Breast Reduction in Huntington Beach, CA

Generally, Dr. Miller uses two methods for breast reduction: the traditional incision or the vertical incision. During your consultation, he will discuss with you which method he feels best suits your unique situation and goals for your reduction. This procedure is performed with the patient under general anesthesia.

• Traditional incision method — For women with extremely large breasts where a good deal of sagging skin and tissue need to be removed, the traditional incision allows the most access. The incision, also called the “anchor incision,” circles the areola, runs down to the breast crease, and then follows the breast crease a few inches in each direction.
• Vertical incision method — This incision follows the same path as the anchor incision, without extending along the breast crease. The shape of this incision is more like a lollipop. It can work for women with moderately large breasts.

In both methods, excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin are removed. The nipples and areolae are usually moved to a higher position on the chest. The areolae can also be reduced in size.

Yes, it is possible and safe to combine a breast reduction with other procedures as long as the patient is in overall good health and ready to recover from more than one surgery at once. Other cosmetic surgery procedures such as liposuction, a tummy tuck, and a breast lift are most commonly performed in addition to a breast reduction to help patients achieve optimal, natural-looking results.

According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, evidence shows that breast reductions have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer in patients by decreasing the amount of breast tissue where cancer cells may develop.

These procedures take from 2 to 4 hours, depending upon the amount of sagging skin that needs to be removed and if Dr. Miller needs to downsize the nipple/areola complex.

These are involved surgeries, and Dr. Miller does a good deal of tissue repositioning. Plus, the incisions are lengthy. This creates bruising, swelling, and soreness. When you return home, your breasts will be fully bandaged and in a surgical bra. You’ll have to take it easy for the first one to two weeks and avoid strenuous activity for about six weeks. You’ll need to take at least one, and more likely two, weeks off work.

It's important to simply rest and lay low in your recovery nest. This is no time to push your recovery and be up and about. Get some help around the house. Have someone else cook for you. No chores or house stuff. One really low-key first week can help your entire healing process go as smoothly as possible.

You’ll have to plan for sleeping, as Dr. Miller asks his breast reduction patients to sleep exclusively on their back for a full two weeks after their surgery. You don’t want to place any pressure on your incision and the tissue that has been repositioned. Sleeping in a recliner is one great method. In bed, you’ll need strategically placed pillows to ensure you don’t roll over or onto your side.

Supporting your reduced breasts is a very important part of your recovery. You’ll transition from a surgical bra to a support bra and then finally to a strong sports bra. These must be worn 24 hours a day for at least one month. These can seem tedious, but it’s necessary to avoid placing any stress on your incisions. By being diligent with this your scars will stay as thin as possible and will heal better. It’s usually necessary to move the nipples with this procedure. Dr. Miller makes every effort to maintain nipple sensation and breastfeeding function after breast reduction, but this is not always possible.

Even when proper aftercare guidelines are followed, patients may still experience recovery complications after surgery. Serious complications such as blood clots, difficulty breathing, infection, fever, or long-lasting pain that is felt at any time during your recovery should be tell-tale signs that you should visit your doctor immediately.

Due to the need to remove both excess glandular tissue and excess skin, the incisions necessary for breast reduction are extensive. In most cases, to gain the access necessary Dr. Miller uses the anchor incision described above. This incision circles the areola, drops down to the breast crease, and usually moves outward in both directions along that crease. As with any surgical incision, this will leave a scar. The scars will lighten over time, but they will always be there.

When weighing the value of smaller, more manageable breasts against having some scarring, our reduction patients are happy to make that tradeoff.

These surgeries have extremely high rates of satisfaction: over 95 percent of women who’ve had breast reduction are satisfied with their results. Women who’ve had reduction tell us how they now love shopping for clothes and swimsuits. They’ve joined exercise classes they formerly wouldn’t have considered. They’ve taken up sports or hobbies that they’ve always thought about doing but avoided. In most cases, our breast reduction patients develop a completely new body image, one based in confidence rather than being continually self-conscious.

For women who’ve been saddled with overly large natural breasts virtually their entire life, these are life changing procedures. Recovery isn’t easy, but the end result is worth it.

These procedures are very similar to a breast lift. Dr. Miller simply removes more tissue to decrease the size of the breasts, in addition to removing the excess sagging skin. Breast lifts are a common surgical procedure, and they don’t involve a lot of risk beyond the risks involved with any surgery. Reduction surgeries are much the same.

The biggest potential side effect is the loss of nipple sensation and possible loss of the ability to breastfeed. Dr. Miller does his best to mitigate these possibilities, but with the amount of tissue removal and repositioning some disturbance can occur.co

When you consider the health issues caused by overly large breasts — back and neck pain, nerve damage, migraine headaches, and the like — not to mention the psychological toll, the rewards gained with breast reduction far outweigh any minimal risks.

When considering cosmetic surgery, your choice of surgeon matters. It’s important to choose a breast reduction surgeon who has undergone specialized training in the field of cosmetic surgery. Dr. Miller is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and has met rigorous standards of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgeons. 

At Orange County Cosmetic Surgery, we are dedicated to providing fully individualized care with a focus on your safety and satisfaction. When you choose us, you will be treated like a member of our family and enjoy results that are balanced, beautiful and natural-looking.