Breast Reduction in Austin and Lakeway, Texas

With the growing popularity of breast augmentation surgery, you may wonder why a woman would choose instead to have her breast size reduced.

brunette patient giving a woman at the front desk a handshake

Back pain, neck pain, tingling hands, or migraine headaches can be some of the possible reasons. Having overly large natural breasts can be a burden. They’re heavy, leading to numerous health problems. They get in the way, precluding participation in many sports and exercise options.

Why choose us for breast reduction?

Breast reduction surgery, performed by Dr. Michelle Cabret, can reduce the breasts to a more proportional size, making them more manageable physically and mentally. If you have questions or would like to learn more about exploring the option to have reduction surgery, reach out to us to schedule a private consultation with Dr. Cabret, one of Austin’s only female cosmetic surgeons, who is recognized for the exceptional quality of her work, and her compassionate, caring nature.

Leading female breast surgeon serving Austin and Lakeway, Dr. Michelle Cabret.

Your surgery will be performed at our state-of-the-art facility, at our in-house surgery center, in a private, exclusive setting. Dr. Cabret has recently been named as one of the Top 10 Cosmetic Surgeons in Austin and brings over two decades in practice to your surgery. Having a female breast surgeon allows for a feminine approach to breast surgery -- something male surgeons lack by nature. Beyond her deep dedication and care for her patients, she is very “hands-on” during the recovery process. She will see you two to four times over the first two weeks following your surgery – this sets Austin Cosmetic Surgery apart from other practices in the area.

What is breast reduction surgery?

Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, removes excess breast fat, glandular tissue, and skin to reduce the size of the breasts. The procedure also removes the sagging and returns the breasts to a higher profile on the chest.

Having overly large natural breasts, a condition known as hypermastia, can negatively dominate a woman’s life. Reduction surgery at Austin Cosmetic Surgery can be life-changing, in the best possible way! It is all about freedom and comfort.

Who is a good candidate for breast reduction surgery?

Overly large breasts, especially if they are largely due to glandular tissue, are very heavy.

This can lead to a host of health problems:

Back pain
Neck pain
Spinal nerve compression
Tingling hands
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Headaches/migraines
Balance problems
Rashes

If you experience any of the problems listed above, you could be an excellent candidate for breast reduction surgery performed by Dr. Michelle Cabret at Austin Cosmetic Surgery.

What is the procedure?

Generally, there are two options for incisions with this procedure. These are:

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.

During your consultation, we will discuss which method will work best for your unique situation. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia.

Benefits of breast reduction

There is a dual set of benefits with reduction surgery — both physical and mental, even emotional. As noted above, there are many physical benefits, from a decrease in neck pain and back problems to removing the constant pain of having bra straps dig into your shoulders. The benefits include:

The ability to buy standard clothing and bra sizes
Relief from the weight of heavy, overly large breasts
A more balanced figure
The ability to engage in more activities, such as exercise, and sports, comfortably
Increased self-confidence in your body image
Beautifully shaped, lifted breasts, balanced with your frame

Beyond the physical benefits, many women with large breasts can be very self-conscious about their breasts and overall body image. They may tend to wear clothes that hide their body. They may avoid activities that may require less clothing. Exercise and activities where their breasts get in the way are ruled out.

After we decrease patients’ breasts, they often gain an entire new degree of self-confidence and look at their figure in a much healthier way. They feel more open to engaging in new exercise classes or regimens, without fear of attracting unwanted attention. They feel comfortable wearing clothing that now complements their figure, rather than seeking to cover it.

This surgery can be life changing – an awesome outcome.

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Breast lift with breast reduction

There is some misunderstanding here because breast reduction under the care of Dr. Cabret is basically similar to a breast lift. Yes, we are removing more breast tissue and probably more skin, but the end goal is the same — to bring sagging, low-hanging breasts back up to a higher position on the chest. The only difference is that breast reduction also makes the breasts smaller.

What is the recovery after reduction surgery?

This procedure involves lots of tissue repositioning, and this results in bruising, swelling, and soreness. When you return home, your breasts will be fully bandaged and in a surgical bra. You will need to take it easy for the first one to two weeks and avoid strenuous activity for about six weeks. You should plan to take at least one, and more likely two, weeks off work.

One of the most important aspects of your recovery is wearing your surgical bra at first, then transitioning to a support bra, and ending with a strong sports bra. These should be worn 24 hours a day for at least one month. These can seem tedious, but it is necessary to avoid placing any stress on your incisions.

By being diligent with this your scars will stay as thin as is possible and will heal faster and better. We usually need to move the nipples with this procedure, but we make every effort to maintain nipple sensation and breastfeeding function after breast reduction, but everyone is different, and it may not be possible in every case.

Will I have scars after surgery?

There is no way around the scarring that results from this procedure. Incisions are long and incisions create scars. These are necessary to gain the access needed to remove as much breast tissue and skin as is needed. The scars will be pink for up to a year but will then begin to fade quite quickly, finally appearing as a fine white line.

Breast reduction and breastfeeding

You cannot have this procedure while you are breastfeeding. Firstly, recovery would certainly interfere with breastfeeding. Second, your breasts need to return to their natural size before you can have this surgery. When you are breastfeeding, your breasts are larger than normal. As for the future potential for breastfeeding, this surgery could impact your ability to breastfeed. With the extensive tissue removal and repositioning, along with relocating the nipples, there is a fair chance your ability to breastfeed could be impacted. We try to ensure nipple sensation and the ability to breastfeed, but this isn’t always possible. If you are planning on having more children, waiting to have the procedure until you have built your family is a better option.

Breast Reduction FAQ

Can I have my breast size reduced if I have breast implants?

What are the risks associated with breast reduction surgery?

Can I have my breast size reduced if I have breast implants?

Some women decide they no longer want the larger breasts they opted for with augmentation. Although not quite the same as reducing natural breasts, the end goal is the same. The implants may either be completely removed, or more often removed and replaced with smaller implants that are more in line with the patient’s overall body. Excess skin will be removed, as with natural breast reduction.

What are the risks associated with breast reduction surgery?

This is major surgery, so all of the risks involved with surgery apply to reduction: infection, excessive bleeding, poor healing, and the like. The main risk specific to reduction mammoplasty is loss of nipple sensation or overall changes in breast sensation. This is because the nerves can be impacted by the relatively extensive changes in the breasts. Also, the ability to breastfeed will likely be impacted.

Schedule a private breast reduction consultation with us.

You don’t have to deal with the pain, discomfort, and psychological effects of having breasts that are too large for your body. Dr. Michelle Cabret can masterfully reshape the entire chest area using breast reduction techniques that minimize scarring and downtime. Reach out to us online or by phone to schedule a consultation. We proudly serve the communities of Austin, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Barton Creek, and Spicewood. Dr. Cabret is also honored to serve patients in and beyond Scottsdale, AZ.