Breast Reduction in Fredericksburg, VA

If you experience discomfort or dissatisfaction due to large breasts, a breast reduction at Surgical Arts of Virginia may be something you’d like to consider. Our friendly, professional staff, led by Dr. R. Shane Palmer, is proud to offer this treatment to women living in Washington D.C., Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Richmond and Stafford, VA and the surrounding neighborhoods of Virginia.

What is a Breast Reduction?

Reduction mammoplasty is a surgical procedure where a portion of each breast is removed in addition to the removal of excess skin and fat. The amount of actual breast tissue removed is determined by the initial size of the breasts and the desired final size requested by the patient. Once the excess tissue, fat, and skin is removed, the result is smaller, perkier breasts.

*Individual results may vary

View Breast Reduction Before and After Pictures

Why Do We Need Breast Reductions?

There are many reasons a woman may turn to breast reduction surgery. One of the most common is the enormous amount of pressure that overly large breasts place on a woman’s body. Even at a young age, many find that large breasts become an increasingly harder burden to carry.

In many cases, women are fine with their large breasts in their youth but find that as they grow older, their body is no longer able to maintain the same perkiness that was once enjoyed. Some women choose to have surgery performed once they have crossed the line of no longer feeling confident in their appearance.

Similarly, some women decide much earlier in life that their preferred breast aesthetic is actually much smaller than they currently have. Developing harmony in the body between breast size and the rest of a patient’s build is one of the fundamental parts of this treatment.

What is the Cost of Breast Reduction in Fredericksburg, VA?

Breast reduction starts at $7,260. During the consultation, we can provide a more accurate cost of your reduction mammoplasty procedure. You can pay for the surgery with cash, personal check, money order, or credit card. We also have financing options through CareCredit®, United Medical Credit and Prosper™ Healthcare Lending.

What Are the Benefits of a Breast Reduction?

Reduction mammoplasty can offer a variety of benefits to patients. Some of the most common benefits include:

• Relief of chronic back pain
• Perky breasts
• Better bra selection
• Increased confidence
• Reduction in areola size
• Elimination of under breast rash or irritation

Is Reduction Mammoplasty Right For Me?

Women often consider reduction mammoplasty if the size of their breasts leads to back pain. Women also seek breast reduction if they want better-proportioned breasts to complement their body size or if they want to be able to fit into more desirable bras.

Patients should be in generally good health to consider a breast reduction. If you are diabetic, this could increase the rate of wound problems and infection, and sugar should be well controlled. Nicotine use should be discontinued before surgery. If you’re considering breast reduction surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Palmer to discuss your aesthetic goals. He can help you decide which treatment option is best depending on your wants and desires.

How Should I Prepare for Breast Reduction?

While it has become exceptionally well-practiced and routine, breast reduction is still a surgical procedure, which means you will need to make some preparations before the day your procedure is taking place. During your consultation, your medical professional from our office will review your full medical history. It is important that they have all of the available information to keep you safe. Let us know if there is a condition or illness you have that was not discussed.

You should also look at as many before and after photos as you can before having the procedure performed. This will give you a clear understanding of what to expect when going through the process. If you have unrealistic expectations about what your breast reduction can achieve, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

Your results are a direct reflection of not only the surgeon but also yourself and how well you healed in the initial stages. We always recommend that patients put together a recovery station the night before their procedure. Once you decide where you will be resting, make sure everything you will need is within arm’s reach: chargers, electronics, books, magazines, snacks, medications, drinks — anything you do to minimize the amount of effort you strain in the first few stages will be immensely helpful.

How is Breast Reduction Performed?

Dr. Palmer performs breast reduction surgery in his office operative suite under IV sedation with tumescent anesthesia. Before surgery, the breasts are marked to accurately lift the nipple areola complex to the proper position and to delineate the amount of skin to be removed. After the incisions are made, breast tissue is removed to achieve the desired size requested by the patient. The tissue is then brought together over the drain, and the skin is closed separately. Typically, incisions are necessary around the areola, vertically beneath it, and under the breast itself.

What Are My Breast Reduction Incision Options?

Three types of incisions can be used during a breast reduction, depending on the amount of correction you need: circular, lollipop and anchor.

Circular — This incision is the least extensive and includes only a circular cut around the areola. From this incision, your surgeon will be able to remove minor amounts of tissue and skin. The skin is then retightening to the area around the nipple. Many women report that this incision is great for swimsuits or lingerie because of how easily hidden the scarring is.

Lollipop — This incision is often referred to as the keyhole or racquet incision because of the shape the cuts make. Like a circular incision, a line is opened around the nipple. But it goes one step further by adding a cut down from the nipple to the inframammary fold (where the breast meets the chest). This cut allows better access to the tissue for patients with a moderate amount of needed correction.

Anchor — This incision is also known as the inverted T. It uses the same two incisions from the lollipop technique, but it goes an additional step by creating a horizontal cut around the inframammary fold. This allows for the greatest access to the breast anatomy and can help those with severe symptoms and needed correction. The scarring on this technique is the most extensive, but it is still possible to hide the incisions in a bikini.

Regardless of which technique is used on you, scarring fades with time, and many patients are happy to find out that after a few years, the scarring is virtually invisible.

What is Breast Reduction Recovery Like?

Dressings are placed after the operation and are removed in a week. Steri-Strips™ are left on longer. You may also have drains placed in the incisions. A special bra can be worn for several weeks, depending on the patient. Activities are limited for six weeks following surgery. The patient is followed closely, with follow-up appointments typically the day after surgery, one week post-surgery, and then one month after surgery. When the patient is seen three months after surgery, most swelling is resolved and the final result is assessed.

What Kind of Results Should I Expect from Breast Reduction?

The results that you achieve with breast reduction are permanent — there is no way for the tissue that was removed to return. Weight fluctuation, however, can cause the remaining fat cells in the breasts to change shape over time. So it is crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle. As a result of the treatment, you can expect that your new bust will be harmonious with the proportions of your body. You will also find that your back has significantly less pressure on it, fixing many chronic back conditions caused by overly large breasts.

Surgical Arts of Virginia is proud to offer breast reduction and other breast surgeries to women living in and around Washington DC, and Stafford, Charlottesville, Richmond, Fredericksburg, and the surrounding communities of Virginia. To schedule a complimentary consultation or to learn more about these procedures, contact us today.