rest of your body
• The weight of your breasts causes back, neck, head, or shoulder pain
• Your nipples and areolas point downward or extend well beyond the breast crease
• One breast is significantly larger than the other
• The size of your breasts makes you feel self-conscious
• The size of your breasts affects your enjoyment of certain physical activities and makes it difficult to find clothes that fit
• You experience chronic or recurring skin irritation beneath your breasts

Dr. Ford has performed breast reduction on patients of all ages, from their mid-teens to their 70s. In general, your underlying health is a more significant consideration than your age.

Assessment

If you're experiencing significant physical symptoms due to the size of your breasts, breast reduction surgery may be covered by your provincial health plan. Typically, a patient will need to first visit her family practitioner and obtain a referral for plastic surgery. Once you have obtained the necessary referral, you may schedule a consultation with Dr. Ford. If you have private insurance, your process may be different.

Your consultation is an important opportunity to share your feelings about your breasts with Dr. Ford and discuss your ultimate goals. Keep in mind that it's difficult to plan a surgery around a desired cup size. Instead, Dr. Ford works with you to plan a customized result based on your own unique proportions. He examines your breasts and documents your measurements, any existing asymmetry, nipple inversion, and other characteristics of your breasts. He notes the width of your breasts as well as lateral (side) fullness, which may also benefit from reduction.

During this appointment, you also discuss the steps of your surgery and your projected recuperation. Dr. Ford values transparency, so he also discusses potential complications and your own personal risk assessment.

Procedure

Dr. Ford performs your breast reduction surgery while you are under general anesthesia. It is an outpatient procedure, so an overnight stay is not typically required. The surgery generally takes about 2½ hours to complete. Before surgery, Dr. Ford makes marks on your breasts to help guide him during the procedure. Once you are anesthetized and surgery has begun, he staples your breast skin along a line drawn from your breast fold to your nipple and marks the area. He marks a new planned nipple and areola location before removing the staples. He injects the breast with a special fluid that causes the tissue to swell and prevents excessive bleeding.

He makes incisions around the new areola and along the vertical marks. He removes breast tissue primarily from the bottom and centre of the breast. He elevates the upper layers of breast tissue from the chest wall to a higher position on the chest. He repositions the nipple and areola without detaching it from its blood supply. In some cases, he reduces lateral breast tissue using suction-assisted liposuction.

Once both breasts have been treated and Dr. Ford has evaluated their symmetry, he inserts a soft silicone drainage tube into the surgical pockets to reduce fluid accumulation. He closes the incisions with dissolvable sutures and covers them with skin tape, which is removed after about 1 week.

Recuperating After Surgery

You will likely be able to return home the day of surgery with the help of a friend or loved one. For the first couple of days, you'll need to rest as much as possible. Soreness and pain are manageable with prescribed medications. You may shower as normal once Dr. Ford removes your drains, typically during a follow-up appointment between 2 and 5 days after your surgery. However, you'll need to abstain from heavy lifting and vigorous activity for at least 2 weeks after surgery. You may resume upper-body exercise 6 weeks after surgery. You will also need to wear a soft, non-underwire bra during this time.

Common Complements

Although breast reduction is typically performed on its own, its results can be further enhanced by the addition of abdominoplasty or liposuction. During your consultation, Dr. Ford helps you plan your procedure to ensure the best possible results from whichever surgeries you choose.

How Much Does Breast Reduction Cost?

Breast reduction by Dr. Ford is priced at $7,870.

*Prices exclude taxes