Women who have very large breasts, either due to macromastia or mammary hyperplasia, often undergo breast reduction surgery to relieve chest, back and neck pain as well as social and image anxiety. They may also undergo breast reduction surgery after reconstructive surgery due to cancer treatment to make the breasts more symmetrical. Men, too, sometimes undergo breast reduction surgery to treat the condition of enlarged male breasts known as gynecomastia. Most people, men and women, are extremely happy after undergoing the surgery and highly recommend it to people who have similar problems with breast size.

Breast reduction, technically known as mammaplasty, is performed in a hospital under general anesthetic. Some patients are able to undergo breast reduction surgery on an outpatient basis under local anesthetic. During the surgery, an incision is cut around the areola and down the face of the breast. The nipple and areola are moved aside, fat and tissue are removed from the breast, and then the nipple and areola are repositioned and replaced. Sometimes, liposuction removes extra fat from the underarm area. The whole in-patient procedure takes about two to four hours, and a three day in-hospital recovery period is often required.

To prepare for breast reduction surgery, patients should consult with a physician several times to understand the risks and results of the surgery. Measurements and pictures will be taken to document the procedure, and sometimes this is required for insurance coverage. Sometimes a physician will recommend a mammogram to make sure that there is no cancer remaining in the breast prior to operating.

After the surgery, the patient wears an elastic bandage or supportive bra over gauze bandages and drainage tubes. The bandages and tubes will be removed a day or so after surgery, and the sutures will be removed a week to three weeks after that. The supportive bra, however, will need to be worn 24 hours a day for several weeks after surgery. Physical activity must be restricted for several weeks after breast reduction surgery, and this includes sexual activity. Red, lumpy scars will remain for several months, but they do eventually fade. The breasts may take up to year to reach their final position and size.

Breast reduction surgery, like all surgical procedures, carries some risks. Risks common to any surgical procedure include excessive bleeding, infection, reactions to anesthesia, and painful or unsightly scarring. Risks particular to breast reduction surgery include reduced sensation in the breasts or nipples and an inability to breast feed. Further, the breasts or nipples may be asymmetric. Increased susceptibility to cancer is not a risk of breast reduction surgery. Breast reduction surgery is not recommended for women who want to breast feed some time after the operation or for adolescents whose breasts have not matured.

For women who want to minimize scarring or women who plan on later breast feeding, there is a “scarless” breast reduction procedure. The scarless procedure requires a physician to make a small incision on the underside of the breast through which a liposuction tube is inserted. Breast fat is then sucked out of the breast without disturbing the nipple or the glands and ductwork attached to it. Scarless breast reduction procedures are not suitable for all patients; they work best on women who have more fatty tissue than glandular tissue in their breasts.

Despite the risks many patients are positively thrilled with the outcome of breast reduction surgery. If your breasts are so large and heavy that they cause you physical or social discomfort, you should definitely consider breast reduction surgery.

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