Breast Reduction: Q&A

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Breast Reduction Surgery

I'm considering a breast reduction surgery, but I want to know more about what it involves. Is just fat removed or is it breast tissue? Is skin excised, as well? How long does the procedure take?

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19 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

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Breast reduction

A breast reduction involves the removal of breast tissue, breast fat and skin as well as the repositioning of the nipple to an aesthetic position. What incisions are used, how long the surgery takes and what the recovery is depends on your breast shape and size as well as your surgeon's experience and technique preferences. All of these questions should be answered during a consultation with a surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Breast Reduction surgery time and technique

Reduction mammaplasty is a big operation involving removal of skin, fat, and glandular tissue. It is usually undertaken to relieve pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back. The operative time varies depending upon the surgeon and the technique used. I usually require about 3 hours to perform this procedure.

Breast reduction

Breast reduction involves the removal of excess breast tissue and fat and skin that go along with a breast that is too large and causes symptoms because of its weight. A lift is included in a reduction because almost all large breasts are droopy. The surgery takes around 3 hours under general anesthesia and should ONLY be done by a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon (not an oral surgeon as happened in my area!). The results vary widely depending on the sculpting skills of the surgeon so do... more

Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction surgery is the removal of excess breast tissue and skin to alleviate symptoms from large and heavy breasts. These symptoms are neck and back pain as well as grooving of the shoulders and inframammary intertriginous rashes. The nipple is moved up to a more anatomical position and the breasts are reshaped.

Breast Reduction Surgery...

During a breast reduction, fat, skin, and breast tissue are removed. The nipple is repositioned and the breast is lifted. The scars typically go around the nipple, straight down, and underneath the breast. The procedure takes anywhere from 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Breast Reduction Procedure?

Thank you for the question. Breast reduction surgery involves excision of “excess” breast tissue, adipose tissue, and skin. The procedure typically last about 3 hours. The procedure generally “lifts" and reduces the breasts at the same time. It is most frequently done to help with chronic neck, back, shoulder discomfort. I hope this helps.

Breast Reduction Surgery...

Breast Reduction is a procedure used to remove excess fat and glandular tissue from the breasts. Skin is usually removed so there is not an excess after the procedure. The procedure is meant for women who have large breasts and want to resolve issues such as stretched skin, rashes under breasts, poor posture, and so on. You can have breast reduction at any age, but most doctors recomment waiting unil you're at least 18 years old. The surgery usually takes... more

Breast reduction

A breastreduction usually entails removing some skin, breast and fatty tissue, and then molding the breast tissue and liftng the nipple areola complex as well.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction surgery

Breast reduction, also called reduction mammoplasty, is the surgery where excess breast skin and breast tissue are removed. During the procedure, the remaining breast tissue is rearranged so that you would have perkier, lifted breasts afterwards. Breast reduction patients are among the happiest patients as they not only get physical relief from back, neck, should pain but they end up with more attractive, perkier breasts. Depending on the size of breast, breast... more

Breast reduction addresses skin, fat, and breast

A breast reduction removes extra skin from the breast, tightens the skin that is left behind, removes extra breast tissue (and associated fat), and lifts the breasts into a new, more youthful position. The technique I use typically leaves only a lollipop scar (not the old anchor scar). The stitches are under the skin and will dissolve, and there are no drains used. Recovery is fairly quick, since no muscle or bone is involved--most women are able to drive within a few days of... more

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reduction Surgery

During breast reduction surgery,incisions are made around the pigmented nipple-areolar complex and extend vertically below the nipple and within the crease under the breast. The nipple-areolar complex is moved upward to the desired location. Excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are then removed. The length of breast reduction surgery is typically about 3 hours.

Information about Breast Reduction

In my experience, a breast reduction is one of the procedures that tends to give patients the most satisfaction. Many of my patients with large breasts experience chronic pain, skin irritation and limitations of normal daily activities, such as exercise. A breast reduction surgery can alleviate all of these situations. A consultation with your surgeon will determine the best methods for your specific anatomy. Typically, incisions are made around the areola margins, up and down beneath the... more

Find a surgeon you like first....

Hi there- Many plastic surgery procedures, particular techniques, recovery periods, and postoperative restrictions will be surgeon specific. It is therefore not in your best interests to find an operation you think you want before finding a surgeon- this is the reverse of what you should be doing... Find a surgeon you like and feel you can trust FIRST. THEN learn all about what they can offer you after they have an understanding of your goals, your exam, and your options. For help finding a surg more

Successful Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, removes your excess fat, glandular (breast) tissue, and skin to place your breasts back in your proportion to your body. Importantly, breast reductions can alleviate neck and shoulder pain that can be secondary to heavy breasts. Additional benefits are the lifting of sagging breasts (improves ptosis), as well as areolar reduction. Because of surgeon's use of long-acting anesthetics, most patients find the pain after the... more

What is a breast reduction?

Most plastic surgeons would agree that breast reduction patients are among our happiest. A breast reduction can alleviate neck and shoulder pain secondary to heavy breasts. A reduction not only reduces the amount of breast tissue but also lifts the breasts. The downside of a reduction are the scars and the possible loss of nipple sensation and inability to breast feed. Talk to your plastic surgeon about the scars - in most cases the scars will extend around the nipple aerolar complex,... more

Breast reduction is safe and effective.

Hi. You have a lot of questions about breast reduction that are best answered during a consultation. In the mean time, there is a lot of information on line. You can look at my web site if you like.

Breast Reduction vs. Breast Lift Surgery

Breast Reduction Surgery is a RECONSTRUCTIVE operation in which sagging, large breasts which cause back/neck pains and interfere with daily function are reduced by removal of breast tissue and breast skin. The smaller breasts are perkier and more attractive. (In contrast, in a Breast Lift, more breast skin is removed than breast tissue in an effort to lift sagging breasts. This is a COSMETIC procedure). To read EVERYTHING you need to know about BREAST REDUCTION and BREAST LIFT, please follow... more

Breast reduction: options and techniques.

The length of the procedure depends on the technique which typically is a function of the degree of hypertrophy (overgrowth), the amount of ptosis (sagging) and the composition of the breast (fat to gland ratio). For example in a young female with no sagging and a fatty breast, liposuction is a quick and relatively minimally invasive procedure. However, this is rarely the case. More often the breasts are large, dense, and ptotic. Typically breast reduction surgery lasts anywhere from 2-4... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction

This is an involved question and the answer depends on your particular situation. There are reduction for weight reduction in patients who are hindered by the pain and discomfort of too much weight. Then there are reductions that are mainly aesthetic to create a more pleasing size and shape. These two conditions obviously blend into each other. In general, you can think of a spectrum from small incisions and removal of weight like with liposuction but no shaping to the other extreme of... more