Breast reduction surgery gains more strength every day. Young men and women seek, through surgery, to alleviate the physical discomfort that oversized breasts end up bringing.
Did you know that in addition to breast augmentation surgery, there are also procedures focused on breast reduction (gigantomastia). They have gained strength in recent years and serve women with both beauty and health goals. This intervention can be motivated by several factors. Among these are the physical discomfort, which causes pain, and the emotional factor, when that person is not comfortable with the size of their breasts. In this article, you will learn more about gigantomastia, how the procedure is performed, post-operative care, and the benefits of the procedure. For this, the plastic surgeon Dr. Luiz Fernando Campos will solve the most common doubts about gigantomastia. Read on!
What is gigantomastia?
Gigantomastia is excessive growth of the breasts. This hypertrophy can cause discomfort and can affect only one or both breasts. Agree with the doctor. Luiz Fernando Campos, this development is
“disproportionate to physical structure [da mulher]”
. Currently, gigantomastia does not have a single reason to occur. Experts understand that the causes can be related to genetics, trauma, hormonal changes, and even medications. What is certain is that this condition does not yet have a definite cause. In the meantime, he may have a solution with the help of a specialist doctor and a thorough evaluation. Therefore, there may be a surgical procedure for the reduction.
When can a breast be considered disproportionate to the body?
In this regard, the plastic surgeon replies:
“Some places classify breasts as 1kg or 1.2kg. But there really isn’t a predetermined size.”
Therefore, a proportion must be made. That is, if the size of the breasts is disproportionate to the size of the woman, both in terms of trunk size and height, it can be a problem.
“A breast that would be large on a 1.80m woman could be gigantic on a 1.50m woman, for example”
emphasizes the specialist.
What can be the damage to health if the intervention is not performed?
Left untreated, gigantomastia can lead to a number of problems that can harm a person’s health. Pain symptoms can be aggravated, significantly reducing quality of life. ”
It can lead to shoulder pain, rash, numbness in the areolas and/or nipples”
, says the plastic surgeon. Other complications of gigantomastia can be:
- chronic pain: the weight of the breasts can lead to back, neck and shoulder pain. This overload also affects the muscles;
- respiratory difficulties: in some cases it is possible that the pressure on the diaphragm, caused by the breasts, affects breathing;
- change of posture: posture may be altered, including changes in shoulder curvature;
- emotional problems: the condition can also affect the psychological. Acting directly on self-esteem and confidence.
Breast reduction surgery can be the solution to alleviate the symptoms that the person may experience due to the increase in breast size. With it, you can provide improved quality of life and symptom relief. However, before deciding on surgery, make an appointment with a specialist. It will indicate the best way to solve the problem without causing further harm to the patient’s health.
How is gigantomastia surgery performed?
Gigantomastia surgery, or reduction mammoplasty, is performed by a specialist in the field, who is a plastic surgeon. The doctor who will perform the procedure chooses the best path to follow, as this factor depends on the particularities of the patient. After the doctor’s evaluation and the necessary tests, the procedure will begin with the application of anesthesia to the patient.
“[O procedimento] it’s usually done with general or epidural anesthesia,”
comments Dr. Luis Fernando Campos. When properly anesthetized, the patient will not feel pain or discomfort during the procedure. However, the choice of anesthesia used is made by the medical team, looking for the best way for each case. When the procedure begins, the surgeon makes an incision in the skin, shaped like an inverted T and following the design of the areola of the breast. Subsequently, the excess breast tissue is extracted. In this phase, the specialist removes fat and skin, in the amount needed for each person. Although he focuses on this removal, the surgeon tries to preserve the glandular tissue and blood supply, as well as maintain sensation in the region. During the procedure, the nipples are repositioned so that they are centered on the breast. After completing the steps mentioned above, the incisions are closed. This movement is done with dots and/or stickers. From start to finish, the procedure should take between 2 and 4 hours, but this time varies and depends on the complexity of each case. Immediately after the procedure, you must do all the activities indicated by the doctor.
What are the pre- and post-operative care?
To perform an invasive procedure, such as surgery, there are recommendations that must be followed, both before and after surgery. The specialist explains some necessary measures.
“To avoid the risk of bleeding and thrombosis, [é indicado] stop taking medications such as birth control, blood thinners, and hormones. If you have a disease like diabetes or high blood pressure, it needs to be controlled.”
, He explains. In addition, if the patient is a smoker, she must be off the habit for at least 6 months, and up to 1 year off may be indicated. This measure is indicated to avoid necrosis, as there is a high risk that the smoking patient will develop the condition. Before performing the surgery, it is necessary to perform several tests such as blood count, coagulogram, urine, mammography, ultrasound and ECG. Ultrasound is usually done for all patients and mammography in patients older than 35. Care continues after the procedure. Weight lifting or even arm lifting is highly contraindicated. You must avoid impacts, use a surgical bra, and maintain a healthy diet. In addition to this, attendance at post-surgical follow-up appointments is critical. At that time, the doctor can answer your questions, check how the incisions are healing, among other things.
Are there any contraindications to surgery?
First, breast reduction should not be performed by patients under the age of 16, as their gynecological development has not been completed. In addition to this, following the specialist, there are other contraindications to be aware of, such as:
- uncontrolled diabetes;
- decompensated heart disease;
- recurrent thrombosis or embolism;
- smokers;
- pregnant women.
Furthermore, it is important that the patient understands the weight of a procedure of this type and all the recommendations that are made in the pre- and post-operative period. When this understanding is not possible, the procedure may not be indicated. In the case of obese patients, it is indicated that nutritional re-education is carried out before the procedure. This change will help improve the outcome of the surgery and reduce the risks. Each of the conditions mentioned should be evaluated with your doctor. For this reason it is necessary to take true information and updated examinations, this alignment will serve to minimize the possible complications that may arise. In this article, you may learn more about breast reduction surgery, also known as gigantomastia. He also checked the main risks and pre- and post-operative care.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
