After Breast Reduction Will my Breasts Remain Full?

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. Good luck.
David Shafer, MD
Shafer Plastic Surgery

Fullness after breast reduction can be achieved with the proper technique.  Depending on the amount of tissue removed, the location in the breast from which the tissue is removed, and the reshaping of the skin of the breast, beautiful results can be achieved.  All of this comes with technical skill, experience, and proper training

Thank you for your question.
Yes, you should have fullness post surgery. Let your surgeon know your wishes so everyone is on the same page. Best wishes!

I think that a breast reduction will give someone a very beautiful and natural look with the majority of the projection of the breast being in the lower ⅓. The upper part of the breast is not going to be full because there is no implant giving it the fullness. For a lot of the patients who want enhanced upper pole fullness, I will do autologous fat grafting at the same time as the reduction and really enhance the upper pole fullness and cleavage and make it a much prettier and softer result.

Thank you for your question.  Based solely upon the photos that you provided, I would venture to say that you should expect to maintain the fullness of your breasts despite being reduced in size.  In the act of reducing your breast tissue and lifting the breast to provide for a more youthful and perky breast shape, your breasts will not be as large or full as they currently are but they should be reduced proportionally as to leave you with a very natural result in the end.  Post-operative results are largely dependent upon pre-operative anatomy and the surgical technique/approach employed.  I hope you find this helpful and I wish you the best!

Express your concerns to your plastic surgeon. Certain reduction techniques yield more fullness than others. Fullness can be preserved with proper planning. 

Breast reduction, or reduction mammaplasty patients are among the most satisfied of all plastic surgery patients. Large breasts (macromastia) can often decrease quality of life for a woman. With breast reduction, you can have smaller breasts that sit higher on your chest wall. You will also find relief in your neck and back with the decrease in weight and more ergonomic position of your breasts.There are several different variations of breast reduction, differing by size, and amount of incisions; procedure; and the results. The different types of reduction techniques include: The wise pattern breast lift, the anchor shaped incision, and the donut mastopexy.1. The wise pattern breast lift involves an anchor-shaped incision around the natural contour of the breast. To most patients surprise, this scar is mostly hidden under the inferior aspect of the breast. However, the scar around the nipple/areola is visible. Most patients heal this anchor type scar very well and are satisfied with smaller areola in exchange for the scars. This surgery is used when there is a lot of excess skin that needs to be removed in order to lift the breast and give it a more aesthetic shape.2. Often times, the anchor shaped incision can me diminished to create a lollipop or J shaped incision. This results in some excess skin at the inferior aspect of the breast near the breast crease that will flatten out over a 6 month period. Some patients are willing to tolerate this excess skin for 6 months in exchange for a smaller scar. This is a personal decision that each patient can make.3. The donut mastopexy involves creating an incision around the areola and removing a doughnut-shaped area of skin. This surgery can be used for patients that need a smaller amount of lifting. This surgery results in a scrunched-up look to the breast skin surrounding the areola for about 6 months before it flattens out. Patients need to be understanding and tolerant of this in exchange for an areola-only scar. These patients do run the risk of areola widening as well.Insurance may cover some of these cases when back pain, shoulder bra-notching, and rashes under the breast are present. Insurances vary though and your doctor can submit a report and photos to see if your insurance approves your procedure.The risks of the procedure include bleeding, infection, bruising, poor scarring, pain, swelling, and changes to nipple and areola sensation, and rarely, partial or total nipple loss. The recovery time is usually a couple weeks if all goes well. In general, however, breast reduction patients are some of the most satisfied and grateful plastic surgery patients. This is truly a life-changing procedure. In my area, the cost ranges from 6700-8500. Best of luck!

Yes, your surgeon can help you retain the fullness of your breasts, however it depends on how much tissue is removed. You can also consider a lift performed at the same time.

Breast fullness is able to be maintained following breast reduction. The upper part of the chest has very little breast tissue, however, and this will be the case after breast reduction.Speak to your plastic surgeon about how small (or large) you want to be after surgery. While a certain amount of tissue must be removed for insurance purposes, there is some leeway, especially if you have very large breasts.

Surgeon technique has a large impact on determining the upper pole fullness following a breast reduction. Choose the best surgeon you can find to achieve the results you desire. Good luck.

-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 resultant shape will end up like should be discussed in the preoperative planning process. While every plastic surgeon does their best to achieve those preoperative goals, you have to realize that they are not always attained.