When your breasts are overly large, they can cause both health and emotional issues. Sagging breasts can be physically uncomfortable and lead to back problems, as well as cause emotional discomfort and self-consciousness.
If you’ve been struggling with the weight of your breasts you may have found yourself looking up “breast reduction surgery near me” in hopes of finding relief.
Turkle & Associates is the premier provider of breast reduction surgery in Indianapolis. Women (and men!) who elect to have a breast reduction can expect increased comfort and a more proportional figure.
Am I a candidate for breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery can address a lot of discomforts associated with large breasts. If you’re interested in breast reduction surgery near you, you’re probably experiencing some of the following:
- Struggling with physical activity due to the size of your breasts
- Experiencing neck, back, or shoulder pain because of the weight
- Shoulder indentations from bra straps
- Skin irritation beneath your breasts
- Bothered by feeling your breasts are too large
Beyond this, ideal candidates for breast reduction meet these criteria:
- Are in good general health and a non-smoker
- Within 10 to 15 pounds of their goal weight
- Specific goals for their breast reduction
- Realistic expectations for the surgery and recovery process
Scheduling a consultation with a certified plastic surgeon is the best way to learn whether a breast reduction surgery will provide your desired results.
What to look for in a breast reduction surgeon
When you’re looking for a breast reduction surgeon near Indianapolis, it’s important to know how to vet your plastic surgeon. Here are some things you should look for:
Board Certified
The first thing to look for when you want the best plastic surgeon is board certification. If a surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, it means they’ve passed rigorous exams and demonstrated safe, ethical practices for several years.
A board-certified surgeon also has to have extensive knowledge of plastic surgery practices in their entirety. The ideal breast reduction surgeon will be familiar with all types of cosmetic breast surgery, and be able to consult with you on the best options for your body.
Dr. Turkle has been certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Plastic Surgery. More than that, she is a Top Doc for Cosmetic, Plastic, and Reconstructive surgery.
Before and afters
When it comes to selecting a plastic surgeon, before and after photos are an essential part of the process.
Things to consider when viewing the photos:
- Do I like the results I see?
- Do the patients in the photos look like me?
- Is there consistent lighting and angles and they don’t seem edited?
Consultation process
You should expect a thorough and comfortable consultation process prior to your breast reduction.
Not only do you want a surgeon who specializes in breast reduction, you also want one that you can have a good relationship with. The consultation sets the tone for your entire surgery experience.
What to expect when I book breast reduction surgery near me
When you start your breast reduction journey, you’ll want to prepare for your consultation as the first step.
Questions to ask during the consultation
- Am I a good candidate for breast reduction?
- Can I see before and after photos?
- What surgical technique would be best for me?
- How are complications handled?
- What is my expected recovery timeline?
Make sure to ask what’s covered during your initial consultation with a surgeon. Not every surgeon does their consultations the same way.
For example, at Turkle & Associates, because our consultations come with a fee, we have an initial consultation over the phone to answer preliminary questions before scheduling your surgical consultation.
What we cover in our pre-consultation:
- Ensuring candidacy for a procedure
- Complimentary photo review
- Expectations for results (i.e. sizing for breast augmentation)
- Discuss scheduling and recovery time frame
- Pricing estimate
After this initial phone consultation, we’ll schedule you for an in-person consultation with Dr. Turkle.
What happens during the office consultation:
- 3D imaging
- Measurements
- Conversation with Dr. Turkle
- Review of risks and considerations
- Schedule your surgery
- Putting down deposit
How does breast reduction work?
Your breast reduction will be as unique as you are, but these are some general facts about how the process works.
During your consultation, we’ll discuss the specific expectations for your surgery and recovery.
Surgery time
In general, a breast reduction procedure takes between 3 and 4 hours and is an outpatient procedure.
Combinable surgeries
We often combine procedures like liposuction, tummy tuck, or labiaplasty with breast reductions. Adding procedures can increase your surgery time.
Aftercare
At Turkle & Associates, your care doesn’t stop after your surgery. Dr. Turkle and our patient care team give you detailed aftercare instructions to ensure you have a smooth and successful recovery.
Recovery time
Every patient is different so your expected recovery time could vary. However, most patients are feeling back to normal by the end of their first week post-surgery.
Breast reduction recovery timeline
Recovery is different for every patient, but these are some general guidelines you can anticipate. Your surgeon will provide more individualized aftercare expectations and instructions during your consultation.
Take it easy for the first 3 to 5 days
It’s important to prioritize your rest during your entire recovery, but especially during the first few days.
You should expect to take about a week off work
You may be back to work 5 to 7 days after your surgery, and some patients are able to return even sooner. However, it depends on your personal pain tolerance and the type of work you do. It’s best to plan for a longer recovery, just in case!
It will be about 2 weeks before you can do cardio
While you can get back to light walking a couple of days after your surgery, it will be about 2 weeks before you can resume your workouts.
It will be 3 to 4 weeks before you can swim
Many patients opt to have their reductions done in the fall and winter after the swimming season is over. You won’t be able to fully submerge in water until your incisions are healed.
You can start buying new bras after about 1 month
By about 4 weeks you can be confident in your breast size and start shopping for new bras to fit your new breasts. It’s important to wait until your swelling has gone down completely and your breasts have fully settled before doing so! You won’t be able to use underwire bras until you are 6 weeks post-surgery and your incisions have completely healed.
Some activity restrictions take up to 6 weeks
Depending on your healing process, you might have swimming and exercise restrictions for up to six weeks.
Benefits of getting a breast reduction near you
Many patients looking into a breast reduction aren’t doing so purely for cosmetic reasons. Some of the main benefits of reducing breast size are related to physical comfort.
Sleep easier
With larger breasts, finding a comfortable sleeping position can be difficult. Some patients even opt for wearing uncomfortable bras while they sleep. After a breast reduction, patients report sleeping more restfully.
Enjoy a more active lifestyle
Physical activity is often uncomfortable for those with larger breasts. Many patients find they’re able to enjoy more activities than they could before their breast reduction.
Experience relief from chronic pain
Some patients experience neck, back, and shoulder pain due to the weight of their breasts before reduction. Once their breasts are smaller, patients often report improved posture and less neck, back, and shoulder pain.
Increase your confidence
Improving all of these physical factors leads to an overall improvement in your quality of life. You’ll feel more confident and comfortable in your body. An added bonus is that it’s often easier to find more flattering clothes.
Interested in breast reduction near you in Indianapolis? Visit Dr. Turkle today!
If you’re ready to start the conversation about how you might benefit from breast reduction surgery, you can schedule your consultation today with Dr. Turkle.
We’re proud to serve patients from Indianapolis and beyond! We often have patients travel in from out of town for their procedures. Either way, Turkle & Associates is dedicated to your patient experience. From your first phone call to your final follow-up, our team will ensure your total comfort and safety throughout the process.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or try our virtual consultation tool. We provide both plastic surgery and med spa services.
Our virtual consultation tool is a self-guided process that allows you to select your areas of concern and receive personalized recommendations emailed to you.
