Women with large breasts experience significant problems: difficulty finding suitable lingerie, straps that cut into the skin, neck and back pain, skin irritation, difficulty doing sports, etc. Patients often realise for the first time after a breast reduction what a luxury it is to live with smaller breasts.
In a breast reduction, both skin and breast tissue are removed. The result is a smaller breast with a more pleasing shape.
The scars are around the areola, vertically below the nipple and in the crease underneath the breast.
Contrary to what many people think, the areola does not need to be released. The nipple remains attached to a strip of breast tissue in which the necessary blood vessels and nerves are preserved. Sensation in the nipple is almost always preserved.
As always, the scars remain red for a few months and then gradually become paler. The small scar around the areola often heals very well and can subsequently be coloured using permanent make-up so that it is not noticeable at all. The vertical scar fades over the years. The horizontal scar is largely hidden underneath the breast.
It is important to note, however, that some patients (about 10%) have a tendency to form hypertrophic scar tissue (also called "proud flesh") in this area. If this happens, the scar does not remain flat but has a tendency to grow larger, remains red for longer and can sometimes cause an unpleasant prickling sensation. Fortunately many different treatment options are available but these have to be used long term as long as the scar is red.