I Have Very Dense Fibrocystic Breasts (34E) and I Am Considering a Breast Reduction - What Are the Risks if Any?

Every operation has risks and potential complications. Having dense breasts does not increase the risks associated with breast reduction. Risks and complications are rare with breast reduction. Most patients have no problems with breast reduction surgery. Risks include:


Infection

bleeding

scarring

asymmetry

injury to the nipple

inability to breast feed

decreased sensation


There are other even more rare risks but these, and all risks, are unusual. Most patients say that breast reduction is the best thing that ever happened to them.

Good luck with your surgery.

Breast reductions can de done in fibrocystic patients and complications are the same, including hematoma, seroma, infection, scarring, asymmetry, inadequate or excessive volume removal, inadequate elevation and insifficient upper pole fullness.

Best of Luck,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Thank you for the question.

Based on your description you may be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery; it tends to be one of the most patient pleasing operations we  perform.

Some of the risks/potential complications associated with breast reduction surgery include:  infection, bleeding, seroma, hematoma, wound healing problems, abnormal scarring ( hypertrophic or keloid),  loss of sensation, inability to breast-feed, breast asymmetry, necrosis of tissue or skin,  unsatisfactory cosmetic results, unpredictability of exact cup size postoperatively,  recurrence of the breast hypertrophy, and the potential for further surgery.  other risks  related to surgery in general include deep venous thrombosis (clots),  pulmonary embolism, pneumonia  and even death.

Fortunately, the majority of patients who undergo this procedure by well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons and board certified anesthesiologists do very well and complications tend  to be relatively minor and treatable. The severe complications are rare.

I hope this helps.

Breast density is not a contraindication to breast reduction and does not present risks in itself. I recommend that patents with breast density who are over 35 undergo a screening mammography prior to surgery and send all tissue excised for pathologic analysis.

Breast reduction when indicated can certainly be performed in women with dense breasts.  A proper evaluation is in order.

I agree with Dr. Kraft. There are no real contraindications or increased risks associated with breast reduction in dense, fibrocystic breasts. The tissue is harder to cut. It weighs more per volume than more fatty breast tissue. The breast tissue that remains after the reduction is still hard to evaluate and check for possible malignancy. If there were problems with fibrocystic breast tissue such as cysts or pain, it can still occur after the reduction. In general, dense and fibrocystic breast tissue is heavy and can have problems so less of it is better.