Breast reduction without leaving long scars is completely achievable.
The OLD standard Breast Reduction / Breast Lifts have been done through a vertical T / Anchor shaped scar. The blood supply to the nipple complex (Pedicle) was either superior, central, medial but most commonly inferior (meaning the portion of the lower aspect of the breast was left attached to the chest wall and that is where the nipple retained its blood supply). The problem with ALL of these methods was that the shape of the breast depended on how the skin was tailored - not on how the breast tissue itself was tailored. They ALL sag.
Using only part of the old scar - the Lollipop scar, several new techniques of VERTICAL MAMMAPLASTY culminated in the current favorite the Hall Findlay technique, contour and shape the breast itself - not the skin. The results are perkier breasts with much longer lasting results through smaller scars. (What's not to love??)
BUT - be aware the scar is very much like a door to a house. You cannot assume that you know what was done in a house based on the shape of its door. Although Vertical Mammaplasty (IE Lift) procedure ARE done through this door (Scar) so can old fashion, skin tightening lifts. The scar itself does not assure you what procedure was done.
In your case, your breasts are beginning to sag. This trend will speed up rapidly leaving you with really sagging breasts. A Hall Findlay Breast Reduction (which has relatively short scars) is your best bet for smaller, perky breasts in the long term.
You may want to read much more about this on my website - http://www.cosmeticsurgeryspecialists.org/breastsurgery/breastliftandbreastreduction.html
Good Luck.
Peter A Aldea, MD
