Breast Lift and Breast Reduction Surgeries

• Before deciding on breast surgery, it is recommended that patients study the procedure carefully, including its potential risks and benefits, so that they can consult a doctor regarding the results they hope to achieve. This will help ensure mutual understanding and enable the best results for the patient. 
• Breast surgery currently incorporates techniques that can aid screening, planning, and potential changes necessary during the surgery, such as photo simulation, laser leveling, and the use of an endoscope.  

Each woman’s breasts are unique, including their shape which is subject to change due to aging, losing weight, genetics, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and strenuous activities or exercise without the use of a sports bra. All of these factors can result in reduced flexibility in the connective tissue and skin, which is a major reason behind sagging breasts. Overly large breasts, on the other hand, are generally caused by hormones and genetics.

Causes of breast shape changes 

• Women with dense tissue in the breasts will have heavier breasts that are more prone to sagging than women for whom the principal substance in the breasts is fat, which is softer and lighter. 
• Women with larger breasts tend to experience more long-term sagging than those with moderate or small breasts. 
• Physical activities involving sudden changes of direction, jumping, and strenuous movements, combined with not wearing a sports bra, can lead to breast shape changes in the long-term. 
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding can cause breast shape changes. 
• Sudden changes in body weight, which may be an intended consequence of weight loss techniques or a result of an illness, can cause breast shape changes. 
• The aging process causes reduced flexibility in the skin of the breasts, which is a major factor behind sagging. 
• Being overweight or obese can cause the breasts to become heavy and change shape. 
• Genetics can also cause breast shape changes. 

Breasts with an undesirable appearance and size or breasts that have sagged can both impact a woman’s self-confidence, significantly affecting her clothing choices, exercise regime, and daily life in general. Breast lift procedures are surgeries aimed at restoring firmness to the breast by removing any excess sagging skin, adjusting the shape of the breasts, bringing the nipples back into a desirable location, and reducing the size of the areolae. The various techniques used to achieve these results include: breast lift with internal lift, breast lift without implant, and breast lift with implant. The choice of technique should be made in consultation with expert surgeons who have extensive experience in the field and can therefore help women make the best choice that can improve their self-esteem. 

Groups suited to undergoing breast lift surgery 

1. Women experiencing sagging breasts resulting from aging, weight loss, or pregnancy. 
2. Women with nipples that sit lower than usual on the breasts. 
3. Mothers who experience sagging caused by breastfeeding. 
4. Women with healthy bodies and minds looking for realistic improvements to their breasts. 
5. Women over 20 years old (those under 20 must seek permission from their parents or legal guardian). 
6. Women who are neither pregnant nor breastfeeding. 
7. Women with no underlying health conditions prohibiting surgery, including hemophilia and Ehler-Danlos syndrome. 
8. Those looking to lose weight should do so before deciding on breast lift surgery.

While many women look to increase the size of their breasts, there are also those wishing that their breasts were not so large in the first place. Large breasts can also affect a woman’s body confidence, the way they interact with society, their choice of clothing, their daily lives, and even their health, as larger breasts can cause neck, back, and shoulder pain, as well as increased temperature and moisture in the creases of the breast. Breast reduction surgery is therefore an interesting option for women with larger breasts. 

Breast reduction surgery refers to techniques used to reduce the size of the breasts and areolae to ensure a more desirable and proportionate appearance. There are numerous procedures available to reduce the amount of breast tissue, with some involving transposition of the tissue or the use of implants to ensure breast shape is retained. Nevertheless, the choice of technique must be made in consultation with an experienced surgeon who will analyze all options carefully before selecting the most appropriate procedure. 

Women looking to reduce the size of their breasts tend to have large breasts resulting from genetics or hormone imbalances. 

Groups suited to undergoing breast reduction surgery 

1. Women with large breasts causing an undesirable appearance. 
2. Women experiencing neck, back, and shoulder pain resulting from large breasts. 
3. Women of healthy body weight. Women looking to lose weight should do so before they decide on breast reduction surgery. 
4. Women with no underlying health conditions prohibiting surgery, including hemophilia and Ehler-Danlos syndrome. 
5. Women who are neither pregnant nor breastfeeding. 
6. Women with healthy bodies and minds looking for realistic improvements to their breasts. 
7. Women over 20 years old (those under 20 must seek permission from their parents or legal guardian). 

All forms of surgery carry a risk, but that does not mean all who undergo surgery will experience difficulties. Medical staff will educate patients about these risks and address any concerns before a mutual decision is made to undergo a procedure. 

1. Scarring: If there is no history of keloid type scarring, patients generally achieve a smooth finish to the breasts, with scarring hidden in predetermined locations. 
2. Undesirable results: These can occur due to several factors, but experienced surgeons will be able to offer advice on surgery outcomes and design the procedure to ensure the best results for the patient. 
3. Other associated risks: There may be wound complications or issues affecting nipples, such as numbness or nipple necrosis, the latter of which is common among heavy smokers and patients with certain underlying health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia. However, if these conditions are managed effectively, they should not negatively impact surgery. 

1. Samitivej Srinakarin Hospital utilizes a range of techniques to screen, plan, and make adjustments during surgery, including photo simulations, laser leveling, and endoscopic procedures. 
2. The surgeons in charge of these procedures have over 20 years of combined experience in the field. 
3. Positive outcomes are achieved as a result of our techniques and medical expertise. 
4. Those unable to visit the hospital after surgery can monitor their symptoms through the use of our Virtual Hospital. 

6 months prior to surgery 

•   Halt any medications containing vitamin A (isotretinoin) as these can impact the healing of wounds. 

3 months prior to surgery 

• Prepare physically for surgery with regular exercise and by getting plenty of rest each night. 
• Undergo your annual health screening. Those with underlying health conditions should consult their regular physician to ensure they can keep their condition under control. 
• Undergo cancer screening with a mammogram (for those deemed at risk of developing breast cancer). 

4 weeks prior to surgery 

• Avoid smoking for at least 4 weeks leading up to the surgery. 
• Avoid new piercings and tattoos, and sunbathing. If piercing is unavoidable, wear a ring that is easily removed so the area can be cleaned and treated as necessary. 
• Avoid undergoing surgery during or near the time of your period. If you are unsure about this, consult your surgeon to enable a postponement. 

10 days prior to surgery 

• Avoid taking drugs that affect blood clotting capabilities, such as: 
  • Anticoagulants, including aspirin, Coumadin, Ticlid, Plavix or Aggrenox. (Consult your regular physician regarding the safe halting of any medication) 
  • Nsaid drugs, including Ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Nuprin, Aleve, Relafen, Naprosyn, Diclofenac, Naproxen, Voltaren, Daypro, Feldene, Clinoril, Lodine, Indocin, and Orudis. 
  • Sedatives, including Zoloft, Lexapro, Prozac, and Pristiq. 
•  Avoid all vitamin supplements that can affect blood clotting capabilities, such as fish oils, omega-3, co-enzyme Q10, evening primrose oil, glucosamine, arnica, ginseng, gingko, and herbs. 

In addition to following the aforementioned advice, patients should attend a medical consultation regarding any form of breast surgery to better understand its potential risks and benefits, as well as to address any misconceptions and to ensure all parties share an understanding about the desired results. 

Find out more information about the certified board of plastic surgeon here: 

• https://www.isaps.org/member-directory 
• https://www.thprs.org/find-doctor 
• https://checkmd.tmc.or.th 

1. Medical staff will provide the patient with time to ask any questions and consult with them before entering the operating theater. 
2. Surgery takes between 4–6 hours to complete. 
3. A trained anesthesiologist will administer a general anesthetic. 
4. The patient will stay in the hospital for 1-2 days following surgery. 
5. Follow-up consultations to monitor the patient’s situation will be held on days 7 and 10 following surgery. 

1.  There may be some pain or aching at the incision site following surgery. However, patients should be able to get up and walk around on the same day of their surgery, with the pain gradually improving over time. 
2. There may be some bruising that lasts between 1–3 weeks following surgery, which could lead to the breasts appearing imbalanced. This improves after approximately 1–2 months. 
3. There may be a lack of sensation in the breasts and nipples. However, this should improve significantly after 3–6 months. 
4. The incision site may appear swollen and red for the first 1–3 months, taking around 6-12 months to improve completely. Sunbathing should be avoided entirely during this period. 
5. Patients may experience vomiting, nausea, or a sore throat as side effects resulting from their unique reaction to the general anesthetic. 
6. Patients must take all medication prescribed by their doctor to reduce pain and avoid infections. 
7. Patients should attend all follow-up appointments as they will monitor the patient’s situation and provide advice as necessary. 
8. Patients should avoid direct sunlight or apply sun creams that offer significant protection to the surgery scarring. 
9. Patients should avoid heavy lifting or even raising their arms above their head for 7 days following surgery because those actions could lead to inflammation of surgery scarring. 
10. Patients should get plenty of rest and avoid sleeping on their front or side because it could result in tightening of the chest, which may affect the healing process. Patients may wish to use a few pillows to raise their head as this will also reduce swelling. 
11. It is recommended that patients recover at home for 2 weeks before returning to work. 
12. Patients should avoid moisture entering the surgery scar. In cases where this scar is covered with a waterproof plaster, patients may bathe as usual the day after surgery. 
13. Patients should wear the bra provided by the hospital or a support bra with no internal wiring for at least 6–8 weeks, both day and night, to prevent surgical incisions from reopening. 
14. Strenuous exercise should be halted for 4 weeks following surgery, but light walking is advised to prevent blood clots. 
15. Patients should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol for 4 weeks following surgery to prevent any complications that these substances can cause during recovery. 
16. Patients should maintain a healthy diet, and should avoid salty foods because these can cause any existing swelling to worsen. Patients should be sure to eat plenty of fiber and drink plenty of water to aid recovery. 

Breast lift surgery and breast reduction surgery are effective tools that can redress any imbalances in a lady’s chest area, leaving her with a natural and esthetically pleasing look that can improve her body confidence and self-esteem. These forms of surgery are industry standards that are widely used throughout the world. However, consideration must always be given to potential risks of any type of surgery. Nevertheless, successful breast surgery can be invaluable in restoring a woman’s self-esteem and improving her daily life. 

Samitivej Plastic and Esthetic Surgery Institute is a full service plastic surgery center in the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. Our qualified specialists from Board Certificated Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons performs a large selection of operations to help your outside look the way you feel on the inside with an excellence care on all surgical procedures. We specialize in breast surgeries such as breast augmentation, breast lift and breast reduction. Our plastic surgeons are also experienced in Face lift, body contouring procedures; body lifts surgeries after significant weight loss. We also do combination surgeries of breast, tummy and many other areas. 

Besides Plastic and Reconstructive surgeons, our interdisciplinary team including nurses, anaesthesiologists, cardiologist, and other subspecialist will make sure of your safety. 

Samitivej has a team ready to help and provide services for:  

• Treatment Plan Consultation with a doctor via online video-call (second opinion) 
• Treatment Planning if you have medical records or a price estimate from another hospital 
• Cost Planning by our Appraisals Team with price guarantee (only for procedure packages without complications) 
• Check Initial Coverage Eligibility with Thai and international insurance companies (only for insurance companies in contract with the Hospital)