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Treatment Type
Cosmetic Surgery
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Treatment Time
2-3 Hours
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Anesthetic
General Anesthesia
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Back to Work
7-14 Days
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Total Recovery Time
4-6 Weeks
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Duration of Results
Long Lasting
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# of Treatments
1
- Get Started and Try Our Treatment Planning Tool
-
Treatment Type
Cosmetic Surgery
-
Treatment Time
2-3 Hours
-
Anesthetic
General Anesthesia
-
Back to Work
7-14 Days
-
Total Recovery Time
4-6 Weeks
-
Duration of Results
Long Lasting
-
# of Treatments
1
- Get Started and Try Our Treatment Planning Tool
Improve Your Health and Posture with a Breast Reduction
If you experience back pain, poor posture, or breathing problems from large breasts or do not like the appearance of your size, a breast reduction procedure may improve your health and quality of life.
Our board certified plastic surgeon will reduce the size of your breast along with tightening the skin and raising the position of the nipple/areola, resulting in smaller, more comfortable breasts.

Treatment Overview
Breast reduction involves the removal of excess breast tissue and skin in order to create a breast size and shape that’s more proportionate to the rest of your body.
For some patients, a reduction in nipple size or reshaping of the areola may be incorporated into the reduction surgery as well. Options for breast reduction in Chicago and Vernon Hills, IL range from minimally invasive approaches with liposuction to more extensive correction for women who have extremely large breasts.
What It Treats:
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You are bothered by feeling that your breasts are too large
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You have breasts that limit your physical activity
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You experience back, neck and shoulder pain caused by the weight of your breasts
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You have shoulder indentations from bra straps
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You have skin irritation beneath the breast crease


Breast Reconstruction near you
Book Your Breast Reduction
Consultation
Your improved silhouette is one click or phone call away. Contact us online or by phone at (847) 367-8815 to book your consultation to learn more about breast reduction and the personalized surgery process at RL Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa.

Benefits
Benefits of Breast Reduction
- Relieve pain in your upper back, neck and shoulders.
- Increase your ability to participate in physical activities.
- Promote a more positive self-image.

How it Works
The Consultation
At RL Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa, each initial patient consultation is different.
Depending on your needs, desired treatments, areas of concern, and simply who you are as a patient, we will schedule you with an actual treatment provider to discuss your goals, budget, and more. During this appointment, we will go through before & after photos, your medical history, and any questions you might have. Only then can we make a recommendation for which procedures or treatments may be right for you and why. We will be sure to educate you on how the treatments work, including what to expect during and afterward.

Surgical consultations that last about 40 minutes. At the end of your consultation, you will leave our office in Vernon Hills with a thorough, personalized treatment plan. And when you’re ready, we’ll schedule your surgery for a day and time that works for your schedule.
Insurers will often pay for the breast reduction procedures, particularly if the physical effects your breasts have had on your body are well-documented. In some cases, depending on your policy, a certain amount of tissue must be removed from each breast in order to qualify for insurance coverage.
Breast Reduction Surgery
A typical breast reduction procedure will last between two to three hours and is performed under general anesthesia.
Although very large or saggy breasts may not match your aesthetic ideal, the physical concerns overly large breasts cause can be an even bigger issue. Women in need of reduction frequently suffer from back or neck pain, chaffing or rashes to their breasts, and irritation where bra straps cut into the skin. For many patients, breast reduction surgery is rarely defined solely as a cosmetic procedure due to the many physical complications reduction surgery can alleviate.
During a breast reduction surgery, fat and tissue are removed from under the breast while skin is tightened to produce smaller, healthier breasts that are in better proportion with the rest of the body. Through breast reduction surgery, patients can regain their confidence and obtain a renewed self-image in a body shape that suits them. The specific type of technique used will vary depending on your unique needs, but incisions generally run around the areola, from the areola down to the inframammary fold, and possibly across inframammary fold (the nature crease the base of the breast). At the same time, the nipple can be relocated to a higher, more youthful, centered position.
Types of Incisions
Breast reconstruction in Chicago and Vernon Hills, IL is an inpatient or outpatient procedure performed at a hospital or outpatient surgery center. Your surgeon will review your recovery schedule in detail so you feel prepared for what to expect afterwards. Once you are discharged, your surgeon will send you home with both instructions for your recovery and supplies that will help your breast reconstruction heal correctly.
It may take up to several weeks for patients to both resume normal activities and return to work following a breast reconstruction procedure. Depending on the patient’s specific needs, further procedures may be required in order to ensure that both breasts match in terms of shape and form.
Types of Incisions
There are several different types of incisions that may be used for this procedure.
Your doctor will establish the best type of treatment for you after evaluating your breasts and hearing about your goals.
- Traditional Breast Reduction Surgery – Traditional breast reduction surgery involves an incision shaped like an anchor and is intended for women with extremely large breasts. Scarring is generally more apparent with traditional breast reduction surgery, through which skin, fat, and tissue are removed from the breasts, with the nipples and areolas being repositioned as well.
- Vertical Incision Breast Reduction – Vertical incision breast reduction surgeries are also known as short-scar, a technique involving incisions that run around the areola and down to the creases of the breasts, forming the shape of a lollipop. This technique is good for women with moderately large breasts, and creates shapely breasts with less scarring, as women undergoing this surgery do not require extensive tissue removal.
Recovery
After surgery, you will have soreness that will be controlled with local anesthetic nerve blocks administered at the time of surgery, along with a short course of oral pain medication.
You may need oral pain medication for short period of time and you can expect to feel better and stronger each day. Breast Reduction is an outpatient procedure that we perform in our surgical facility, which means you’ll be able to go home the same day. In general, you’ll still be experiencing the effects of the anesthesia when you arrive home. Therefore, it’s important to have someone who can drive you home and take care of you for the first 24 hours following your breast surgery. Our medical staff will send you home with both instructions for your recovery and supplies that will help your breast reduction heal correctly.
It’s important that you rest for the first few days of your recovery after a breast reduction surgery. You should avoid lifting heavy objects or undergoing strenuous activity for the first week of your recovery.
Patient Testimonials
The RL Center Difference
There’s a reason that almost 40% of the patients of RL Center for Cosmetic Surgery & Medspa are referrals. We provide every patient with expert guidance through an informative, nonjudgmental process regardless of their budget or areas of concern. This safe, comfortable experience provides patients with the results that leave them excited to share with their friends and family.
Our Board Certified Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Leonard Lu has over a decade of breast surgery experience.

Get Started
Build Your Treatment Plan
Take a moment to use our Instant planner tool to receive personalized aesthetic treatment and/or surgical procedure recommendations based on your areas of concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicago FAQs about Breast Reconstruction
