Many types of surgery can improve the appearance of the breast.
Many women now resort to breast reduction for aesthetic reasons but also for comfort.
Plastic surgeon Eric Plot was the guest of the show "Sans rendez-vous" on Europe 1 to talk about it.
The breasts are the first area targeted by cosmetic surgery procedures in women.
Monday, in the show Sans rendez-vous on Europe 1, the plastic surgeon Eric Plot mentioned breast reduction procedures, much more widespread than one might think.
He estimates at 25,000 the number of operations of this type performed each year.
Here are 4 things to know.
>> Find all of Sans rendez-vous in replay and podcast here
Why do some women want to reduce their breasts?
Breast reduction undeniably has an aesthetic aspect: "I see teenage girls arriving in my office who are 17 years old, who have huge breasts, breast enlargements, who are complexed", says Dr. Eric Plot who describes women upset, forced to wear "loose clothing".
"You operate on them and they are transformed."
Especially since breasts that are too large can create comfort problems over time.
Back problems are legion, as well as the discomfort caused by sweating.
"It is cosmetic surgery but also restorative."
When do women decide to proceed with this operation?
Eric Plot describes two main periods of treatment for breast enlargement.
First of all, in the period following puberty, many women finish their growth and have too much development of their mammary gland, "too large for their weight", he says.
The skin no longer plays its role of "bra", can crack under the weight of the breasts which tend to be too sagging.
In addition, at the time of menopause, hormonal upheavals are important.
The glandular tissue is replaced by fatty tissue increasing the weight of the breast.
According to the surgeon, this movement accompanies the weight gain generally observed by women at this point in their life.
What does the operation consist of?
The operation lasts from "3 hours to 3:30".
It involves removing mammary gland or fat, or even both depending on the contents of the breast.
"With the remaining tissue, glandular or fatty, the goal is to restore a nice shape to the breast, reassemble it, reshape it, refill it and then readjust the 'skin case'."
What are the latest technical improvements?
The main fear of patients regarding this type of operation is the resulting scar.
Today, to minimize scars and improve their appearance, laser techniques are improving.
"At the end of the operation, we will pass a laser on these scars to reduce the inflammatory phenomenon induced by scarring."
In addition, the technique of breast liposuction is developing, sparing the opening with a scalpel.
But by Eric Plot's own admission, this method is not suitable for all types of breasts.
Note that the operation is covered by social security from the moment we remove "more than 300 grams of tissue" on each side.