Breast Reduction

Breast reduction surgery is a procedure designed to reduce the overall volume of the breast. Also known as a reduction mammoplasty, this procedure can help alleviate physical problems associated with overly large breasts while aesthetically enhancing one’s overall silhouette. Large breasts can affect one’s quality of life, often causing bothersome and painful issues such as chronic neck or back pain, skin irritation, and even mobility limitations.

Dr. Joseph A. Racanelli is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon based in New Jersey. Voted as one of New Jersey’s Top Doctors in New Jersey Monthly Magazine, Dr. Racanelli is known for providing consistent, stunning results. He is experienced with both cosmetic surgery and revision plastic surgery, having trained alongside many internationally recognized surgeons and serving as the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Clara Maass Medical Center Barnabas Health. With a breast reduction, Dr. Racanelli can help you feel more comfortable and confident in your skin!

To learn more about breast reduction with one of New Jersey’s Top Doctors, please call (888) 409-0801 or fill out our contact form to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Racanelli at any one of our convenient New Jersey locations.

About Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is a procedure that helps reshape and reduce the size of the breasts through the removal of excess tissue. There are many reasons why a patient would want to reduce the size of their breasts; these reasons can be either cosmetic, medical, or both. Dr. Racanelli utilizes a “Wise incision” or “anchor incision.”

This incision can allow for impactful results and alleviate the bothersome effects of large breasts for our patients. Dr. Racanelli can determine the best incision placement for your situation during your personal consultation. This decision is based on factors such as anatomy, medical history, treatment goals, and more.

Breast Reduction Benefits

There are many benefits of receiving a breast reduction, both medical and cosmetic. A reduction in breast tissue can alleviate experienced back, neck, or shoulder pain. ⁽²⁾ Patients can enjoy improved mobility and posture after reducing the size of the breasts. The procedure can also reduce skin irritation, rashes, and uncomfortable chafing. Each procedure is fully customized for each patient and offers significant results after recovery. Women interested in improving the symmetry of their breasts can also benefit from this treatment. ⁽¹⁾ Many patients report that their clothing fits better following their reduction, and that it is easier to find tops that fit their chest size.

Candidates

Candidates seeking breast reduction are often those interested in alleviating discomfort that is caused by large breasts. Patients may wish to address back and shoulder pain, as well as poor posture and limited mobility. Women who experience irritation in areas where the breast tissue causes chafing can also benefit from the procedure. ⁽²⁾ For many women, the results of a breast reduction can be life-changing, enhancing their overall silhouette while reducing pain and irritation.

All candidates interested in breast reduction should be in good overall health and free from any underlying medical conditions that may impair healing. It is recommended that patients interested in or planning on becoming pregnant refrain from undergoing this procedure until after they are finished having children, as pregnancy can alter the results of the procedure.

To find out if you are an ideal candidate for a breast reduction, please call (888) 409-0801 or fill out our contact form to schedule a personal consultation with Dr. Racanelli.

Personal Consultation

Before your procedure, we will ask that you schedule a personal consultation at any one of our three convenient locations. During this personal consultation, Dr. Racanelli will discuss the details of your procedure before performing a medical examination, evaluating both the treatment area and your medical history. You should also come prepared to discuss your current medications, lifestyle, and aesthetic goals to help us determine the most effective treatment plan for you.

Dr. Racanelli will also walk each patient through the different surgical techniques that can be used to help achieve an ideal breast size, tailoring the procedure to fit the patient’s anatomy and aesthetic goals. After a full treatment plan is established, Dr. Racanelli will prepare personalized preparation and postoperative instructions, as well as provide a cost estimate for the procedure. We encourage patients to ask any questions they may have about their procedure during this initial meeting, but if any additional questions arise before your procedure, feel free to reach out to us. Our team of experts is more than willing to address any concerns, no matter how big or small.

To schedule your personal consultation at any one of our convenient New Jersey offices, please call (888) 409-0801 or fill out our contact form, and a member of our team will respond to you as soon as possible.

Preparation

Dr. Racanelli will provide a list of preoperative instructions to each patient before their procedure. Patients should pre-arrange any time away from work or other social commitments they may need, as well as arrange for transportation home from their procedure. Many patients may find that it can also be helpful to have a trusted friend or family member with them at home to assist them with tasks.

Patients need to fill their prescriptions ahead of time and avoid any medications or supplements with blood thinning properties. If applicable, patients should stop smoking or drinking alcohol, avoiding consumption until fully healed or approved by Dr. Racanelli.

Procedure

A breast reduction begins with the administration of anesthesia to ensure each patient feels relaxed and comfortable.

After making the incision, Dr. Racanelli can remove excess amounts of fat, skin, and glandular tissue. Dr. Racanelli can reposition the nipple if necessary. While liposuction is not always used in this procedure, Dr. Racanelli may use it in certain patients to help remove excess fat from around the armpits to create a smoother appearance. To perform liposuction, Dr. Racanelli will make small incisions near the deposits of fat and inject a tumescent solution, which helps swell the fat while minimizing bleeding and discomfort. ⁽³⁾ Dr. Racanelli will then insert a cannula (suction tube) into the treatment area to gently break apart and vacuum out the targeted fat cells, leaving a more sculpted area.

Recovery & Results

Breast reduction is typically considered to be an outpatient procedure, meaning that patients may return home the same day as their appointment. Following a breast reduction, patients can expect bruising and tenderness at the treatment site. Dr. Racanelli may ask patients to wear a supportive bra to minimize swelling and protect the newly shaped breasts as they heal. While the recovery time can differ from one person to the next, most patients can return to work and other light activities after about 2-3 weeks, refraining from any strenuous or physical activities for at least 3-6 weeks or until Dr. Racanelli approves.

Significant changes will be immediately visible following a breast reduction, but the full results may take several months to develop as residual swelling subsides. Patients can enjoy an improvement in the size and shape of the breasts along with lessened shoulder and back pain. The results of breast reduction are essentially permanent. However, certain factors, such as pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and aging, can affect the appearance of the breasts.

Cost of a Breast Reduction in New Jersey

The cost of a breast reduction can vary depending on the extent of the tissue removal. Eligible patients may be able to have their breast reduction covered by insurance if their procedure is deemed medically necessary. Dr. Racanelli partners with a variety of reputable financing companies to offer flexible payment plans to his patients.

To speak to a member of our staff regarding our accepted payment methods and financing options, please call (888) 409-0801 or fill out our contact form, and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.

References

1. Sachs D, Szymanski KD. Breast Reduction. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441974/
2. Purohit S. Reduction mammoplasty. Indian Journal of Plastic Surgery: Official Publication of the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. 2008;41(Suppl):S64. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2825129/
3. Bartow MJ, Raggio BS. Liposuction. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK563135/