Name: Dr. Aric Aghayan
Address: 5331 S Macadam Ave, Suite 254, Portland, OR, 97239, US
Telephone: (503) 212-9411
Price range: $$$
Location: Après Plastic Surgery
Rating: 5

The Breast Reduction Procedure

Feel Lighter and More Confident

Many women struggle with challenges related to overly large breasts. It’s common to experience back pain, rashes, headaches, tingling and numbness, and self-image issues related to this problem. Furthermore, there are many emotional and psychological issues related to overly large breasts. Women may feel self-conscious and embarrassed about the size of their breasts, which can limit their relationships, intimacy, and self-confidence.

Fortunately, breast reduction surgery can remove excess tissue, fat, and skin and create more proportional breasts for your shape and body type. In addition to reducing the overall breast size, this procedure can also lift the breasts and reduce the size of the nipples and areolas to achieve a more taut, natural, and youthful appearance. Breast reduction surgery is one of the most common cosmetic surgeries available to women, and the vast majority of patients are extremely happy with their results. At Après Plastic Surgery in Portland breast reduction patients are overwhelmingly glad they made the choice to follow through with this procedure — many saying they wish they would have chosen to do it sooner.

Patient Testimonials

“The positive results of his work are inescapable — the cosmetic goals I was striving for were met and more”

"What made my experience with Dr. Aghayan so rewarding was not just his wildly competent and professional procedural skills as a plastic surgeon, but his addicting spirit of reassurance and strong bedside manner. Many doctors have the intellectual capability to perform plastic surgery related procedures, Dr. Aghayan goes beyond this by his spirit of kindness and respect."

“Dr. Aghayan and the staff at Apres Plastic Surgery have been amazing!”

"I am 7 weeks post abdominoplasty and I am loving the results. I can’t wait to to see my final transformation in 3 to 4 months which I only expect to get better! If you are considering any aesthetic surgery I highly recommend Dr. Aric Aghayan who is so easy to talk too and real world and his attentive staff will take great care of you. Make the call, you will love the results!"

“Dr. Aric Aghayan and his team are the epitome of professionality and kindness.”

"If you don’t like something about yourself they can fix it. Either performed by himself or a recommendation in the right direction, Dr. Aghayan is the answer. Thank you for helping me improve self-confidence."

4.9

from 65+ Reviews

View All Testimonials

Benefits of Breast Reduction

With a breast reduction Portland woman can experience various health-related improvements and enjoy cosmetic enhancements.

Improved Comfort

Breast reduction surgery can get rid of back, shoulder, and neck pain related to overly large breasts. It can also improve other symptoms such as rashes (often caused by extra-tight bras and other undergarments), tingling and extremity numbness, and headaches. Women who get the surgery report feeling lighter and overall more comfortable in their skin and clothes.

Lifted Breasts

Larger breasts tend to sit lower on the chest, which is not ideal for many women. While a breast lift does not have to be a part of breast reduction surgery, it is often incorporated and can help position the breasts at a more desirable height on the chest.

Easier Exercise

Breast reduction surgery also makes it easier to lead an active lifestyle. Overly large breasts can make women feel unbalanced and uncomfortable when engaging in physical activity, especially when performing cardiovascular activities such as running and aerobics. Breast reduction surgery can help get rid of exercise-related discomfort and pain in this regard. This, in turn, can motivate a healthier lifestyle overall.

Boosted Confidence

Many women with oversized breasts feel embarrassed and frustrated about the size of their chests. It can be difficult to find clothing that fits and looks appropriate for their body type. With breast reduction surgery, it’s easier to feel comfortable in your own skin and find stylish clothing that feels and looks good.

Ideal Candidates for Breast Reduction

Ideal candidates for a Portland breast reduction surgery struggle with heavy, overly large breasts that often get in the way of their daily activities. They may experience back, neck, and shoulder pain from the added weight, as well as other undesired symptoms such as rashes, headaches, and a lack of self-confidence.

Candidates should be at a healthy weight prior to surgery and have realistic expectations about their future results. It’s important that breast reduction patients understand that there will be some light scarring associated with this surgery, though Portland plastic surgeon, Dr. Aghayan, is highly skilled at reducing the appearance of these scars. It’s also possible to lose nipple sensation and sensitivity, and some women do experience challenges with breastfeeding.

Surgery Preparation for Breast Reduction

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for breast reduction surgery, so it’s best to speak with Dr. Aghayan one-on-one before moving forward. Start by booking a consultation appointment, at which you can go over your medical history with Dr. Aghayan, and he will perform a short physical exam.

Be honest about the struggles you regularly deal with surrounding your breast size, and don’t be afraid to explain in detail what you hope to achieve with surgery. Bring along photos if it helps, and be sure to jot down any questions or concerns you may have beforehand as well. Also bring a copy of any medications and supplements you are currently taking. In some cases, these may need to be adjusted prior to surgery. You will also need to stop smoking and drinking at a certain point prior to surgery.

Breast Reduction Details

Breast reduction surgery is typically an outpatient procedure, which means you’ll be able to go home on the same day as your surgery. In general, all breast reduction surgeries follow the same pattern:

Administration of General AnesthesiaAll breast augmentation surgeries are performed under general anesthesia.
Incisions Dr. Aghayan will decide on the placement of your incisions before surgery. All breast reductions are unique, so Dr. Aghayan may choose an inverted-T or straight line (vertical) incision, depending on your situation.
Repositioning and Removal of Tissue Depending on where the nipples and areolas were originally located, these areas may either be shifted upward while remaining tethered to the nerves or completely removed and adjusted to a higher position. Excess breast tissue will be removed, as well as excess skin if necessary.
LiposuctionIn most cases, liposuction will be used to remove excess fat from the breasts and reduce the overall breast size. The remaining skin and tissue will be tightened.
Closure of the incisions Finally, the incisions will be carefully closed using sutures, surgical tape, or skin adhesives.

Breast Reduction Risks & Complications

Breast reduction surgery is a common procedure, and the majority of patients do not have issues with their recovery. Still, as with any surgery, there are some risks and complications that all patients should be aware of. These include:

Risks related to anesthesia
Excessive bleeding
Changes in breast and nipple sensation
Shape or contour irregularities
Excessive accumulation of fluid
Infection
Nerve, muscle, lung, blood vessel, or abdominal organ damage
Fat necrosis
Breast asymmetry
Excessive breast firmness
Skin pigmentation changes
Persistent swelling
Blood clots
Deep vein thrombosis
Pulmonary and cardiac complications
Poor scarring
Poor wound healing
Difficulty breastfeeding
Possible need for revision surgery

Breast Reduction Recovery

After their breast reduction Portland patients will be monitored closely at the hospital before being discharged to go home. Generally speaking, you will return home with a draining tube near the incision site that will help control bleeding and swelling.

You will also need to wear a compression bra for at least a few days, which will help improve blood circulation. You’ll need to take it easy for the first few days and weeks after surgery. Dr. Aghayan will give you detailed postoperative instructions, which you should be sure to follow closely. After about a month or so, you’ll see the initial side effects, such as swelling and bruising, go down, and your breasts will settle into a natural position. Dr. Aghayan will let you know when you can return to your normal daily activities and more rigorous physical activities such as exercise.

Complementary Procedures

Breast reduction surgery is often combined with procedures such as:

LIPOSUCTION

Many women who desire enlarged or enhanced breasts also desire contouring on other parts of the body. The breasts can be further enhanced, for example, by slimming the upper arms or reducing stubborn excess fat on the abdomen or flanks. These results can be achieved through liposuction.

TUMMY TUCK

It’s not uncommon for breast reduction surgery candidates to be interested in tummy tuck surgery as well. This procedure removes excess skin from the abdomen and tightens the abdominal muscles.

MOMMY MAKEOVERS

Mommy makeovers are surgeries involving multiple procedures to help mothers who are done having children get their pre-baby bodies back. While many mothers are looking to lift and add volume to their breasts, some moms may be interested in reducing the overall size of their breasts, so breast reduction surgery may be an integral part of your mommy makeover.

Breast Reduction Frequently Asked Questions

How much breast can be removed from reduction?

Most women lose around one or two cup sizes from their breasts after surgery and a full recovery. At your consultation appointment, be sure to express what your ideal breast size is so that you can adjust your surgery to achieve this outcome.

Do breast reductions include a lift?

This depends on your current breast size and what you hope to achieve with surgery. Overly large breasts often droop and sag with time, so many breast reduction patients do opt to have a breast lift with their surgery.

Do breasts sag after reduction?

The major reason why large breasts tend to sag and droop is that they are too heavy to be kept high on the chest. During breast reduction surgery, tissue, skin, and fat is removed to make the overall size of your breasts smaller. Therefore, it stands to reason that they will sag and droop less.

At the same time, it’s important to remember that gravity and time will eventually cause at least some sagging of the breasts, as it does for all women. These factors cannot be avoided completely.

Can I breastfeed after a breast reduction?

It’s possible you may experience some complications with breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery. Many women do not experience any difficulties at all and go on to breastfeed normally. However, some women may run into some challenges producing milk or producing enough milk to support their babies. For this reason, we recommend that you consider breast reduction surgery only after you’re finished breastfeeding.

Will my nipples be moved during breast reduction?

Because overly large breasts tend to sag and hang lower (due to gravity), the nipples and areolas may end up in an unnatural position if they are not moved during surgery. As a result, most breast reduction patients will have their nipples moved during the surgical process. It’s also common to have the overall size of your areolas reduced to be more proportionate with your new breasts.

How long does breast reduction surgery take?

Most breast reduction surgeries will take between three and four hours. However, this will depend on multiple factors. First, how long surgery takes will largely depend on how much tissue, fat, and skin needs to be removed. Furthermore, it will also depend on whether you need to have your nipples and areolas repositioned.

Will large breasts grow back after surgery?

Naturally, your body will change over time, so it is possible to regain some weight in your breasts after surgery. On the other hand, this is relatively rare.

The biggest factor in determining whether your breasts will change size or shape after breast reduction surgery is how you maintain your weight. If you experience dramatic weight changes (such as gaining or losing a large amount of weight), you may notice significant changes in your breast size and shape, even post-surgery. At your consultation appointment and subsequent postoperative appointments, Dr. Aghayan can discuss the best ways to prepare for your reduction and what to do after surgery to help make sure your results last.

Breast Reduction Portland, OR