Do I need a breast reduction if I want to only lose a cup size? (Photo)

Thanks so much for your question,

If you want to go down a cup size and improve upper pole fullness, the ideal approach might be a combination of: Breast lift to achieve the desired shape and positioning, a minor reduction to remove a small amount of tissue for a one-cup-size decrease and Implant placement for upper pole enhancement, especially if volume loss is a concern.

Remember that bra sizing isn’t standardized. A reduction to a "D" cup may not be dramatically different in appearance, depending on your body frame and ribcage width.

Schedule a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your goals. They will evaluate your breast tissue, skin quality, and body proportions.

Sincerely,
Dr. Emmanuel Mallol

When looking at your photo the first thing I would recommend is a breast lift. A lot of times women do not realize that the majority of their cup size is all of the excess skin, and just by getting rid of all of that excess skin and bringing the breast tissue back up to where it needs to be will make you lose a cup size alone. I would recommend a lift with a small implant to give you the upper pole fullness. It is always best to see a licensed professional in person before making any final decisions. Could you also do a reduction along with all of that, yes you could. It would best be determined after examination at an in office visit.

Breast reduction and breast lift procedures have many similarities, but the main difference lies in their objectives. The goal of breast reduction surgery is to make the breasts smaller and lifted and address issues like discomfort from their weight. In contrast, a breast lift focuses on improving breast shape by correcting sagging or droopiness (ptosis) without making significant changes to the overall size. With both procedures, your breasts and nipples would be in a much better position and higher on your chest.
For insurance-based breast reduction surgery, the Schnur Scale is often used as a guideline for how much breast tissue to be removed for the surgery to be considered a medical necessity (demonstrating that your physical symptoms due to large breasts are not improving with conservative management).
You should not need implant if you desire to go down in breast size, because a breast implant will increase your breast size.
Make sure to consult with a plastic surgeon specializing in breast reduction surgery to discuss the best approach for your unique anatomy, concerns, and goals.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York