Who Is a Good Candidate for a Breast Reduction?

Do you feel like your breasts are too large? If so, you may be considered a good candidate for a breast reduction San Antonio, sometimes referred to as reduction mammaplasty. At DrYoungForever in San Antonio, TX, we proudly offer this procedure to help our clients improve their self-esteem. Today, we’re taking a closer look at who may qualify for this procedure.

Who Is a Good Candidate for a Breast Reduction San Antonio? 

As a general rule of thumb, you will be considered a good candidate for a breast reduction in San Antonio if you feel like your breasts are too large. Some women seek this procedure because the size of their breasts is causing them upper back pain. Other women simply no longer want to struggle to find shirts and dresses that fit their bust and torso.

Other women don’t have intolerable upper back pain but find that they usually have such skin irritation beneath their breasts as rashes. However, there is a chance that you may need a breast lift instead of or in addition to a reduction if you experience chronic skin irritation. Here are some of the most common factors we look for to determine who qualifies for this procedure.

Women Who Struggle To Exercise

Do you walk instead of jog or run because you can’t find a sports bra that supports your breasts? Do you avoid the swimming pool because you can’t find a swimsuit that fits? Do you feel like the world of exercise would open up to you if your breasts were smaller? If so, there is a good chance that you will be considered a good reduction mammaplasty candidate.

Women Who Suffer From Pain

Most of the time, women who seek reduction mammaplasty due to pain suffer from upper back pain. This may or may not be caused by poor posture due to how heavy large breasts are. Regardless of the cause of the upper back pain, it will improve after the breasts are reduced. However, upper back pain is not the only pain that can be relieved following this procedure.

For instance, you may be considered a good candidate for reduction mammaplasty if you have nerve pain in your neck due to how heavy your breasts are. Similarly, you may qualify for this procedure If your shoulders hurt due to your thick bra straps digging into your shoulders while supporting the weight of your breasts.

Women Who Have Good Heart Health

There is a very good chance you will be considered a good reduction mammaplasty candidate if your heart health is relatively good. Good heart health is important to qualify for this procedure because it is usually performed under general anesthesia. However, your heart and lungs have to be pretty healthy for you to receive general anesthesia safely.

Women Who Are Mobile

To qualify for this procedure, it is also important that you are fairly mobile. You must be committed to following all preparation and recovery instructions, and one of the most important recovery steps you must take is walking as much as you can without exhausting yourself. Walking will help you recover faster because gentle exercise supports a strong circulatory system.

A strong circulatory system is important for a rapid recovery because it carries nutrients and human growth factors to your incision sites, not just blood. You won’t need to walk too much during the first few days of your recovery. However, once you feel up to it, you should do your best to get at least 30 minutes of gentle walking daily.

Women Who Have a Strong Support System

You are also more likely to qualify for reduction mammaplasty if you have a strong support system at home. At the very least, someone needs to drive you to and from our office on the day of your procedure. This is because it is not safe to operate such heavy machinery as a motor vehicle within 24 hours of being put under anesthesia. You won’t be able to drive home, and you won’t have to worry about your car if someone drives you to your appointment.

A strong support system will also make your recovery a lot easier. You may not feel like walking to the kitchen, standing up and making a meal, eating, and washing the dishes. Having someone stay with you for the first few days ensures that you get all of the nutrients you need. They can cook for you and bring you the food, so you don’t have to decide whether eating is worth standing up for.

Women Who Don’t Smoke

You can also confidently expect to qualify for this procedure if you are a non-smoker. Remember, you must be able to adhere to all preparation and recovery guidelines to be considered a good candidate. It is imperative that you do not consume nicotine for several days before and after your procedure. If you don’t think you can go several days without nicotine, you may not qualify for reduction mammaplasty.

Also, non-smokers are more likely to be considered a good candidate for this procedure because their heart and lungs tend to be healthier. To reiterate, this procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia, but you must have good heart and lung health to receive general anesthesia.

Frequently Asked Questions About Reduction Mammaplasty Answered

How Long Will My Recovery Take?

Most women find that they are fully recovered from this procedure after 14 to 42 days. How quickly you heal fully depends on several factors, including your health, the scope of your procedure, the technique used, and how well you take care of yourself during your recovery period. As a general rule, the younger you are, the faster your skin will heal itself. Also, your skin will be fully healed faster if only small incisions are made.

However, it is important to note that your lifestyle leading up to your procedure also plays a role in your recovery speed. For example, if you are a smoker, but you qualify for this procedure because you are willing and able to abstain from tobacco use pre- and post-op, your skin will take longer to heal. This is because nicotine damages your collagen and slows your skin’s ability to produce more. Similarly, sun damage is bad for collagen and will slow recovery.

Will I Have To Take Two to Six Weeks Off From Work? 

No, you should not expect to need two to six weeks off from work to recover from your reduction mammaplasty. At most, you should only need to take five days off from work if your job is not physically demanding. It is important to take at least a few days off from work, regardless of the nature of your work, because you need plenty of rest. If your job is physically demanding, you may need to take seven to 10 days off from work to focus on rest.

How Much Should I Sleep After My Procedure?

It is ideal to get nine hours of sleep per night after your reduction mammaplasty until you are fully recovered. Your skin will work on healing itself throughout the entire recovery process. However, it is the most efficient during the rapid eye movement phase of sleep. If you can get nine consecutive hours of sleep per night, you should go through the REM phase of sleep approximately six times.

Napping is also helpful as long as you nap long enough to enter the REM phase of sleep and maximize your skin’s healing potential. Individual sleep cycle lengths vary, but you should be able to get through an entire sleep cycle in approximately 90 minutes.

What Should I Eat After My Procedure? 

You should do your best to eat nutritious foods and stay away from processed foods during your recovery. Ideally, you should get between 0.7 grams and one gram of protein per pound of bodyweight. However, even getting half a gram of protein per pound of bodyweight will help your skin produce plenty of healthy collagen.

Schedule Your Initial Consultation Today

If you are experiencing upper back pain, skin irritation, or self-consciousness due to the size of your breasts, there is a good chance that you will qualify for a breast reduction San Antonio. However, your health and aesthetic and medical goals need to be reviewed thoroughly to ensure that this procedure will be safe and effective for you. Drop us a line at DrYoungForever in San Antonio, TX today to schedule your initial reduction mammaplasty consultation. We’re here to help you.