Still Too Big After Breast Reduction

Hello and thank you for your question. It is always recommended to wait at least 6 months and even up to a year to have any additional surgeries. Everyone's body is different in the healing phase and some can take a little longer for the swelling and inflammation to completely resolve. If after 6-8 months, you have not achieved your desired result you can pursue having additional tissue removed. I would caution you to not focus so much on a cup size, as every company is different in sizing. Focus more on your overall result and if you are happy with the current shape and size. If not and you wish to pursue additional surgery, the risks are the same as your initial procedure. Hypertrophic scarring is on additional risk to consider. Hope this helps!

Minor reductions can be achieved with liposuction. However, you have a very nice appearing result and I would advise you to focus on the relief and overall appearance rather than a garment size.

I would agree with your surgeon to wait 6 months after the procedure to remove any further tissue.  At two months the breasts may undergo a bit of change to a decrease in swelling.  The risks of reoperation are the same in my mind and experience as the initial operation.

Dr. ES

Any reoperation always involves risks. Your surgeon should advise you if benefit outweighs risk. There is never any guarantee on final cup size after reduction, tissue must be left so the nipple and skin heal properly. From your photo, the size looks satisfactory.

After any surgery, including your breast reduction, the healing process is a journey and it can take 6 months to a year to see your final result. The body's response to surgery is like its response to any sort of injury and includes swelling and inflammation. The swelling, while likely much improved at 2 months, is not completely resolved and can persist for several more months. You may find at the six month point that things are much closer to your initial expectations.
If you are still unhappy at that point and want further reduction, that can be easily performed either with further direct excision, liposuction, or whatever plan you and your surgeon decide upon. Risks are similar to your initial surgery, such as inability to guarantee a cup size, possible changes to nipple sensation, wound healing complications, and possible changes in the ability to breast feed in the future. Hope that helps.

Thank you for the question.

I would agree with your surgeon that it is in your best interest to wait at least 6 months prior to considering any additional surgery.

The concern with revisionary breast reduction surgery is related to blood flow to the remaining breast tissue;  is important to perform the operation in such a fashion that the blood flow to the nipple/areola/breast tissue is not compromised.   The  part of the tissue that is left in place  after breast reduction surgery is called the “pedicle"; this segment of tissue is responsible for delivering the blood supply to the nipple/areola/ breast tissue. If the pedicle (that was used during the previous breast reduction procedure)  is cut  then the blood flow to tissues may be compromised leading to serious competitions such as tissue necrosis etc.

 
I hope this helps.

Any re-reduction will have some of the same risks as the initial surgery as well as additional risks to the neurovascular supply to the nipple –areolar complex.  You seem to have the risk of additional scarring as well as your unhappiness with the size. Nevertheless, if you feel you are too large, you will need additional tissue removed and this should be able to be accomplished with a revision of your breast reduction.

Two months after a breast reduction surgery is too soon to know your result.  You may find that the breasts will get smaller that the swelling will go down with more time, and that you have achieved what you want.  

Your result is a good one.  Avoid concerns based on cup size as this can vary widely depending upon the style and manufacturer. or your bra.  

Stay in touch with your surgeon, and if after 6 months you feel dissatisfied, then you might consider revision to further reduce your breast reduction.

There are always risks with additional surgery.  I woudl wait on a revision for at least 6 months or longer, your breast may still be a bit swollen.

It is always difficult to be exact with breast size after a reduction.Size will also vary from one bra manufacture  to another.One could easily remove  an ellipse of tissue from just under the 6 o'clock position of  your incision.Also a little lipo could be done as well and the skin tightened so it really is not something that should be too difficult to correct.