What is Breast Reduction?
Excessively large breasts also referred to as macromastia, can take a physical and emotional toll on women. The excess breast tissue, fat, and skin may cause sagging and heavy, burdensome feel to breasts, which in turn can lead to neck strain, back pain, and other physical ailments.
Large breasts may also leave a woman feeling self-conscious about her body and unsatisfied with the way clothes fit. Breast reduction surgery can help enhance your appearance and overall comfort.
Breast reduction surgery, or reduction mammaplasty, can correct overly large breasts, yielding life-changing results. Our highly skilled team of board-certified plastic surgeons will excise the excess breast tissue, fat, and skin, while also performing a breast lift to give your breasts a perky, youthful appearance. The result: natural-looking breasts with rejuvenated contours and an improved quality of life
What are the benefits?
Our skilled plastic surgeons strive to achieve beautiful and natural results. After a breast reduction procedure at Optum Plastic Surgery, you can expect:
- Relief or improvement in physical pain and ailments
- A boost in self-confidence and body image
- Improvement in posture
- A more proportionate figure
- Improved ease of everyday activities, including exercise
- Beautiful, natural-looking breasts
Who is the ideal candidate?
Women with overly large breasts may suffer from physical or emotional pain, which can adversely affect quality of life. A patient is a good candidate when their breasts cause significant discomfort, including neck and back pain, skin irritation under the breasts, poor posture, or bra strap indentations on shoulders. Ideal candidates for a breast reduction are at, or close to their ideal weight, do not smoke or consume nicotine, have completed breast feeding at least 6-8 months prior to surgery and are in good general health. Patients 40 years old and above should complete a screening mammogram prior to augmentation.
What can I expect from recovery?
Recovery varies by patient, but all can expect to experience soreness and swelling after surgery. You may be sent home with a surgical garment that helps prevent excess swelling and fluid retention. Your surgeon will provide a prescription for pain medication to ease discomfort along with at-home care instructions. You will have physical restrictions for the first several weeks after surgery, but can expect to slowly return to your physical routine within 6 weeks after your operation.
What are the various techniques available?
Depending on your specific needs, your plastic surgeon will generally choose from two types of reductions that differ in their required incisions: A “lollipop” or “anchor” technique.
Anchor incisions
Anchor incisions are also appropriately named for their appearance. Incisions are made around the areola, down to the breast crease, and then vertically across the breast crease. This technique gives your surgeon the most room to remove excess breast tissue, fat, and skin and is the most common type of breast reduction performed.
Lollipop incisions
Lollipop incisions are named after their lollipop appearance. The incision is made around the areola and down from the areola to the breast crease. This type of incision allows your surgeon to remove excess breast tissue, fat, and skin. In general, patients seeking a modest reduction in volume may be candidates for this type of breast reduction.
Frequently asked questions
How is a breast reduction procedure performed?
Extra breast tissue is removed, and the nipple / areola is repositioned to a more youthful location on the breast mound. Doing so typically requires an incision around the areola, down the front of the breast and within the breast fold. In more modest breast reductions, the incision within the fold may not be required. All breast tissue that is removed is then sent to pathology for review.
What are the risks associated with breast reduction surgery?
In addition to the general risks of surgery including unpredictable scaring, infection, asymmetry and bleeding, some specific risks of breast reduction include decreased sensation to the nipple areola, fat necrosis (lumpy fat that may, in severe cases, be felt through the skin), decreased ability, or inability to breast feed, incidental cancer identification, and partial or complete nipple necrosis (tissue death).
Is breast reduction surgery covered by insurance?
A breast reduction procedure may be covered by insurance if deemed medically necessary. The requirements for a breast reduction to be deemed medically necessary vary between insurance companies and will be reviewed with you by your surgeon at the time of your consultation. In general, for a breast reduction to be considered medically necessary one must have chronic symptoms of large breasts that have been resistant to non-surgical treatments. Additionally, insurance companies require a minimum amount of tissue that can be removed. This is a determination that will be made by your surgeon.
What results should I expect after breast reduction surgery?
A reduction in chronic symptoms of large breasts, including, but not limited to back, shoulder and / or neck pain, shoulder strap grooving, rashes or irritation within the breast folds and possibly even numbness and tingling in the hands / fingers. Patients typically report a dramatically improved quality of life and self-confidence following a breast reduction.
View all breast procedures ›
Cosmetic and reconstructive surgery at Optum ›
