What Is Involved In Breast Reduction Surgery?

During breast reduction surgery, incisions are made around the pigmented nipple-areolar complex and extend vertically below the nipple and within the crease under the breast.

The nipple-areolar complex is moved upward to the desired location. Excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are then removed. The length of breast reduction surgery is typically about 3 hours. (Siamak Agha, MD, PhD, FACS, Orange County Plastic Surgeon)

Successful Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, removes your excess fat, glandular (breast) tissue, and skin to place your breasts back in your proportion to your body.

Importantly, breast reductions can alleviate neck and shoulder pain that can be secondary to heavy breasts.

Additional benefits are the lifting of sagging breasts (improves ptosis), as well as areolar reduction. Because of surgeon’s use of long-acting anesthetics, most patients find the pain after the procedure more than tolerable. The downside of the surgery are the potential for scars, ability to breast feed, and possible nipple sensation loss.

Breast Reduction Procedure Steps

Different surgeons utilize different techniques in their approach to successful breast reduction, including scar length and placement. Discuss with your surgeon their preference for approach and the risks/benefits of each technique. Most breast reduction patients are pleased with their results and their improvement in their neck, shoulder, and back pain. (Jeffrey D. Hoefflin, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Information about Breast Reduction

In my experience, a breast reduction is one of the procedures that tends to give patients the most satisfaction.

Many of my patients with large breasts experience chronic pain, skin irritation and limitations of normal daily activities, such as exercise.

A breast reduction surgery can alleviate all of these situations. A consultation with your surgeon will determine the best methods for your specific anatomy. Typically, incisions are made around the areola margins, up and down beneath the areola areas and in the creases of the breasts in an inverted “T.”

Chest Reduction Surgery Is Usually Performed Through Incisions On Your Breasts

During the procedure, both breast and fatty tissue will be removed to achieve an appropriate reduction. At the same time, the breasts are lifted to achieve a youthful, perky shape. This lifting involves relocation of the nippla/areola areas and generally the nipples are transferred still attached to the breast tissue (but not always; your surgeon can tell you more).

Post-surgery, you will need to wear a surgical support bra for about 1 to 2 weeks and avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity. Depending on your occupation, you might need to take anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks off work.

Also worth noting: the incision lines, which are initially noticeable, will fade very well with time. (Deason Dunagan, MD, Huntsville Plastic Surgeon)

Many plastic surgery procedures, particular techniques, recovery periods, and postoperative restrictions will be surgeon specific. It is therefore not in your best interests to find an operation you think you want before finding a surgeon- this is the reverse of what you should be doing…

Reduction Mammoplasty Is An Option For Women Who Wish To Make Their Breasts Smaller, Less Heavy And More Lifted

Find a surgeon you like and feel you can trust FIRST. THEN learn all about what they can offer you after they have an understanding of your goals, your exam, and your options. For help finding a surgeon you can trust to keep you safe and give you the outcome you want, please read this:. (Armando Soto, MD, FACS, Orlando Plastic Surgeon)

What is a breast reduction?

Most plastic surgeons would agree that breast reduction patients are among our happiest.

A breast reduction can alleviate neck and shoulder pain secondary to heavy breasts. A reduction not only reduces the amount of breast tissue but also lifts the breasts.

The downside of a reduction are the scars and the possible loss of nipple sensation and inability to breast feed. Talk to your plastic surgeon about the scars – in most cases the scars will extend around the nipple aerolar complex, down to the bottom of the breast and under the breast.

Cosmetic Breast Reduction (female)

Many techniques are being used to make the scars as short as possible and many treatments are available to help the scars heal in the best possible manner. Many women have breast fed after reduction and many have had no change in nipple sensation but discuss these issues with your doctor if they are of concern to you. (Susan E. Downey, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

Breast Reduction vs. Breast Lift Surgery

Breast Reduction Surgery is a RECONSTRUCTIVE operation in which sagging, large breasts which cause back/neck pains and interfere with daily function are reduced by removal of breast tissue and breast skin. The smaller breasts are perkier and more attractive.

(In contrast, in a Breast Lift, more breast skin is removed than breast tissue in an effort to lift sagging breasts. This is a COSMETIC procedure). (Peter A. Aldea, MD, Memphis Plastic Surgeon)

Reduction Mammoplasty Is Carried Out Under General Anaesthetic

Breast reduction: options and techniques.

The length of the procedure depends on the technique which typically is a function of the degree of hypertrophy (overgrowth), the amount of ptosis (sagging) and the composition of the breast (fat to gland ratio).

For example in a young female with no sagging and a fatty breast, liposuction is a quick and relatively minimally invasive procedure.

However, this is rarely the case. More often the breasts are large, dense, and ptotic.

Typically breast reduction surgery lasts anywhere from 2-4 hours. Skin, fat and breast tissue are all removed. (Otto Joseph Placik, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)

There are reduction for weight reduction in patients who are hindered by the pain and discomfort of too much weight. Then there are reductions that are mainly aesthetic to create a more pleasing size and shape.

It Can Take Two To Six Weeks To Fully Recover From Chest Reduction Surgery

These two conditions obviously blend into each other. In general, you can think of a spectrum from small incisions and removal of weight like with liposuction but no shaping to the other extreme of large and extensive scars allowing the tailoring of the shape.

Much like tailoring a dress, the more seams, the more you can tailor. Usually some combination of liposuction and surgical excision of gland is performed but this depends on the nature of the breast, the initial size and the future goal of the breast.

In general, breast reduction in the right patient is one of the most highly satisfying procedures for patients. (Robin T.W. Yuan, MD, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)