5'2, 200 lbs - Should I lose weight before or after my breast reduction surgery? (Photo)

It is best to be within 10-15 pounds of your ideal weight before surgery. If you lose more than 15 pounds after surgery, it could impact the size of your breast.

I encourage you to lose the planned weight prior to having breast reduction surgery. This will give you an opportunity to more accurately decide what size breasts you'd like in order to match your frame. You and your surgeon will not need to guess how future weight loss may affect the volume of your breasts because you'll already know.

Dear Elle_C
While it is always better to be at your goal weight prior to any reduction type of surgery including breast reductions or abdominoplasties, the amount your insurance requires for a reduction may play a role in making the right decision.

My recommendation would be to continue to lose weight and once you achieve your goal consider surgery. In addition to volume reduction, there are significant skin changes that occur after weight loss. When performed before, the cosmetic outcome of a previous breast reduction may significantly change.

Hello @Elle_C thank you for your question and showing your pictures. Yes, it is beneficial to lose weight before surgery if your goal is to be slimmer. The reason is that when you have breast surgery and then there is a significant reduction in body weight, you lose weight in all parts of the body, including the breasts. The breasts are composed of glandular and fat, and when the fat of the breast decreases the fat of the breast, it decreases and this can lead to the breast begin to fall or become a little flaccid. Best wishes! Alan Gonzalez MD, FACS.

At 5'2 and 200 lbs, your BMI is 36 which puts you at high risk for complications. You may benefit from liposuction of the breasts. This can be done to take off the weight safely since the incisions are quite small. The other option is to continue to lose weight and get down to approximately 175 lbs. Once you get to this weight, you would be a candidate for The Bellesoma Method. This will reduce and reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. The weight of the breast is transferred to the underlying pectoralis major muscle resulting in pain relief without excessive reduction. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.