Most Common Plastic Surgeries For Moms
How Breast Reductions Can Relieve Back Pain
For every woman who's upset that her breasts disappeared after breastfeeding, there's probably another who found that the larger breasts never went away. Heavy, sagging breasts can cause neck, shoulder and back pain, as well as headaches–many women turn to breast reduction to reduce the volume of their breasts.
What it is: Fat, tissue and skin are removed through incisions, then the breasts are reshaped. The type and direction of incisions may depend on the size of your breasts, or the amount of reduction desired. In some cases, the surgeon may remove your nipple and areola and change its size before reattaching it further up on the breast.
What to expect: The procedure can take at least an hour and a half, under general anesthetic. You can usually go home the same day, although you can expect to be in bed for a few days afterward.
Plan to take up to two weeks off work, and avoid doing any physical activity or heavy lifting for at least three weeks. It will take about six weeks to fully recover.
Special considerations: Dr. Rice recommends waiting at least nine months to one year after weaning before having a breast reduction. Also, if your nipples are removed and the areolas resized, you may lose some nipple sensitivity.
It is also more difficult to breastfeed after a breast reduction–Dr. Rice says that although you may be able to produce milk, you may only have a limited capacity. He recommends not undergoing the procedure until after having children if you want to breastfeed.
Cost: Covered under some provincial health plans in Canada; approximately $7,000 to $9,000 in the United States.
