Am I a Good Candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery?

The best candidates for breast reduction in Chicagoland area should be in good health overall, be at least 18 years old and have fully developed breasts. This procedure can offer significant relief and improvement in your quality of life if your breasts are causing you pain and discomfort, limiting your ability to enjoy or engage in physical activities, or cause you to feel self-conscious or uncomfortable.

Should I lose Weight Before Breast Reduction Surgery?

If you are planning to lose a significant amount of weight, tell your surgeon. Weight loss before or after breast reduction surgery can affect the resulting shape of the breast.

What do I wear After Breast Reduction Surgery?

Patients are given a surgical bra to wear for two weeks after surgery, 24 hours a day. At your follow-up visit, your care team will let you know if you should continue to wear the surgical bra or if you can wear a similar support garment of your choice. They will also let you know when it is appropriate to wear a traditional bra. It is commonly advised to avoid underwire bras for three months after breast reduction surgery.

Is there such thing as a Scarless Breast Reduction?

Today there are newer methods in the field of breast reduction and lift which are advertised or touted ‘scarless breast reduction’ – this is false. The fact is that all breast reduction methods require incision of the breasts and incisions result in scars. There are, however, techniques that can be used to keep scarring to a minimum or ensure that scars are located where they are less likely to be seen.

Breast Reduction in Chicago and Vernon Hills, IL

Improve Your Health and Posture with a Breast Reduction

Introduction to Breast Reductions in Chicago and Vernon Hills, IL

Breast Reduction

If you experience back pain, poor posture, or breathing problems from large breasts or do not like the appearance of your size, a breast reduction procedure may improve your health and quality of life.

Our board certified plastic surgeon will reduce the size of your breast along with tightening the skin and raising the position of the nipple/areola, resulting in smaller, more comfortable breasts.

Am I a candidate?

Treatment Type

Cosmetic Surgery

Treatment Time

2-3 Hours

Anesthetic

General Anesthesia

Back to Work

7-14 Days

Total Recovery Time

4-6 Weeks

Duration of Results

Long Lasting

# of Treatments

Treatment Overview

Breast reduction involves the removal of excess breast tissue and skin in order to create a breast size and shape that’s more proportionate to the rest of your body.

For some patients, a reduction in nipple size or reshaping of the areola may be incorporated into the reduction surgery as well. Options for breast reduction in Chicago and Vernon Hills, IL range from minimally invasive approaches with liposuction to more extensive correction for women who have extremely large breasts.

Conditions

Used to Treat

You are bothered by feeling that your breasts are too large

You have breasts that limit your physical activity

You experience back, neck and shoulder pain caused by the weight of your breasts

You have shoulder indentations from bra straps

You have skin irritation beneath the breast crease

Benefits

Benefits of Breast Reduction

Relieve pain in your upper back, neck and shoulders.
Increase your ability to participate in physical activities.
Promote a more positive self-image.

How it Works

The Consultation

At RL Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa, each initial patient consultation is different.

Depending on your needs, desired treatments, areas of concern, and simply who you are as a patient, we will schedule you with an actual treatment provider to discuss your goals, budget, and more. During this appointment, we will go through before & after photos, your medical history, and any questions you might have. Only then can we make a recommendation for which procedures or treatments may be right for you and why. We will be sure to educate you on how the treatments work, including what to expect during and afterward.

Surgical consultations that last about 40 minutes. At the end of your consultation, you will leave our office in Vernon Hills with a thorough, personalized treatment plan. And when you’re ready, we’ll schedule your surgery for a day and time that works for your schedule.

Insurers will often pay for the breast reduction procedures, particularly if the physical effects your breasts have had on your body are well-documented. In some cases, depending on your policy, a certain amount of tissue must be removed from each breast in order to qualify for insurance coverage.

Breast Reduction Surgery

A typical breast reduction procedure will last between two to three hours and is performed under general anesthesia.

Although very large or saggy breasts may not match your aesthetic ideal, the physical concerns overly large breasts cause can be an even bigger issue. Women in need of reduction frequently suffer from back or neck pain, chaffing or rashes to their breasts, and irritation where bra straps cut into the skin. For many patients, breast reduction surgery is rarely defined solely as a cosmetic procedure due to the many physical complications reduction surgery can alleviate.

During a breast reduction surgery, fat and tissue are removed from under the breast while skin is tightened to produce smaller, healthier breasts that are in better proportion with the rest of the body. Through breast reduction surgery, patients can regain their confidence and obtain a renewed self-image in a body shape that suits them. The specific type of technique used will vary depending on your unique needs, but incisions generally run around the areola, from the areola down to the inframammary fold, and possibly across inframammary fold (the nature crease the base of the breast). At the same time, the nipple can be relocated to a higher, more youthful, centered position.

Types of Incisions

There are several different types of incisions that may be used for this procedure.

Your doctor will establish the best type of treatment for you after evaluating your breasts and hearing about your goals.

Traditional Breast Reduction Surgery – Traditional breast reduction surgery involves an incision shaped like an anchor and is intended for women with extremely large breasts. Scarring is generally more apparent with traditional breast reduction surgery, through which skin, fat, and tissue are removed from the breasts, with the nipples and areolas being repositioned as well.
Vertical Incision Breast Reduction – Vertical incision breast reduction surgeries are also known as short-scar, a technique involving incisions that run around the areola and down to the creases of the breasts, forming the shape of a lollipop. This technique is good for women with moderately large breasts, and creates shapely breasts with less scarring, as women undergoing this surgery do not require extensive tissue removal.

Recovery

After surgery, you will have soreness that will be controlled with local anesthetic nerve blocks administered at the time of surgery, along with a short course of oral pain medication.

You may need oral pain medication for short period of time and you can expect to feel better and stronger each day. Breast Reduction is an outpatient procedure that we perform in our surgical facility, which means you’ll be able to go home the same day. In general, you’ll still be experiencing the effects of the anesthesia when you arrive home. Therefore, it’s important to have someone who can drive you home and take care of you for the first 24 hours following your breast surgery. Our medical staff will send you home with both instructions for your recovery and supplies that will help your breast reduction heal correctly.

It’s important that you rest for the first few days of your recovery after a breast reduction surgery. You should avoid lifting heavy objects or undergoing strenuous activity for the first week of your recovery.

Before & After

Results of Breast Reduction

View All

Dedicated to your care

The RL Center Difference

There’s a reason that almost 40% of the patients of RL Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa are referrals. We provide every patient with expert guidance through an informative, nonjudgmental process regardless of their budget or areas of concern. This safe, comfortable experience provides patients in the North Chicago area with results that leave them excited to share with their friends and family.

Our Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Leonard Lu has over a decade of breast surgery experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs about Breast Reduction

Breast Reduction near you

Book Your Breast Reduction
Consultation

Your improved silhouette is one click or phone call away. Contact us online or by phone at (847) 367-8815 to book your consultation to learn more about breast reduction and the personalized surgery process at RL Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa.

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Happy patients

Testimonials

Excellent staff enjoyed meeting and talking with Dr. Ritacca he readily gave me his expert guidance and took his time talking with me. A nice experience.

-Linda Cavanaugh

Dr Lu and his staff are wonderful! I’ve gone through two surgeries and have not been disappointed. I can’t say I’m looking forward to the next surgery, but I know I’m in good hands and will be well taken care of. There isn’t any other team I would place my trust in.

Katie is a gem and the best addition to that team. I have so many questions and she is always there ready to deal with my anxiety with a calm voice of reason and a smile. I feel like she has truly listened to me and genuinely cares about me.

-Nicole Hatfield

Great knowledgeable staff!! I met with Dr Lu for my initial consultation and he was very professional. He talked to me about all my options and answered all my questions. Afterwards, Anna explained all the details and did a great job answering my additional questions.

-Chuck Rizzio

Very friendly team, they are all very professional, it is a very clean facility. Dr.Leonard Lu does wonderful work. I am very happy with my results.

-Cynthia Brechel

Love everyone there from Dr. Lu(plastic surgery), Dr. Ritacca, Dawn for her beautiful, and understated injections to the absolute best esthetician Jackie and the office management like April and Honey. I have been a patient since the salon opened over ten years ago and would not dream of going anywhere else! They do beautiful work with very competitive prices and they don’t try to over sell you on unnecessary treatments or products. However, they do have an impressive line of the highest quality products on the market! Love love love you guys!Keep doing what you are doing because it is working!

-Jaime Reed

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