Excess Flab on Sides After Breast Reduction

Thank you for the question.


Many patients undergoing breast reduction surgery are also concerned about “excess” skin and/or adipose tissue of the upper chest (infraaxillary) area  as well. To treat this area liposuction and/or skin excision (lipectomy)  may be necessary. If the area is not treated, it may become even more obvious as an area of “fullness” after the breast reduction procedure is performed.




If a patient elects to have the excess skin in this area removed she should be aware that the scarring of the breast reduction procedure may expand to the side (laterally). Many patients would prefer to have the scar (and an improved contour)  rather than the extra “fold” of tissue.




If the area of the upper lateral chest is not addressed during the breast reduction procedure many patients will be in your situation require revision surgery ( liposuction and/or lipectomy)  to correct the area.




I hope this helps.

It’s not unusual for women with breast enlargement to have a roll of skin and subcutaneous tissue that extends posteriorly from the breast. In many cases, this tissue extends all the way to the midline of the back. This tissue often lies beneath the bra strap and can be very noticeable.

Although every effort is made to address this issue during surgery, it’s not uncommon to have a residual roll of skin and fat in this area. Efforts to address this problem at the time of surgery can involve extending the incision posteriorly to remove excess skin and fat. In other cases, there may be excess fat with good skin tone. In this situation, liposuction might be the best option.

A secondary procedure is often indicated when the roll of excess tissue extends posteriorly to the midline of the back. This procedure can be done in the prone position to provide better access to the excess skin and fat in the back area. Although secondary procedures designed to correct these types of problems have high success rates, they are very rarely covered by insurance carriers. They are typically viewed as cosmetic and therefore not medically necessary.

For many patients, this excess tissue is not only unsightly, but also causes them difficulty wearing standard under garments. Correction of this problem is associated with high satisfaction rates. If you have concerns about this type of problem, consultation with your plastic surgeon would be appropriate.

This is a common problem among overweight women who have a breast reduction.  The lateral tissue is fat not breast tissue and the insurance companies will not pay to remove it.  Some patients have paid a fee to the surgeon, anesthesiologist, and OR facility to take care of the lateral fat at the same time as a cosmetic procedure.