Most women who undergo breast reduction surgery do so to alleviate medical and physical conditions, but the surgery can carry a daunting set of risks. Like with any surgery, women should consult with their doctors to understand and assess those risks before undergoing the surgery.

As with any surgery, part of the risk of breast reduction is related to undergoing the surgery itself. Common surgical complications include excessive bleeding, infection, and a poor reaction to anesthetic. The chance of experiencing these complications can be minimized by following the doctor’s pre-surgical instructions, and in the event that there are complications, they are usually easily managed by a skilled surgeon. Pain and swelling will follow the surgery as well as a limited range of physical motion. Your surgeon may insert drains into your breasts to reduce the chance of complications caused by swelling. The surgeon will ask you to quit smoking and refrain from taking any blood thinners – aspirin for instance – to reduce the risk of complications related to bleeding or anesthesia.

There are also risks particular to having breast reduction surgery. Some patients develop small sores around the nipple after surgery. These sores are treated with antibiotic ointment. After surgery, breasts may be uneven in size or shape or the nipples may be positioned unevenly. Depending on the type of breast reduction procedure, there is a risk that the patient will lose sensation in her nipples or be unable to breastfeed. This is because in the most common type of breast reduction procedure, breast glands and ducts are severed to remove the fatty tissue. This type of procedure also leaves noticeable, permanent scars around the areola and on the face of nipple. There is a procedure utilizing liposuction techniques known as a scarless breast reduction, but it doesn’t work well for women who need significant reduction. Very rarely, the blood supply to the nipple and areola gets cut off and the tissue dies. This is known as necrosis. In this situation, the nipple and areola can usually be reconstructed using skin grafts from other parts of the body.

Breast reduction surgery, like all surgeries, carries some risk. The most common are infection, loss of sensation, and the inability to breastfeed. However, most women experience minimal complications and find that the benefits of the surgery – reduction in pain, discomfort and insecurity and improvement in self-image and confidence – far outweigh the risks.

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