Breast Reduction
Elk Grove Village
Elk Grove Village
When breasts are larger than your frame, life gets narrower—neck pain during work, shoulder dents from straps, skin irritation under folds, sports that never feel secure. Breast reduction offers relief with a plan that restores proportion. At Kapadia Plastic Surgery in Chicago, breast reduction surgery is mapped to your goals and your anatomy so results read as natural, not surgical. The priority is comfort, balance, and a silhouette that fits the way you live.
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Breast reduction, also called reduction mammoplasty, removes excess breast tissue and excess skin while reshaping the breast mound. The remaining breast tissue is sculpted to support projection and a smooth upper‑to‑lower‑pole transition. The nipple and areola are set to a natural height so the breast faces forward rather than down. Most breast reductions are an outpatient plastic surgery procedure performed in an accredited setting under general anesthesia. Specimens are routinely sent to pathology; breast reduction surgery does not treat breast cancer, and regular screening remains important.
Planning centers on the blood supply and nerve pathways. Depending on your needs, Dr. Kapadia may use a vertical or Wise pattern and a pedicle technique that protects sensation while allowing shape change. The goal of breast reduction is relief and proportion, with attention to symmetry in one or both breasts.
Breast reduction helps when large breasts feel heavy or pendulous, when the lower pole looks elongated, or when breast size differs from side to side. Patients often arrive due to breast pain, neck pain, posture changes, and clothing that never fits the same on both sides. The operation refines the width, recenters the nipple and areola, and resets the footprint of the breast on the chest for balance that looks effortless.
Breast reduction surgery can be planned for one or both breasts to correct asymmetry. In cases of very large breasts or overly large breasts, removing glandular tissue and fat reduces weight while maintaining a natural slope.
The procedure treats the breasts themselves. When appropriate, breast reduction surgery can include limited contouring where breast tissue blends into the outer chest (axillary tail) to create cleaner lines in a bra or swimsuit. This fine‑tuning supports a result that looks intentional from the front and the side.
Most patients feel the change early. Breast reduction eases physical discomfort in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, reduces skin irritation, and makes movement simpler. Breast reduction surgery often improves posture and gives clothing a more precise fit. The chest feels lighter, and the silhouette looks balanced without drawing focus. In Chicago’s seasons—winter layers or summer tanks—results stay consistent because the weight is reduced at the source.
You may be a candidate for breast reduction surgery if large breasts cause pain, rashes, activity limits, or chronic fit problems. During consultation, we review medical history, medications, and goals, examine skin quality and pattern, and set a target size that makes sense for your frame. Nicotine needs to be paused in advance. If future nursing matters to you, we’ll discuss technique choices and what surgery can and cannot preserve.
Complete any pre‑op labs or clearances, pause medications or supplements that raise bleeding risk as directed, and stop nicotine in the window we recommend. Arrange a ride home and a few days of practical help. Fill prescriptions early and have a surgical bra ready. If insurance is involved, we’ll help assemble symptom history, notes on conservative measures, and photos so the file addresses how much breast tissue will be removed and meets plan criteria.
Breast reduction surgery takes several hours, depending on anatomy and plan. After careful markings, Dr. Kapadia reduces and reshapes tissue and skin to lift weight from the chest while keeping gentle upper‑pole fullness. The nipple and areola are positioned at a natural height; the areolar diameter can be refined if it has widened. Incisions are chosen to match the lift and reduction needed—often a vertical line with or without a crease incision. Closure is layered to support shape and minimize scarring. Drains are used only when they add value. A surgical bra is placed before you head home the same day in most cases.
Some patients ask about pairing breast reduction with a breast lift. A lift component is inherent to breast reduction surgery because tissue is reshaped and elevated as volume decreases. If you need more discussion on shaping alone, we’ll review that during planning.
Relief is noticeable early. The chest feels lighter, posture improves, and everyday movement takes less effort. Swelling softens over weeks. Final shape refines over three to six months as tissues settle; scars continue to mature for a year or more. Stable weight and consistent support extend the life of breast reduction results.
The first days focus on rest, short walks, and your support routine. Desk work often resumes in about a week, depending on comfort. We’ll hold lifting and overhead reach until follow‑up. Light cardio returns in weeks two to three; chest‑focused training usually waits four to six weeks. Expect some numbness or tingling as nerves wake up. Call for spreading redness, drainage with odor, fever, or a sudden size change on one side.
Keep incisions dry until cleared to shower. Follow our dressing plan and return to gentle soap when approved. Begin silicone support once the skin surface has healed. Wear the surgical bra as directed and avoid underwire until the six‑week visit. Daily SPF helps protect healing skin. We may suggest in‑office treatments later to help scars blend.
Incisions follow natural lines around the areola, vertically to the fold, and sometimes along the fold. Early color is pink or red; firmness softens with time. Scar care focuses on hydration, tension control, silicone, and sun protection to minimize scarring. Placement keeps scars discreet in clothing and swimwear.
If the areola has widened, the diameter can be reduced during the same operation. The goal is a proportionate size and position that match the new breast shape. Technique safeguards blood flow and nerves to preserve sensation when possible; suturing and support tape help the circle heal smoothly.
Some insurers consider breast reduction surgery medically necessary when symptoms are documented and conservative care hasn’t helped. Plans may require a minimum amount of tissue removal, which is why records often include an estimate of how much breast tissue will be removed. We guide you on medical history, symptom logs, PT notes, and photos, and we provide medical letters when indicated. Pre‑authorization confirms coverage; final payment decisions rest with your insurer. When coverage does not apply, cosmetic surgery pricing is reviewed in a transparent quote.
You’ll meet with Dr. Sameer Kapadia to map a plastic surgery plan that fits your proportions and your life. His fine‑arts background informs how lines and focal points read on the body, and his experience in plastic surgery keeps safety at the center. The practice culture is education‑first and family‑style care, from consult through follow‑up. The aesthetic is modern and restrained: breast reduction results that look like you, only lighter.
Your quote reflects the surgeon’s fee, facility and anesthesia fees, and any adjunct contouring if planned. If insurance is in play, we outline timelines and documentation. If not, we discuss cosmetic surgery payment options and phased planning that still respects your goals.
Select cases benefit from smoothing the outer chest where breast tissue blends into the underarm. In others, small‑volume fat transfer can fine‑tune contour once healing is established. For male patients with enlarged breasts, gynecomastia surgery addresses excess glandular tissue and fat on the chest. When scars mature, non‑surgical treatments can further soften color and texture.
Many pursue breast reduction surgery to ease symptoms, while others want balance and better clothing fit. Both goals are valid.
Yes. Breast reductions can correct asymmetry by tailoring the reduction on each side.
Yes. Specimens go to pathology, but breast reduction does not replace screening. Follow your age‑appropriate schedule.
Temporary changes are common. Planning protects nerves and blood flow to the nipple and areola whenever possible.
Years. Weight stability and good support help preserve breast reduction outcomes.
Very large breasts can be reduced safely with planning that protects the blood supply while addressing the glandular tissue and fat.
Both terms apply. When symptoms meet criteria, insurance may consider it medically necessary; otherwise, it’s elective cosmetic surgery.
