Breast Reduction

Women dealing with the appearance, discomfort or inconvenience of large breasts may find relief through breast reduction surgery. This procedure addresses multiple issues related to enlarged breasts, such as:

• Restricted movement and physical activity
• Back and neck pain
• Shoulder strain
• Poor posture
• Skin irritation and infection
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty fitting into certain clothing
• Sagging or drooping breasts

Given the wide range of symptoms that people experience, this procedure may be covered by insurance. The best way to find out is to come in for a consultation.

Breast reduction is a nuanced surgical procedure, with lots of different factors affecting your final outcome. This makes it essential to select an experienced and meticulous plastic surgeon. Joshua Tieman, MD, is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in breast-reduction surgery. Dr. Tieman’s personalized approach prioritizes patient safety, consistently achieves effective relief from symptoms, and gives you the breasts you always dreamed of.

It is important to acknowledge that all breast reduction surgeries result in scars. Depending on the surgery's extent, scars may appear around the areola, vertically down from the areola, and often below the breast, horizontally within the breast fold. We will discuss what to expect during your consultation. You can also browse our gallery below to see previous patients outcomes.

Your breast reduction procedure will be scheduled at Riverview Health Westfield Hospital, located at 17600 Shamrock Blvd. in Westfield, Indiana. Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia, which is administered and monitored by our board-certified anesthesiologists. In addition, to help with post-procedure discomfort, our anesthesiologists will perform nerve blocks at the time of your surgery to minimize the amount of pain you experience postoperatively.

During the procedure, Dr. Tieman will make incisions on the breasts to remove and reshape excess breast tissue. A standard breast reduction reshapes the breast and repositions the nipple so at the end of the surgery the breasts appear “lifted” as well. Dr. Tieman uses a special incisional vacuum system to help reduce tension on the incision lines and to improve blood flow to the area. This is placed at the end of your surgery directly on your skin. After surgery, most patients can go home the same day.

Breast reduction patients will wear a surgical bra for four weeks post-surgery to support healing breasts. The incisional vacuum system that was placed on your incisions will be removed at your first postoperative appointment. Follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor the healing process.

Post-surgery, it is normal for the breasts to be swollen and bruised. Pain medication will be prescribed, although many patients find relief with over-the-counter options. Most patients can return to their daily activities after a week, but it is recommended to avoid strenuous efforts until you are fully healed. Engaging in exercise or other vigorous activities should be postponed until cleared by Dr. Tieman.