Although some women want to have smaller breasts for cosmetic reasons, breast reduction surgery is often performed to alleviate medical problems. When the size of the breasts causes pain, discomfort, or insecurity, breast reduction may help. Breast reduction surgery can create smaller, firmer breasts, improving appearance and confidence. Regardless of a woman’s reasons for undergoing the procedure, at our plastic surgery practice that serves Chelmsford and Boston breast reduction is always performed in such a way that patients emerge looking and feeling incredible. Join us at Eliopoulos Plastic Surgery and Med Spa for a consultation, and learn more about the comfort and confidence that can be yours through breast reduction.
Please view Dr. Eliopoulos’ breast reduction before and after results. These are actual patients.
View Before & After GalleryOver the years, many people have come to associate breast surgery with the desire to have larger, fuller breasts, usually through the insertion of breast implants. Many patients, however, turn to Chelmsford plastic surgeon Dina Eliopoulos with precisely the opposite request: for a number of reasons, most highly personal, they wish to have smaller breasts.
Breast reduction provides many aesthetic improvements to the breast. It involves excising skin, fat, and breast tissue to decrease the size of the breasts, create more aesthetically pleasing contours, and lift the breasts to a more youthful position on the chest. The nipple-areola complex can be reduced in diameter as needed and is lifted to a more youthful position centered on the breast mound rather than falling below the fold of the breast.
The benefits can be life-changing, reducing or eliminating discomfort, creating a more sculpted silhouette, and helping you participate in more activities with confidence and ease.
As a breast and body plastic surgery expert. Dr. Dina often discusses the nuances of breast surgery with her patients during their consultations. This video is a *must watch* for anyone considering plastic surgery to reshape their breasts, be it a breast reduction, breast lift, or breast augmentation. In it, Dr. Dina reviews many of her best practices for successful breast surgery and recovery, so that you can reshape your expectations on how to get the best results for this procedure.
It should be noted that breast reduction is not exclusively performed on female patients. Males who suffer from a condition called gynecomastia, marked by the development of enlarged breasts, can benefit greatly from male breast reduction surgery. Gynecomastia surgery can involve the excision of glandular tissue through a small incision at the bottom of the areola, liposuction of excess fat throughout the breast, or a combination of the two methods.
Men who are interested in gynecomastia surgery, sometimes called male breast reduction, are encouraged to schedule a consultation with Dr. Eliopoulos to learn about their options.
"Deciding to have a breast reduction was a bit difficult for me, but it turned out to be the best decision. The results have improved my quality of life. My experience under Dr. Eliopoulos' care was beyond exceptional. She makes you feel immediately comfortable. She addresses every question and concern. Dr. Eliopoulos and her amazing staff treated me with care and respect. They walk you through the entire preparation process with ease. I would recommend them highly."
TR, Age: 49, Home Health
Chances are that if you are wondering whether you are a good candidate for breast reduction surgery, you probably are. Most people who are in good general health and are aware of the risks associated with any surgical procedure are good candidates for breast reduction.
Perhaps most importantly, patients who wish to undergo breast reduction are doing so for their own reasons and not due to any outside pressure. They should be in good mental health and have realistic expectations for the outcome of the procedure. During their initial consultation with Dr. Eliopoulos, patients will be advised of their options and thoroughly screened to ensure that breast reduction is the best course of treatment for them. You may be an ideal candidate for breast reduction if any, several, or all of the following criteria apply to you:
If you are dissatisfied with your appearance or are suffering from physical ailments due to the size of your breasts, breast reduction surgery may be the ideal solution for you. To learn more about breast reduction at our Chelmsford plastic surgery practice, please contact Dr. Dina Eliopoulos.
Breast reduction surgery is sometimes performed to address serious aches and pains that are the result of breasts that are too large. In such cases, the excessive weight of the breasts themselves leads to issues with the lower back and can even cause pain in the shoulder and neck area. These issues, in conjunction with aesthetic matters, are often compelling reasons to consider breast reduction surgery.
Dr. Dina Eliopoulos has over two decades of experience as a board-certified plastic surgeon with a reputation for dedication, surgical excellence, and professionalism. The purpose of her consultation is not to “convince you” to undergo a procedure but to learn about your goals and educate you on your surgical options.
Our Boston breast reduction patients turn to Dr. Eliopoulos because of her experience, surgical skill, and eye for aesthetic detail. She is known by her peers and patients alike as an outstanding plastic surgeon who produces consistently excellent results.
Schedule a Consultation TodayBreast reduction surgery is a wonderfully tolerated outpatient procedure performed under general anesthesia. Dr. Eliopoulos will create incisions in the optimal location for your needs, which will be discussed in depth during pre-operative planning. Typically, this results in scars around the areola, extending vertically down to the crease of the breast, like the shape of a lollipop, and then along the inframmary crease under the breast. Excess breast tissue is then removed, and the remaining breast tissue is reshaped and lifted to achieve a more proportionate and aesthetically pleasing contour. The nipples and areola will be reduced in diameter and repositioned to a higher, more centered location, enhancing the aesthetic appearance and symmetry of the breast. The procedure generally takes a few hours. We will monitor you in a private recovery room until you are ready and comfortable to return home.
Patients who choose breast reduction typically feel that the benefits of the surgery are worth the trade-off of adding scars to the breast. These scars are generally well hidden under bras and bathing suits. The scars will hide within the areolar border, then extend vertically from the bottom of the areola to the crease under the breast, and horizontally along the natural curve of the breast crease. This pattern is sometimes referred to as an anchor or inverted T incision.
This of course is dependent on your starting size. In general, there is a limit to how small we can get the breast while still leaving a pretty shape, and also in order to maintain healthy skin and nipple-areolar complexes. So it is unlikely to be able to get smaller than a B cup. More commonly, patients may end up in a C or a D cup, depending on their desires. During your consultation, Dr. Eliopoulos will be able to give you an idea of what size reduction she can achieve safely, and also what will fit your frame.
As with any surgery, breast reduction requires some time for recovery. During private consultations, Dr. Dina Eliopoulos provides each patient with a personalized breast reduction recovery timeline. Contact Dr. Eliopoulos' Chelmsford, MA, practice to get more details on breast reduction recovery and find out what to expect after surgery.
Every patient's recovery experience is unique and will vary based on personal healing times, current health, lifestyle factors, and how well pre- and post-surgical instructions are followed. With that said, the following is a general timeline similar to what most patients will experience during recovery after breast reduction surgery.
Breast reduction surgery is performed on an outpatient basis. Patients can expect to feel some mild pain, discomfort, bruising, and swelling during the first few days of recovery due to manipulation of the breast tissues and incisions.
But, actually, patients are often pleasantly surprised that this discomfort is very tolerable and much less than they anticipated. Pain medication will be prescribed to help manage discomfort during recovery, although most patients do well with mainly Tylenol. The amazing thing is that even though you will have some swelling immediately after surgery, you will already sense remarkable changes in the size and shape of your breasts. This will continue to improve as you heal over the next several weeks.
Drainage tubes may be placed to help remove excess fluid and reduce swelling. If drainage tubes are placed, they are generally removed after a few days to one week. You will wear a surgical bra as much as possible, which will give you good support and comfort and help with swelling. You will have a bit of gauze tucked into the bra for comfort as well. You will have a special surgical tape over your incisions, which will stay in place until about two weeks postoperatively.
Patients should expect to take a full week off of work after surgery and may require more time depending on personal healing times and their occupation. Most people are recovered enough to return to their normal routines after one to two weeks, but strenuous activity and heavy lifting should be avoided for about four weeks. Your surgical tapes will come off two to three weeks after surgery. Your stitches are dissolvable beneath the skin, so there is no need for removal. By this time, bruising has resolved, as well as postoperative discomfort. Patients are advised to continue wearing a surgical bra for four weeks after surgery.
If all incisions are nicely healed, you will be allowed to resume your exercise routine. At your one-month visit, Dr. Eliopoulos and her team will guide you on how to optimize your scars and maintain your breast shape. Patients are typically amazed at the transformation of their breasts and are thrilled at this stage to start bra shopping.
If you would like more information about breast reduction, including what to expect during recovery, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Eliopoulos.
Plastic surgery isn’t just about people changing their look—it's about making you feel good about being you. Whether you need breast augmentation, a breast lift, liposuction or Botox, Dr. Dina Eliopoulos is here for you. For over 20 years, patients have sought out the care and results that Dr. Eliopoulos can create in her beautiful Chelmsford, Massachusetts office. The peace of mind that comes from a board-certified, residency- and fellowship-trained plastic surgeon is hard to parallel. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Eliopoulos today to experience the difference for yourself.