Regarding Breast Reduction Mammoplasty: Is It Possible to Reduce the Breast Size from 36D to 34AA?

My figure would best be described as slender and a little on the shorter side. 36D has begun causing extreme back problems in posture and poise, even up to inflammation and eczema underneath my bust (due to the skin-on-skin friction and increased sweat), as well as on my shoulders from the bra straps. I want to reduce my breast size to the smallest size possible. Is that a realistic goal? If it wouldn't work, what would be the smallest possible size I'd be able to achieve, and why?

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by Siraya in Germany

Doctor Answers (7)
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How small can I be after breast reduction

The number in your bra size is how big around your chest wall is and this is not affected by breast reduction. The breast size determines the cup size and, as you have probably noticed, varies considerably among bra manufacturers. There is a certain amount of tissue that must be left in order for the skin and nipple area to survive and for the breast to be a reasonable and pleasing shape. Therefore it is impossible to tell what size you will be after surgery. Your surgeon has some choice in... more

Breast reduction

First, a breast reduction reduces mainly cup size and not the band width (36 to 34). Second, your breast size and bra size may be quite different as I find many large breast women wearing the wrong bra size. Lastly, it is important to maintain good proportions and keep enough tissue behind to allow the nipple complex to survive. You would need to see a surgeon to determine the amount of reduction that is advisable. I would think an AA would be a bit small.

Michael Hueneke, MD

6 reviews

Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Breast Size after Breast Reduction?

Thank you for the question. Unfortunately, no plastic surgeon is able to predict exactly what cup size you will be after breast reduction surgery. As you know, cup sizes vary depending on who makes the bra; this makes discussing cup size an inaccurate way of communicating your goals. Also, every patient's chest width varies; if the patient has a wide chest wall it may not be possible to achieve a smaller width or cup size. In my practice I use goal pictures... more

Breast Reduction Affects Only Cup Size Not Chest Size

A breast reduction surgery only affects your cup size, so it will not change your 36" chest wall. It is not realistic to wear a 34AA bra post-op (which by the way is the same cup size as a 36A);this would not leave sufficient tissue to nourish you nipple or the skin flaps. A B cup should be achievable and should result in the correction of your physical complaints.

Breast Reduction - Is Going From a D to an AA Too Much of a Reduction?

Hi Siraya, What's possible is not always advisable. First of all, there is, in general, a limit as to how much tissue can reasonably be removed during a breast reduction. As you go for the smaller sizes, you risk impairing the blood supply to the nipple and areola (you have to leave enough tissue to "protect" the nipple/areola) and, furthermore, you risk compromising the shape of the breast. It may then wind up too small for your chest, too wide, etc. ... more

Breast reduction and final bra size.

Breast reductions rely on a pedicle of tissue to keep blood flow going to the nipple areola complex. This pedicle needs to be a certain size. One also must have enough thickness to insure blood flow to the flaps of breast tissue remaining. The other tissue can be taken out. As one can see, there must be some bulk remaining for the construct to survive. This will be your final size. Going from DD to AA is usually not in the range of possible. To... more

Bra size after Breast Reduction

It is generally not possible to predict an exact bra size after breast reduction. The goal in this procedure is to remove as much breast tissue as possible safely to help reduce the symptoms of neck pain, back pain, rashes , etc.. A minimum amount of tissue must be preserved, however, to preserve nerve and blood supply to the nipple/areola complex. This volume of tissue(different in every patient) will dictate what size results postop. In general, most patients will go... more