Breast Reduction: Info, Prices, Photos, Reviews, Q&A

While not common, the breasts can grow after surgery in some cases.

If you gain weight, if you get pregnant, and in some cases when it is done in teenagers who have not completed growth.

Can Breast Tissue Grow Back After Breast Reduction

If a patient is very young then the breasts will continue to grow and sometimes a revision is necessary.

There have been cases where breast tissue has continued to grow several times requiring multiple revisions in the same patient.

After breast reduction, the breasts grow again in only 4 cases:

1. Breast reduction done on teenagers with breasts still growing.
2. Weight gain.
3. Pregnancy and breast feeding.
4. Menopause.

Tissue Regrowth After Breast Reduction

Although not common, the recurrence of breast hypertrophy does occur occasionally. Repeat breast reduction surgery may be indicated. If so, obtaining a copy of your previous operative report will be helpful.

A breast reduction involves removal of breast tissue and the surrounding fat in addition to the skin. Once the glands are removed they don’t regrow. However, with weight gain the fat can increase in size thus increasing the breast size.

Fat really weights less than you think so your breasts could increase in size with less than a pound of weight gain. (Christopher L. Hess, MD, Fairfax Plastic Surgeon)

Need for repeat breast reduction does exist

Although it is indeed rare to return to the your pre-surgical volume following breast reduction, it does in fact happen. This can occur in patients who suffer from Juvenile Breast Hypertrophy. It can also occur in women who have breast reduction and then go on to become pregnant.

The hormonal changes of pregnancy can incite a new growth phase for the breast tissue. (Kevin Brenner, MD, FACS, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)

It is possible although uncommon for breasts to grow after reduction surgery. There are a few patients who have received a reduction surgery experienced such excessive growth of their breast a revision of the reduction surgery. (Pat Pazmino, MD, FACS, Miami Plastic Surgeon)

It would be very rare for tissue to grow back that quickly (a couple of years). We have seen re-growth after 10 or 15 years, sometimes related to weight increase and sometimes unrelated to weight.

Go back to your surgeon and review your photos now versus the ones right after your breast reduction. Have a long discussion about the possibilities. If you do choose to have another breast reduction, make sure you are very specific about your goals. (Francisco Canales, MD, Santa Rosa Plastic Surgeon)

Rarely, breast tissue can grow back after reduction

Rarely, yes. In a condition called Virginal Breast Hypertrophy seen in teens, this has been known to happen. However, it is not a common occurrence.

If indeed this is the case and you are bothered by the usual set of symptoms (neck, shoulder pain, inability to exercise, under the breast rashes, etc.), a second breast reduction may be called for. (Peter A. Aldea, MD, Memphis Plastic Surgeon)

Breast Tissue Regrowth Unusual But Possible

It is possible for the breast tissue that is left behind after breast reduction to get larger.

This is unusual however and mostly occurs in very young girls who get breast reduction for very large breasts.

Under these circumstances, when reduction is required at a very young age because of the severe physical and social problems with very large breasts, it is possible to need a revision reduction years later when the breast tissue has stopped growing. (Gary Lawton, MD, FACS, San Antonio Plastic Surgeon)