You may think that breast augmentation is the opposite of breast reduction surgery. While it’s true that these are very different surgeries, a growing number of women are showing an interest in both.
But is it possible? While less common, you can have breast reduction plus implants.
What’s more, there are some great reasons this may be the right choice for you.
Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?
Also known as reduction mammaplasty, breast reduction surgery involves removing fat, glandular tissue, and skin from one or (more commonly) both breasts.
This surgery reduces the weight of oversized and cumbersome breasts that may contribute to physical pain and aesthetic insecurities.
This procedure is most often performed alongside a breast lift to raise sagging tissues and skin (which is common with large breasts).
However, most patients’ road to breast enhancement ends with these two techniques.
That being said, it doesn’t have to.
What Is Breast Augmentation Surgery?
At a glance, breast augmentation (augmentation mammaplasty) may seem to be the polar opposite of breast reduction.
Well, it is. While female breast reduction surgery aims to reduce the total size of the breasts, augmentation adds volume to the breasts via saline or silicone implants or fat transfer.
While fullness is the number one priority of breast augmentation, implants offer the additional benefit of reshaping the breasts and providing fullness where desired.
The right breast implants can give the breasts a younger and more shapely look without adding unwanted bulk.
Do You Have to Have Implants After a Breast Reduction?
No. In fact, this combination is rare among plastic surgery options. However, some women choose both procedures.
A board-certified plastic surgeon can tell you whether you are a candidate for breast reduction alone or whether saline or silicone implants and/or fat transfer can enhance your results.
What Are The Pros of Having a Reduction and Implants at the Same Time?
Many women who choose breast reduction have struggled with the physical and emotional side effects of large breasts for years (for some, this dissatisfaction may have begun as early as their teens).
Because of this, adding volume back to the breasts after the unwanted weight has finally been removed can seem counterproductive.
However, this unique combination procedure emphasizes shaping an ideal breast contour.
For instance, you may desire lighter, lifted breasts but want to ensure you maintain fullness at the upper pole. By combining these techniques, you can make that dream a reality.
In addition to the cosmetic benefits, this combination also has practical benefits.
The most appealing factor in having these procedures performed simultaneously is convenience. A patient who chooses this comprehensive breast surgery has only one outpatient session and one recovery period.
If the fat transfer is used, this method is also convenient for the surgeon, who only needs to open the site once.
Because anesthesia and use of the facility happen in one visit, the total cost will likely be lower (than if you had the surgeries separately). Your surgeon and the facility can clarify this for you.
How Is Breast Reduction Performed?
Before the day of your breast reduction surgery, you may be asked to:
- Have lab tests done
- Stop smoking
- Get a baseline mammogram
- Avoid taking certain medications that have a risk of increased bleeding, such as aspirin or NSAIDs
- Not eat or drink (ask your doctor), especially if you’re having general anesthesia
On the day of your surgery, your doctor will:
- Have you comfortably anesthetized by a certified anesthesiologist
- Create an incision, usually around the areola
- Remove excess breast tissue
- Reposition the nipple (the nipple normally remains attached to its original blood supply throughout and after the surgery)
- Detach and reposition the nipple if necessary (in rare cases)
- Close the incisions with stitches, and use surgical tape if necessary
How Is Breast Augmentation Performed?
The pre-surgery steps above also apply to breast implant surgery. One of the convenient aspects of simultaneous breast reduction and augmentation is that if fat transfer is used, the fat is readily available all in one procedure.
On the day of your surgery, your doctor will:
- Have you comfortably anesthetized by a certified anesthesiologist
- Create an incision either around the areola, under the breast, or in the armpit
- Insert the implant and/or perform a fat transfer
- Inflate the implant, if saline implants are being used
- Close the incisions with stitches, and use surgical tape if necessary
How Much Is a Breast Reduction?
Depending upon the exact procedure you choose, the cost of your surgery will be determined by several factors, including:
- The surgeon’s fee
- Anesthesia costs
- Post-surgery garments and dressings
- Post-surgery medications
- Follow-up visits
- Any complications that may arise and the measures your doctor uses to fix them
It’s best to speak with your surgeon and the hospital or facility in advance so you know exactly what costs you can expect.
How Much Does Breast Implant Surgery Cost?
All of the above apply to breast implant procedures, plus the cost of the implants.
Is This Procedure Right For You?
Many patients are happy with breast reduction alone; however, every patient’s situation is different. Your best bet is to book a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options.
At your consultation, discuss the cost, your recovery time, and what end result in you’d like to achieve. Your surgeon can guide you to the ideal treatment plan, whether that means reduction, implants, reshaping, or all three.
About The Author:
Ann Lewis enjoys the art of writing and has experience in various spheres of the craft. By blending information, with advice and impromptu jokes, she writes articles that not only have something to teach but are also light, and easy to read.
