Can liposuction be used to reduce breast size as an alternative to a traditional breast reduction?

Breast liposuction has been used for breast reduction for many years. But you need skin with good elasticity and you can’t be excessively droopy for it to get the best results

Liposuction can be used to downsize the breasts in some instances. The breasts have two types of tissue- one which is conducive to liposuction and one that is not. The makeup of a particular patient's breast tissue will determine if they are a candidate for liposuction. Another consideration is excess skin. Liposuction will not address this nor lift the breasts. This is why in most cases a standard breast reduction is the recommended way to address this concern.

There are some situations that have to be met when considering liposuction for breast reduction. The anticipated reduction cannot be too large and volume. There must be good skin tone. And much of the volume to be removed needs to be fat, and not breast tissue. Liposuction will usually remove very little or no rubbery, hard breast tissue.

Thank you for your question on the use of liposuction as an alternative method for breast size reduction.
Indeed, liposuction can be a tool for breast size reduction. It primarily targets and removes fatty tissue in the breast. If your breasts predominantly consist of fat, liposuction can potentially reduce their size. In some cases, it might be possible to decrease by a few cup sizes using this method.
However, it's essential to note that liposuction does not address glandular breast tissue, which is firmer. Thus, if your breasts have a significant amount of glandular tissue, they might not be as responsive to liposuction alone.
One of the significant concerns post-liposuction is the skin's ability to retract. Unlike a traditional breast reduction that also involves lifting the breast, liposuction solely reduces its size without providing any lift. This could lead to sagging breasts post-procedure.
For a subtle reduction or targeting localized fatty areas, liposuction might be appropriate. Yet, if you desire a more pronounced size reduction and want to maintain an uplifted contour, a combined traditional breast reduction with a lift might be more suitable.
I trust this information clarifies the possibilities and limitations of using liposuction for breast reduction. Best wishes with your decision and potential procedure.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

The breast has 2 types of tissue: fat tissue, which can be liposucted and breast parenchyma, which cannot be liposucted. Depending on how much fat and parenchyma you have, the breasts may not be able to be reduced. Also, if the breasts are reduced significantly the skin will hang. That is why surgical excision is required.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Yes, liposuction is a surgical option to achieve a breast reduction. We perform this procedure in the office with the patient safely awake and relaxed on oral medication. The breasts are completely numbed with freshly mixed local anesthesia. I find that the reduction of 1-2 cup sizes is the typical goal of the patients and this is accomplished by removing 200-400 cc of tissue from each breast. A very important thing to consider is the aesthetic outcome. Approaching the breasts with liposuction only, leaving the breasts more deflated. There won't be a lift with a liposuction only approach. So as long as you're looking for pure volume reduction and are not concerned about the position of your breasts, then a liposuction approach may be a good option for you. We can show you some before and after photos in the office.