Are Benign Lumps Typical After a Breast Reduction/lift?

asked 6 months ago by Elanore8 in Los Angeles, CA
Latest answer by Marialyn Sardo, MD
Question viewed 238 times
Tags: 4 months post-op, lumps, normal

In September, 4 mos after a breast reduction/lift in May, I felt a hard quarter sized lump, in the bottom left side of my left breast. It is approximately 2 inches up from the bottom incision, & 1 inch to the side of the middle incision. No pain involved. My surgeon sent me immediately for a mammogram & ultra sound. The Radiologist said this was benign, & suggests repeating the 2 tests in February (6 mos). Is this condition typical?

5 answers to Are Benign Lumps Typical After a Breast Reduction/lift?

Lumps after breast surgery

Lumps after breast surgery are common. These can be caused by cysts, stitch abscesses, or areas where fat does not have perfect blood supply. After a mammogram/ultrasound/MRI confirms the benigh nature of the lump you may want to try a series of warm compresses. This will increase local blood flow and may help resolution. Persistent lumps need to be followed with repeat mammogram/ultrasound/MRI studies. Even a benign lump may need to be surgically removed for... more

Daniel Greenwald, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Lumps after breast reduction surgery

Sometimes areas where fat scars or has poor blood supply after reduction surgery can cause firm lumps in the breast. These firm areas usually resolve in several months to 2 years. However, no lump in the breast should ever go without thorough evaluation or be assumed to be secondary to surgery. Your doctor is correctly approaching the evaluation of these findings

Marialyn Sardo, MD
La Jolla Plastic Surgeon

www.centerforbeauty.com

Lump(s) after breast reduction

A post surgical breast "lump" or mass is not unusual, but all breast masses must be taken seriously. Your surgeon, it seems to me, is managing the finding quite appropriately.

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Benign breast tumor after breast reduction

It is possible to have a breast lump which is a suture granuloma or scar tissue. However, if you are speaking of a breast tumor, this would not be a consequence of the surgery. When the breasts are reduced, you may become more aware of the presence of lesions. I require all breast reduction patients over age 40 to have a baseline mammogram prior to the surgery and send all resected breast tissue for pathologic analysis to rule out any previously unknown tumor processes.

Robert L. Kraft, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.foresthillsplasticsurgery.com

Benign Lesion after Breast Reduction?

Thank you for the question. It is not uncommon to have “benign lumps” found after breast surgery. This may be related to scar tissue, fat necrosis, suture granuloma or may be completely unrelated to the breast surgery ( for example cyst or fibroadenoma). Nevertheless, careful self breast exam and radiologic evaluation remains important; don't assume that any “lump” is benign. I hope this helps.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

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