Breast Reduction: Q&A

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After Breast Reduction Will my Breasts Remain Full?

I am due to get a breast reduction in a short while, I am just waiting for my insurance company's approval, which my doctor said will not be a problem due to the size of my breasts.

My concern is that right now my breasts are very full and I love that part about them... Is there a way that they can be reduced to a smaller size and remain full?

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41 Doctor Answers | Asked by breastbegone in philadelphia

Doctor Answers (41)
Community Comments (1)

Breast fullness depends on the surgical technique.

Some of the most common ways to do a breast reduction rely on tightening the skin to create the new breast shape. The trouble with this approach is that skin stretches over time and so you don't get great shape long term. You get what is called "bottoming out"; there is too much fullness UNDER the nipple and the upper part of the breasts look empty. So I think the best way to treat someone like you is to shape the remaining breast tissue INTERNALLY (after the excess has been... more

You can have it all

There are ways to do a breast redcuction and maintain the fulness. Dont let your insurance company dictate your breast size........... it is a personal matter not an economic one. Sincerely, Dr Grant Stevens, Marina del Rey, California

Fullness after breast reduction guaranteed

Given the appearance of your breasts pre-operatively, you are almost certain to maintain fullness after your reduction. However, the amount of fullness will depend on the technique used to reduce the breasts. I find that use of a superior or supero-medial pedicle technique (where the blood supply to the nipple is maintained on a superior or supero-medially based portion of the breast) tends to maintain more fullness in the upper portion of the breasts.

Your breasts will still have fullness.

Don't worry, by the look of your picture, you breasts will still have fullness after your surgery. However, my suggestion is that you ask your surgeon to show you some before and after pictures of breast reductions that he or she has performed. This way, you will get a better idea of what to expect after surgery. By definition, a breast reduction reduces the volume of the breast. However, the goal of surgery is to leave you with a natural appearing breast that fits the size of your body.... more

You can still have full breasts after breast reduction

It is entirely possible to have full breasts after breast reduction. I have found that a lot of this is technique-dependent, meaning that depending upon how the surgeon plans and carries out the procedure, you will have fuller breasts or not so full breasts. In particular, care must be taken to design the removal of the volume in such a way that the tissue left behind is distributed optimally to maintain a full breast shape. For me this means that I am careful about... more

Can I have full breasts after a breast reduction?

This is a great question. Breast reduction is a tremendously popular procedure becuase it helps women decrease chronic breast, neck, back and shoulder pain while rejuvenating their breasts. The great majority of patients are highly satisfied after this procedure. In many cases, this procedure is "medically necessary" and will be covered by insurance. However, that does not mean that you cannot be very open with your plastic surgeon and let them know what size you would like to be... more

Retaining fullness after breast reduction surgery.

-It appears that you do large breasts that typically gets covered by insurance. Sometimes the size of reduction is determined by your insurance carrier. So if you want something different it is important to communicate to your plastic surgeon what your expectations are regarding the appearance of your breasts after the operation. Even after your breast reduction, your breasts do not have to be small, although they will certainly be smaller than they are now. How small and what the... more

Breast Reduction is a great procedure

Breast reductions remain one of the most popular procedures in plastic surgery because they address physical and psychological concerns. Most women with excessively large breasts have neck, back and shoulder pain, painful grooves in their shoulder area, rashes under their breast, frequent headaches, difficulty with exercise and running, difficulty finding clothes to wear and teasing. A breast reduction procedure addresses all of those symptoms and lifts the breasts making them... more

Breast Reduction, Breast Fullness, and Understanding the Procedure

Some of the most satisfied patients seen in our practice have undergone breast reduction surgery. These patients note significant improvements in their symptoms as well as improved breast aesthetics. The procedure simultaneously reduces breast volume and areola size, lifts the breasts into proper position, and creates upper breast fullness. This is accomplished by leaving attached underlying breast tissue, which supports the blood supply to the nipple areola complex, and wrapping it in a... more

Maintaining Fullness after Breast Reduction

Congratulations on your decision to undergo Breast Reduction surgery. The goal of breast reduction surgery is to reduce the volume of the breasts, while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing shape and contour. Some techniques for reducing the breasts result in a boxy flat appearance. While others rely on internal shaping to increase the projection of the breasts which results in very natural, full and beautiful looking breasts. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to... more

Fullness after Breast Reduction

Fullness is an important part of beautiful breasts, so I understand your concern. My preference for retaining breast fullness is to use the superior or medial pedicle technique of breast reduction. I find that this method is more reliable for retaining upper-breast fullness. An added benefit is that usually this can be done with a "lollipop" incision. With this incision, the scar is around the areola and down to the fold. This avoids the full "anchor-shaped" scar, which can... more

Full Breasts after Breast Reduction

-It appears that you do indeed have very large breasts, and even after your breast reduction, you can expect that your breasts will not be small, although they will certainly be smaller than they are now. -It is important to communicate to your plastic surgeon what your expectations are regarding the appearance of your breasts after the operation. He/she will then be able to determine how realistic your goals are. -Just based on your photo, I am confident that after your... more

After Breast Reduction Will my Breasts Remain Full

Your preoperative planning with your plastic surgeon should include the desired size and fullness to be achieved in surgery. The goal of the breast reduction surgery is to remove the excess breast tissue and skin and give a new breast with a natural appearance (including fullness).

Breast reduction results will depend in part on your plastic surgeon

Hello, There are many different kinds of bodies and breast shapes and therefore some of the potential results depends on what you start off with. The other side of that coin is that the type of breast reduction procedure that you undergo will also impact your results. The most important part of this will depend on how much tissue is removed and the ratio of skin and fat that is left behind. Obviously, regardless of how much tissue is removed if the skin envelope is... more

Breast Reductions and Breast Fullness

Your breasts should be very full after a breast reduction surgery. This also depends on the technique of the doctor you choose. Make sure you choose a doctor that does a lot of breast reductions and allows you to speak to patients that have had their breast reductions done by that doctor. You should have a lot of fullness on top after a breast reduction surgery.

Breast fullness after reduction

GIven the size of your breasts in relation to the insurance standards, your breasts will be smaller but still retain shape and fullness. The degree to which this will occur will depend on the technique used. Discuss this with your plastic surgeon and explain your expectations prior to surgery so you are both on the same page. Best of luck.

Breast Reduction - After Breast Reduction Will my Breasts Remain Full?

The answer is - sort of. In general, a lot of fullness can be maintained with a breast reduction, but it depends on what you look like and what you want from this surgery in terms of final size. These are things you'll need to discuss with your PS and make sure that your expectations are realistic. As with any other procedure you should not, of course, proceed unless they are. But in a general sense, a lot of fullness can be maintained with this surgery. I... more

Still full with lift

After a breast reduction your breasts should remain full if your surgeon does a lift with his/her breast reduction procedure. A lift is usually performed in conjunction with a breast reduction. Most patients have the same if not more fullness after a breast reduction even though the breasts are smaller.

Staying "Full" after Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast Reduction surgery will not only reduce the size of your breasts, place the nipple/areola in a better position on your breast mound but also make your breasts more "perky". Yes, you should be able to retain that fullness you like. I would suggest you discuss this with your surgeon and take in photos of what you would like to achieve so that he has a good idea of your goals. There are different techniques for breast reduction surgery and so make sure your surgeon... more

Fullness After Breast Reduction

You will be able to maintain most of your fullness after this procedure. Out of all the procedures I do Breast Reduction patients are usually the happiest. There are different ways to perform Breast Reduction surgery, if you want to keep your fullness the traditional method using an anchor incision would be the best for you.

Still Full

Yes. Your breasts can be reduced and still remain full. After surgery there will not be an increase in fullness in the upper breasts, but that does not appear to be something about which you would be concerned since you already have a great deal of upper breast fullness.

Maintaining breast fullness with breast reduction

To some degree, residual fullness after breast redcution may be a function of where the vascular pedicle is located. In those techniques which a superior pedicle is mainatined, it is more likely that you will preserve the fullness you currently exhibit. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reduction results

Breastbegone, Your picture demonstrates quite full breasts. It is certainly possible to maintain an aesthetic and full breast following a reduction. The two techniques likely most suitable for your case are a reduction with a wise pattern skin incision or a vertical reduction. The difference is less scarring with a vertical lift and greater long term upper breast fullness than with the traditional wise pattern reduction. Size, shape, and symmetry are all... more

Breast appearance after breast reduction

Prior to undergoing surgery, it is essential to discuss your wishes and expectations with your surgeon, so as to ensure you are happy with the results after surgery. Your plastic surgeon should also be able to discuss the specific aspects of your operation with you, such as size and shape of the breasts.

Breast shape after breast reduction depends on the technique

Yes you can have full and perky breasts after a breast reduction. There are different approaches to breast reductions. The T-pattern inferior pedicle is the most common technique performed, however this technique is known for 'bottoming out' where the fullness descends with the gravity over time. A newer technique which I prefer is a vertical incision, superior or medial based pedicle with resuspension of the breast. I am very happy with this technique as... more

Absolutely you can have a breast reduction and still have fullness!

You are young and have ample breast tissue with good skin quality. There is no reason you can't still have breast fullness, even with substantial removal of breast tissue and a lift.

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Breast fullness after breast reduction

Breast fullness has many determinants, including the relative tightness of the skin brassiere as well as the composition of the breast tissue (i.e. % glandular:fat). Breast firmness is a quality of a young breast or an augmented breast. After breast reduction, all woman experience almost immediate relief of musculoskeletal discomfort but in the run up to their surgeries, some will experience some anxiety about relinquishing the volume, which has defined their feminity for so... more

Lavinia Chong, MD

22 reviews

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.chongmd.com

Breast fullness after breast reduction

Breast size can be modulated during breast reduction depending on the technique of breast reduction surgery and your discussion with your plastic surgeon. Sometimes, however, patients will lose upper pole fullness of their breasts without a bra. This may necessitate, ironically, an implant.

Breast reduction and post op fullness

The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that there are a number of different ways to perform a reduction, and there is a degree of flexibility about final sizing and shaping (just look at different photos). My best advice is to discuss your goals with your doctor, and pictures may help guide your doctor.

Breast reduction

You should expect to keep some fullness after breast reduction surgery. Most patients are very happy with the results of modern breast reduction techniques that focus on maintaining fullness in the upper aspect of the breast. Good luck.

Breast appearance after a reduction

The appearance of your breasts after a reduction surgery will largely depend on the technique that was used for the surgery. In our practice, approximately 95% of our breast lift or breast reduction patients have their surgery through a periareolar scar or a lollipop incision. This allows us to thoroughly shape the breast and to build a breast from the inside out. With suture techniques, we can reshape the breast mound to create a more pleasing appearance and a longer-lasting... more

Breast reduction techniques that result in full breast shape

There are a variety of breast reduction techniques that can maintain the fullness that you have in your pre-op photo. They key to a nice breast reduction is removing breast tissue that is not 'helping' the shape of your breast, which is typically in the lower pole of the breast. Preserving the breast tissue that you already have in the middle and upper poles of your breast will result in a full and lifted breast reduction result.

You will have breast fullness and shape

Breast reduction will make your breast smaller but will maintain breast fullness and a better shape.It is important to communicate with your surgeon your desires and expectations.

Breast fullness after breast lift or reduction

The question about fullness after breast reduction is a valid one. When you remove breast tissue and lift the breast, it changes the shape and firmness. With the vertical lift you will be higher, more projection, and more firm than you are now. Fullness though, particularly if you are talking about cleavage, is another story. Your breast will settle after surgery. With a vertical lift you will get good projection and roundness, but that little upper cleavage... more

Breasts usually remain full after reduction

Young women with particularly large breasts retain some of that fullness after breast reduction, but it does vary dependent upon technique and target size. This is something to discuss with your surgeon before surgery and to confirm with some images of patients he or she has previously operated. Take into account that larger results have more of a tendency to become droopy as well. Gravity has a tendency to win. Best Regards.

Your breast will remain full (although smaller) after breast reduction.

A breast reduction not only reduces the volume of the breasts but repositions it and reshapes it. Many women have saggy looking large breast and the reduction decreases volume but restores a more youthful look.

Full breasts after breast reduction

If you have dense, firm breast tissue, then your breasts should remain "full" after the breast reduction surgery provided you don't remove too much tissue. If you are having symptoms such as neck/back pain, then you will need a certain amount of tissue removed in order for the surgery to alleviate your symptoms. The "fullness" of your breasts has more to do with your age, skin tone and breast tissue composition (younger patients usually have more dense breast tissue and... more

Full breasts after reduction depends

Younger breasts with more dense breast tissue will stay fuller after breast reduction. The more mature breast with more fatty tissue in it will tend to be a little more flat after surgery. Also, if you have had children and breast fed, the risk of loose skin goes up. Even if you are on the higher risk side of the equation, fullness can be returned with the use of a small implant after lifting the breast if it becomes necessary in the future. This, however, is a far from common approach. ... more

Breast reduction and fullness

You certainly are a good candidate for a breast reduction, and you certainly can remain full. Speak to your doctor about the size that you would like to be. Fullness can certainly be maintained after a breast reduction. My goal in breast reduction surgery is to give a natural, youthful appearance by making the breasts smaller, reducing the areola, lifting the breasts and minimizing the amount of scarring.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Any technique will do - it is the surgeon that is important.

There are many different technique designed to reduce the breast. For your size breasts some will not be available to you. However, because of your large size, it it will responsible of the surgeon to leave you will a fuller breast after reduction. As has been mentioned earlier, some techniques require skin tightening to create shape , and the stretching of the skin will result in short term results. Longer term results are available with the Lejour or Hall-Findlay techniques. more

Breast reduction surgery will maintain fullness and create lift.

When you say fullness, I assume you mean the roundness of your breast. This can easily be part of the final result if the doctor understands your desire and expectation. The reduction will reduce the total volume of your breast, but also places the remaining tissue in a smaller skin envelope. This lifts the breast and creates a smaller, full breast in a better aesthetic position. The ultimate goal is to create a natural breast that matches your body and reduce the pain associated with... more

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Comments (1)

sarahha 28 Oct 2012

ive had 2 reductions, and im young so its not cause of that. But, after both redutions... they seem droopy-ish .. not like before. If you just google breast reduction pictures you'll see they all that "weird" look to them. I'm obv no doctor, but seriously, no breast reduction looks full or tight to me (personally).

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