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How Many Cup Sizes Can I Lose After 38DDD to C Breast Reduction?

asked 3 years ago by Dman123 in Amsterdam
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 17,424 times
Tags: DDD to C cup, size

I am a 38DDD... Will I be able to go down to a 38C (Like I was in high school)?

32 answers to How Many Cup Sizes Can I Lose After 38DDD to C Breast Reduction?

+3

Cup size after breast reduction

Yes, you can go down to a C cup with a breast reduction, but it may or may not look good on you. How small you can be is really not the question, because a surgeon can remove all of your breast tissue entirely. What really matters is how small you can be while maintaining a pleasing breast shape that is in proportion to your body. Your overall height and body shape influence how different breast sizes and shapes look on your body. There are many factors your surgeon will take into account to... more
Anita Patel, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast reduction goal is balance with your body

I think it is very difficult to guarantee a cup size after a breast reduction. The real goal is smaller breasts that have a nice shape and are in keeping with the rest of your body. In other words, if you are a very short, thin individual, we may want to aim toward a slightly smaller size; if you are tall and perhaps a bit heavier, a fuller breast would give you a more natural look. Despite this, there are still limitations to how small we can make the breasts without risking healing... more
Shahram Salemy, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Cup size after breast reduction?

Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, there is no direct correlation between the amount of tissue removed and the ultimate cup size that a patient will wear after breast reduction surgery. Before undergoing the breast reduction procedure it is very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon. In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction: How much?

The risks of breast reduction generally increase with the amount of tissue removed and most particularly the concerns are for viablility and sensitivity of the nipple and areola as well as the skin. There are risks to crossing the street or flying in an airplane and, of course, there are risks to any surgical procedure. These risks can occur regardless of surgeon or technique. These include but are not limited to: infection, hematoma, discomfort, wound breakdown, hypertrophic scar... more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Any size can be achieved with a breast reduction.

A breast reduction can yield any size a patient wants.  The technique may have to be altered if a huge breast is to be made extremely small, but it can be done.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast cup size after breast reduction

It may be possible to achieve a "C" cup size from a "DD" cup size with breast reduction, but the results depend on numerous factors and there are associated risks with larger reductions, such as compromising blood flow to the nipple and wound healing problems. Your plastic surgeon should examine you and be able to make recommendations as to what is feasible in your particular case.
Olivia Hutchinson, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast cup size after breast reduction

Any breast cup size is achievable in a breast reduction, but the question is whether it will be a good cosmetic result.  The cosmetic result depends on the shape of the reduced breast and also if it fits your overall body size.   The main goal in breast reduction surgery is to relieve the significant strain on your shoulders, neck, and upper back.  Meeting a cup size is something we try to achieve but not the primary goal or always predictable.  Also, there is a limit... more
Naveen Setty, MD

Plano Plastic Surgeon
+1

C cup after breast reduction? Maybe, maybe not

We always do our best to get the breast size down to what our patients desire during a breast reduction, but it's not always possible.  We have to preserve enough breast tissue to keep a healthy blood supply to the nipple complex, so that limits the amount of tissue we can safely remove.  Your surgeon should be able to give you a good idea whether she can meet your goal of a C cup when you meet with her for consultation. 
Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

How low can you go with a breast reduction?

Breast reduction of very large breasts can be performed safely.  However, your plastic surgeon will always limit the amount of tissue that he or she is removing to limit the risk to the nipple/areola.  With newer breast reduction techniques is it actually possible to perform very large reductions without the worry about the blood supply to the nipple/areola.  Talk to your plastic surgeon about your wishes, and perhaps seek a second opinion of you are unhappy with the... more
Martin Jugenburg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Appropriate cup size after breast reduction

A surgeon should be able to produce almost any breast size when performing breast reduction.  But the most important question is what is a prudent reduction.  There are a number of factors to consider, such as proportionate breast size to the patient's torso, the type of technique required to achieve the desired size, etc. In my practice, after hearing the patients initial desire as to the cup size, I spend significant amount of time discussing this issue with the... more
Boris M. Ackerman, MD

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.doctorackerman.com

+1

Breast reduction and size

A patient should give her surgeon a clue as to how large she wishes to be after surgery .. I personally like a "c" cup. The majority of woman with super large breasts initially request that the entire breast be taken off. It is the irresponsible surgeon who would listen. I request that patients bring me a picture of the size of the breast that they would like to end up with. This is usually a "c" or small d. The photo is a good starting place for a discussion to... more
Gary H. Manchester, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Final breast cup size is determined by your personal goals and the technique used

  The final breast cup size after a breast reduction surgery is determined by the technique that the plastic surgeon uses and goals that you discussed before the surgery. For a significant reduction in size, larger incisions may be necessary to remove all the excess skin. Typically 95% of the breast reductions we perform in our practice are through the lollipop incision or the periareolar incision. For extremely large breasts, a wise pattern excision which is also known as the... more
B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Reduction can make your breasts as small as the blood supply will allow

Hi there- The limits of this operation are really going to depend on your anatomy and your goals. If what you want is for your breasts to be as small as possible without regard for proportion or appearance, there is no question that very small breasts can be achieved. How small will depend on the blood supply of your tissues. "As small al possible" is NOT, however, what I would recommend. Clearly, it is important to achieve a significant enough reduction that your symptoms are... more
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

+1

Limitations in Breast Reduction

Hello, Breast reduction reduces breast size (obviously) but the exact result (cup wise) can be hard to predict. The operation is designed to make the result optimal for healing. I have seen patients who have gone elsewhere and over-reduction has led to wound problems. They essentially removed so much tissue that the remaining breast could not heal. You might be a bit larger than a C of course depending upon what kind of bra you buy and your pre-op breast dimensions. This is definitely a... more
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

C cup after breast reduction a possibility

Most likely you would be able to obtain the 38C of your youth and, to some degree, improve the perkiness of your breast area, as well. You should set up a consultation with a plastic surgeon to have him or her evaluate your personal body type as well as the size and amount of breast tissue you have. Knowing these factors will help your surgeon further advise you regarding the results that will best fit and benefit your body.
Deason Dunagan, MD

Huntsville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Possible for breast reduction from DDD cup to the C-cup range

Breast Reduction surgery is performed, as you may expect, by excising portions of breast tissue. As a consequence a certain amount of blood vessels are sacrificed in this tissue. The surgeon must be sure that enough blood vessels are left intact to provide adequate blood supply to the remaining tissue. Therefore unlimited amounts of tissue cannot be removed or else the circulation may be compromised leading to major healing problems, That being said, it is quite possible to reduce a DDD cup... more
David A. Ross, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Size after Breast Reduction

There is no way to promise a particular bra size after any breast surgery - there is no uniformly followed measurement system! That being said, a "C" cup is a reasonable goal and should be attainable. You may want to be careful if you are trying to have your breast reduction performed under insurance. Insurance companies often have arbitrary numbers that they want to see (such as 500 grams removed per side), and this can restrict your results. If your surgeon's hands are tied... more
Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Dont focus on cup size; focus on comfort and shape

Every patient wants to know whar cup size they will be after a breast reduction. This is impossible to tell. We usually tell patients that they will be significantly smaller, more comfortable and their breasts will fit their body. Some studies have shown that upto 25% of women still fit their old bra! Those same studies show more than 80% satisfaction and comfort rate after the surgery.
Michael Weinberg, MD

Toronto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Proportionality more important than cup size

Just as in breast augmentation cup size is not accurate and it depends on which designer and/or which store you buy your bras from. The more important factor is proportionality of your breasts compared to the rest of your body. Patients who undergo breast reduction surgery feel that their breasts are too large for their bodies. Therefore, breast reduction is designed to produce a smaller, lifted better shaped breast that matches your body type. Although cup size is a point of reference for... more
Bahram Ghaderi, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Reduction results dependent on the individual

Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast tissue and reshapes the contour of the breasts so that they are smaller and perkier. I commonly use a minimal incision technique (Le Jour), eliminating the need for large scars while providing a pleasing breast contour and shape that is proportionate to the patients body.
Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

C cup is reasonable expectation for Breast Reduction

Dman123, Your surgeon should be able to perform a procedure that will establish better proportions, relieve back, neck & shoulder discomfort, and make your life more comfortable. Your surgeon may not be able to assure you a specific post-operative cup size. Your surgeon will not be able to give you the breast you had in high school. Breast reduction patients are among the happiest patients. I hope you achieve the same.
Sutton Graham II, MD

Greenville Plastic Surgeon
+1

As many as it takes so that your reshaped breasts fit your body well

My goal in breast reduction surgery is not to match a preconceived cup size.  Rather, I attempt to create a result that is both aesthetically pleasing and in beautiful proportion to the patient's body.
James C. Grotting, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction goal is to create smaller versions

It is very difficult to predict the number of cup sizes lost after a Breast reduction, and in fact, most surgeons will refuse to offer any sort of prediction. With that in mind, most women seek breast reduction for relief from the associated symptoms of neck and back pain, shoulder grooving and difficulty with maintaining a health active lifestyle, and as such improvement in these symptoms has been reported with even relatively modest amounts of tissue removal. I try to tell my patients that... more
Manish Raj Gupta, MD

Toledo Plastic Surgeon
+1

C cup is reasonable

While it is difficult to predict with absolutely certainty what your eventual cup size will be after the swelling has resolved, a C cup in your case is reasonable. Factors that contribute to eventual cut size include, amount of tissue removed, distance the nipple and areola have to be moved, pre-operative shape of the breast, etc. If you meet with a plastic surgeon in consultation, you will get a better idea of what is possible. Good luck with your surgery.
David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

You can go down to a "C" cup, three cup sizes.

As you well know, cup size is not an exact measurement. Each bra manufacture's "C" cup is different from another's. In general, I tell my patients that a cup size is about 150-200cc depending on your height and chest wall circumference. In a breast reduction surgery you want to achieve smaller, better shaped breasts, with the nipple-areolar complex downsized and at a higher location and hopefully minimize scars. I perform a short scar or lollipop scar reduction/lift. This gives... more
George Marosan, MD

Bellevue Plastic Surgeon
+1

Safety is the top priority for breast reduction

The most important question you need to ask is what is the smallest size that you can safely make my breasts with a breast reduction procedure. Think of the breast as a Christmas tree cone. During a breast reduction procedure a series of incisions will be made that basically peel the skin off of the central cone of the breast. The cone is then reduced and the skin is wrapped back around the breast cone with the excess skin being removed and the nipple being moved up to a higher position... more
Jeffrey Zwiren, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

You can't guarantee a cup size reduction

In gereral, a breast reduction patient will go down in bra size but to a degree that can't be predicted. Often the base width of the breast keeps you in a bigger size and the base width doesn't change with surgery. Also, the more you try to take off, the more blood flow and sensation loss issues you get into which can lead to complications you'd rather not have. So, go to the best breast plastic surgeon in your area and discuss it with them but don't get your heart set on a cup size. more
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

You need to have about 650 grams removed from each breast

To Dman123, Hi! It is certainly easy to take you from a 38DDD to a 38C with a breast reduction. There are a number of useful formulas to determine how much tissue to remove. I just give you one example. I recommend a vertical breast reduction with a lollypop scar.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction

Breast reduction surgery is performed to make the breasts smaller and usually lift the breast as well. Depending upon how large you are to start and how low the breasts are hanging will impact the technique and final size that you obtain. Yes, you can very possibly get into a "C" cup, but in order to be sure, you would have to be examined.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Variable

There is not a solid anser because different bra manufactureres size differently. Beyond that however, you can work with your surgeon to come up with an acceptable size. Different techniques will be able to produce smaller breasts, so your surgeon will be able to guide you. However, you should be able to get very close to a 38C. I recommend that you quit smoking if you smoke, due to the compromise in blood supply from smoking.
Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

No limit to breast reduction

Since the ultimate limit of breast reduction is mastectomy, you can end up any size you would like. The limitation is in the technique, and amount and position of the skin scars. There are a myriad of techniques available that some surgeons preferentially favor and others use to fit each situation. We like to preserve the nipple areolar complex on a pedicle to keep it attached to the body at all times. There are a number of methods to do this. The actual anatomical structure of your breasts... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Reasonable to acheive with Breast Reduction

In general, this is reasonable to acheive with a breast reduction. All depends upon your  body measurements. Your certified plastic surgeon will be able to help you with the anticipated size. It is important to acheive the proper shape as well.  
Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

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