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Breast Reduction Is Life Changing for Many Women

Patricia Andreas, 45, of Lemont, had thought about breast reduction surgery and investigated it for a couple years before finally having the procedure last June. Now she is happy she made the decision. "I feel much lighter. I feel this is the way I'm supposed to be shaped and the way I'm supposed to feel," Ms. Andreas said. "I would recommend this to anyone who's considering it."

Ms. Andreas is a high school English teacher who is on her feet all day. In recent years she suffered increasing aches and pains that could be attributed to large breasts: lower back pain, shoulder strain, grooving from bra straps and a numbing sensation in the back of her neck.

Beyond the physical discomforts, she experienced other aggravations. She couldn't find business suits or bathing suits that fit right because her pants were several sizes smaller than her top. And even though she recently trimmed down, she did not think it showed. "You can lose all the weight you want, but large breasts always give you an appearance of being large," Ms. Andreas said. "But I didn't do it for cosmetic reasons. My main motivation was to feel better physically."

Ms. Andreas talked to several different plastic surgeons before making her decision. "It was important to me to find a doctor I was comfortable with," she said.

She chose Victor Cimino, MD , assistant clinical professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Loyola University Health System. Dr. Cimino performs the full range of plastic surgery procedures but specializes in cosmetic and breast surgery.

Selecting the right surgeon is important with any type of surgery but especially with an elective procedure like breast reduction. Patients should ask about the surgeon's qualifications and experience, and in the case of cosmetic surgery, make sure the surgeon is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

"I tell my patients that, after doing the research on qualifications, the bottom line is that they should have a comfort level with a surgeon they trust," said Dr. Cimino.

"One of the things very unique about this procedure is that it is a three-dimensional surgery," Dr. Cimino explained. "Art meets science in this surgery; it's not like taking out a gallbladder. The procedure needs to be customized to the patient in many ways. Those refinements become the artistic part."

Women who smoke are not good candidates for breast reduction surgery since smokers experience more scarring and more potential complications with healing. Also, people should be near their ideal weight before the surgery, because significant weight loss after surgery will cause the breasts to sag.

Ms. Andreas was impressed with Dr. Cimino's thorough consultation as well as his patience and honesty in answering her many questions.

She had surgery last June. About two-and-a-half pounds were removed from each breast. "Imagine carrying a five pound bag of sugar on a string around your neck," Ms. Andreas said. She spent one night in the hospital, two weeks in a compression corset, and about six weeks with some restrictions (such as no lifting) of her activity.

Now Ms. Andreas feels no lower back pain and no numbing in her neck. "It has given me the incentive to start an exercise program because I feel more comfortable about myself physically," she said. She now can ride a bike for long distances without feeling back pain, and play volleyball with her family in their backyard sand volleyball court.

"It is probably one of the most gratifying procedures we do because it changes lives," Dr. Cimino said. "It allows people to engage in a lot of activities they have avoided in the past. It is a life changing procedure."

For more information about cos-metic surgery at Loyola University Health System, call (708) 216-8563.

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