Why is this the case despite the fact that the incisions, usually anchor shaped, are often identical?

The reason is that women who are seeking breast reduction surgery are doing so because of the annoying and even debilitating effects that their massively enlarged breasts are having on them and their quality of life.  Women seeking a mastopexy are doing so largely for aesthetic reasons.

Does this mean that the appearance of the scars is relatively unimportant?

Of course not!

I am just as diligent and meticulous in the repair of breast reduction incisions as I am with the mastopexy ones (as well as for all incisions for all procedures). These are closed using long acting deep sutures in a multilayered repair that avoids the unnecessary and displeasing rail-road track suture marks in the skin. Skin tapes are applied for additional wound support and security and may be used for a total of two to three weeks. At that point in time, my patients will usually begin applying a topical silicone gel to help the scars heal as ideally and inconspicuously as possible. This is usually continued for several months. For patients at higher risk for developing hypertrophic scars or keloids or showing early evidence of their manifestation, silicone gel sheets are used to aggressively deal with these issues.

Most breast reduction scars heal very well, usually as fine lines, and are quite acceptable. It is rare in my experience to see keloids develop in darker complected women.

Before breast reduction

After breast reduction

Before breast reduction

After breast reduction

If you would like more information on a breast reduction surgery or on any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a consultation with me, please call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona

For many years, I customarily placed drains in all my breast reduction patients, the purpose of which was to help minimize the risk for accumulation of fluid (seroma) and blood (hematoma). This was the norm for the majority of plastic surgeons. The drains, which are “tubes” that exit through the lower skin incision and serve to drain fluid deep to the skin, were more of a nuisance rather than a source of significant discomfort or severe pain. Regardless, most patients were quite happy to have them removed.

Over the last several years, I have made their usage a rare exception and when they are placed, the decision is made during surgery based on a few factors. Fortunately, I have seen no increased incidence of these two complications with this approach – and my patients are happier that they have to deal with one less issue.

For more information on breast reduction surgery or for any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform, or to schedule a consultation with me, please call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona

A very common question that many women have following breast reduction surgery is “When can I wear an underwire bra?” Some believe that they can never wear one again whereas others might have heard, were told or read recommendations for various periods of time and are confused about the correct answer.

So what is the real answer?

Believe it or not there is no right or wrong answer. There are no definitive, evidenced based studies in the medical literature which reveal that any specific period of time is better than any other or even if an underwire should be worn at all. As a result, each plastic surgeon may have his/her own protocol involving different amounts of time that seems to work for their patients.

What do I recommend for my patients?

A few days after breast reduction surgery, my patients are placed in a sports type bra for a few weeks. Thereafter, they are instructed to wear a comfortable but supportive bra on a regular basis to help maintain the shape of their breasts for a longer period of time especially against the undesirable and relentless forces of gravity. This can include an underwire bra but doesn’t have to necessarily be one.

Due to normal postoperative healing, the incision along the crease will be inflamed and even tender for a few months and it will be during this period of time that an underwire bra may not be very comfortable to wear. Generally, most patients wait at least 2 – 3 months before being able to wear an underwire bra without any discomfort. This time does vary between patients.

If you would like more information on breast reduction surgery or for any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule your complimentary consultation with me, please call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona

Clearly the heavy weight, discomfort and often wildly kinetic movements of large breasts can be problematic on many levels. Macromastia (very large breasts) can significantly impact performance in a variety of sports and impair a woman’s competitiveness. For example, it is a rarity to see an elite runner such as in the 100 yard dash who has large breasts?

And you don’t find them in women who excel in the high jump event either!

An interesting and somewhat publicized case (that is, among her attentive and leering male fans) of an elite female sports figure who sought out and underwent a breast reduction in order to improve her comfort and performance is Romanian tennis star Simona Halep who was the junior champion at 18 years old at the French Open in 2008. Her 34DD breasts were helping her garner a sizable and rapidly growing male fan base but they were also causing her severe neck and back pain and affecting her on court performance.

Tennis star Simona Halep before breast reduction surgery

In 2009 she decided to undergo a breast reduction which decreased her cup size from a 34DD down to a 34C. Since then, she has increased her ranking 450 spots to number 57 in the world and attributes this ascendancy to her breast reduction surgery. Without the added breast weight, she notes that she is far more agile, faster and no longer experiences the neck and back pains. (She just competed in Wimbledon but lost to Serena Williams in 3 sets in the second round.)

Simona Halep after breast reduction surgery

Agility and speed after breast reduction surgery

On the down side but as expected, her male fan support took a little bit of a hit…!

For more information on breast reduction surgery or for any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform, or to schedule a consultation, please feel free to call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona

So: Is breast reduction surgery painful?

You might guess that it would be uncomfortable given the nature of the incisions which are typically in an inverted “T” shape and extend along most or the entire crease at the bottom of the breast. They are, in fact, multiple times larger than the one used for a breast augmentation.

Fortunately, you will be quite happy and relieved to learn that most of my patients find the postoperative course following a reduction mammoplasty to be surprisingly quite benign. Some patients will take pain medication for a few days; others don’t even take any. Of course, there are some women who do require analgesics for a longer period of time.

Virtually all of my patients are up and walking around the day of surgery with some even going out to dinner that night though they are instructed not to drive at least that first day. Most do return to sedentary type jobs (not much lifting) by around 5 days postoperatively with the remainder usually by one week.

So if you have been interested in pursuing breast reduction surgery but feared that you would experience a lot of pain afterwards, now you know the real answer.

For more information on breast reduction surgery or for any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a consultation with me, you can call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona

Dr. Turkeltaub Discusses Breast Reduction in Scottsdale AZ

In the most recent study from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the top five most performed procedures for women in 2009 were breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery, abdominoplasty, and breast reduction. Steven H. Turkeltaub, MD recently discussed the study’s findings as well as benefits that those patients seeking breast reduction surgery can generally expect at his Scottsdale plastic surgery practice.

Of the more than 10 million cosmetic enhancement procedures performed in 2009, the most recent statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) show more than 113,000 women decided to undergo breast reduction surgery. At the Arizona Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Scottsdale plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Turkeltaub recently discussed the possible benefits associated with this procedure and answered some of the most common questions that his female patients have concerning a breast reduction.

Dr. Turkeltaub stated that the most common reasons many women pursue a breast reduction are for the neck, back, and shoulder pain associated with having very large breasts. He also noted that having overly large or asymmetrical breasts can have a significant and detrimental impact on a woman’s self-esteem and must not be disregarded. During each female patient’s consultation, Dr. Turkeltaub reviews the various reasons she is considering a breast reduction, and will discuss the procedure in detail, including risks, complications, and general expectations.

Whether Dr. Turkeltaub is performing nonsurgical procedures such as BOTOX ® injections or dermal fillers like Juvederm® and Restylane®, or a surgical procedure such as the tummy tuck, he states that he always discusses the various risks and benefits of each procedure as well as each patient’s own unique expectations and goals for their aesthetic enhancement. He notes that women considering a breast reduction tend to feel more comfortable knowing how common and effective the procedure is, as well as the extremely high satisfaction rate associated with the results. Dr. Turkeltaub adds that in over 23 years of practice, he has never had a patient express regret over their decision to undergo a breast reduction, with many actually stating they should have pursued the procedure years ago.

About Dr. Turkeltaub

Dr. Steven Turkeltaub earned his medical degree at the Boston University School of Medicine. He did his general surgery residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and the Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Turkeltaub then completed his plastic surgery residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the Arizona Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and the Arizona Medical Association. Continuing education is extremely important to Dr. Turkeltaub and he attends several national symposiums and meetings each year to ensure he remains on the cutting-edge of the plastic surgery industry.

The Arizona Center for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has two locations: the Scottsdale Office is located at 10290 N. 92nd St. Suite 207 in Scottsdale, AZ 85258; the Glendale Office is located 18275 N. 59th Ave. in Bldg. E Suite 126 in Glendale, AZ 85308. Both offices can be reached at (480) 451-3000 or found online at http://www.turkeltaub.com/ or the Plastic Surgery Arizona – Dr. Steven Turkeltaub Facebook page.

On occasion, I have even seen women who have gargantuan breasts with cup sizes up to “J”, “K”, “L” and “M”. They uniformly have the classic symptoms associated with enlarged breasts including the neck, back and shoulder pain, grooving of the shoulders, and major limitation of tolerable physical activities. Many have rashes, areas of skin breakdown, require greater effort in breathing and can’t sleep lying down in bed and instead sleep in recliners.

Unbelievable as it may seem and having never seen this in my office, while surfing online, I came across an actual photo of a “T” cup.

Wow!!

Click here for photo.

If you would like information on breast reductions or on any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a complimentary consultation, you can call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona

Obesity, therefore, has few positives associated with it unless one uses a little creativity…

In a bizarre story, two women recently deployed their prodigious layers of fat and large pendulous breasts for evil purposes – to steal clothing from a store. They attempted to hide several pairs of boots, gloves and other items under their breasts and in body fat folds in a failed shoplifting attempt. The purported total value of the items sequestered was around $2600 – an amazing amount particularly since this occurred in a (discount) T.J Maxx store and not a Neiman-Marcus or Nordstrom.

I do see many people who have lost a significant amount of weight, often 100 pounds or more. Some have achieved their success by diligent dieting and exercise. Others pursue weight loss procedures such as lap banding or gastric bypass surgery. Nevertheless, what they are left with are massive amounts of excess skin that is circumferential and often hangs down in layers. This less than attractive sight is often not what they had expected to be left with following their successful weight loss.

Fortunately, there are a variety of plastic surgery procedures that can effectively address this post massive weight loss appearance problem and which I offer to my patients. They can be performed in a variety of combinations depending on each person’s particular needs and desires. Some of the more common of these surgical procedures include a tummy tuck, belt lipectomy (circumferential removal of skin from the abdomen and back), inner and outer thigh lifts, breast reduction, and arm lifts (brachioplasty).

These plastic surgery procedures not only can help patients obtain a much more attractive appearance and body contour but can also allow them to be much more active with little or no physical restrictions (as had been related to their weight or excess skin previously). My patients have indicated that they have had a marked improvement in self-esteem following surgery and a much more positive attitude and outlook.

If you would like to obtain information on plastic surgery procedures that can help address the excess skin that you have been left with following massive weight loss such as for a tummy tuck, belt lipectomy, breast reduction, or an arm lift, please call my office at 480-451-3000. We would also be happy to schedule a complimentary consultation for you if you desire.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona

The following patient of mine illustrates the dramatic improvements that can be obtained through pursuing a reduction mammoplasty. This 29 year old female was experiencing debilitating neck back and shoulder pains secondary to the massive size of her breasts for which she wore a 36G bra (photos A, C and E). Her activities including sports and working out were severely limited due to the pain and discomfort that she would experience as a consequence of her massively enlarged breasts. She already had deep grooves present in her shoulders from the weight of her breasts causing the bra straps to dig into the skin.

A.) frontal view - preoperatively

B.) after breast reduction surgery

C.) side view - preoperatively

D.) after breast reduction surgery

E.) oblique view - preoperatively

F.) after breast reduction surgery

This patient underwent an inferior pedicle technique for the breast reduction which involved anchor shaped incision. The nipple-areola complex was reduced in size and elevated to a proper position while still maintaining its blood supply. A total of 5 pounds of breast tissue was removed (photos B, D, and F).

As a result of the breast reduction, she has had complete alleviation of her neck, back and shoulder pains and is engaging in far more vigorous activities than she had for many years. To her delight, she now wears a “C” or “D” bra as opposed to the gargantuan “G” size which she wore prior to surgery, feels far more attractive and is no longer self conscious about her breasts. Another pleasant surprise is that the sensation of her nipples has been preserved.

If you would like more information on breast reduction surgery or any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a consultation with me, please call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona

One important concern that many of my patients have who are planning to have children in the future and who also are also considering breast reduction surgery is whether or not they will be able to nurse. Fortunately, there is a relatively definitive answer for this question and which is also good news. Medical studies investigating this issue have been performed and have revealed that the most common techniques employed for breast reduction do not preclude the ability to breast feed. That is, if you would have otherwise been able to breast feed independent of any considerations for surgery, you should still retain this ability after breast reduction surgery.

The one major technique where this is clearly impossible is with the free nipple graft (FNG) approach where the nipples are totally detached intra-operatively and then replaced in the proper position later during the surgery as skin grafts. By the nature of this procedure, the milk ducts are necessarily divided.

If you would like additional information on a breast reduction or on any other plastic surgery procedure that I perform or to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call my office at 480-451-3000.

Steven H. Turkeltaub, M.D. P.C.
Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona