Why is breast reduction surgery an outpatient surgery?

Question

Hi, I'm just wondering, why is this particular surgery outpatient? It just seems like perhaps one should stay a few days at the hospital at least. Is the recovery time bad? Thanks!

Keith M. Blechman, MD · Answer

It's actually safer to discharge a patient home after a breast reduction.  That's because there's no medical reason to monitor the patient closely and pain is minimal.  Patients typically need prescription strength pain-killers for only a couple of days, and usually only to sleep.  Furthermore, going home will force patients to walk around and resume with activities of daily living immediately after surgery, which not only decreases the risk of developing a blood clot in the legs or chest, but will help speed along the recovery process in general.In order to get a qualified, ethical, and expert opinion on your surgical options and expectations, schedule an in-person office consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
Best of luck,
Keith M. Blechman, MD
New York, NY

James N. Romanelli, MD, FACS · Answer

Breast reduction, as with most other plastic surgery procedures, is an outpatient surgery because the benefits of going home the same day far outweigh the risks. Staying in the hospital after a surgery like this increases the risk of infection and other complications, and it doesn't improve the recovery time or experience. It would simply be an unnecessary cost and inconvenience. Once anesthesia has worn off, breast reduction patients don't need around-the-clock monitoring. You should plan to have someone with you that first night, and maybe the next day after surgery. Follow-up visits are perfectly sufficient, and most patients enjoy being in the comfort and privacy of their own homes while they heal.

Jaime S. Schwartz, MD, FACS · Answer

I appreciate your question.

I perform a liposuction breast lift that removes tissue from the areas you don't want such as near the armpit and the lower portion hanging near your stomach. Once I use this to shape the breast I then remove the skin to tighten the breast and create a better shape with nice cleavage. Since I perform this less invasively the recovery time is faster audits performed as an outpatient procedure. The size would depend on the proportion with your body versus going for a cup size. It works very well if there are asymmetries. I can also use the removed fat as a natural breast augmentation by grafting the fat back into the breast to create more projection or into the top to create more cleavage. This procedure can also be combined with an implant if needed or wanted.  It should not affect nipple sensation, mammograms, cancer risk or breast-feeding. In fact, most women have more sensation after the procedure. If you gain or lose weight, the transferred fat can do the same.

The best way to assess and give true advice would be an in-person exam.  Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery.

Best of luck!

Dr. Schwartz

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

#RealSelf100Surgeon

#RealSelfCORESurgeon

Anna I. Wooten, MD, FACS · Answer

Thanks for your question.  The reason breast surgeries are most often out patient is because they are relatively minimally painful and it is beneficial for the patient to go home where the infection rate is much lower than if staying in the hospital.  Most plastic surgery cases are now done as out patient procedures, as they have been perfected over time making them well suited for being done in accredited surgery centers and allowing patients to go home.  Make sure you seek out a board certified plastic surgeon.  Good luck to you.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

and reductions are one of them.  Most if not all cosmetic procedures are out-patient and proven safe to patients.  So why would you want to stay in the hospital when risks for infections and costs are greater?  Breast surgery is especially well suited to out-patient status as its not known for being especially painful.  If you need help with your first post-op day, you can either hire help or consider having your surgery at boutique hospitals where people can spend the night for reasonable fees.

Andrew T. Cohen, MD, FACS · Answer

Most breast reductions do go home after surgery.  A breast reduction is a 3-4 hour procedure and when I perform it I use a special technique to numb up the skin and breast tissue.  My patient do not have much pain just a small amount of tightness from the sutures.  They all go home and we see them the next day to check on them.  I like to do some liposculpting of the sides as well to maintain a nice round shape.  Go to a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for the best result.  Good Luck!

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.  Most elective breast and body contouring operations done these days are done as an outpatient; it is very unusual for patients to require  hospital admission.  The breast reduction procedure is very very well-tolerated procedure  and one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. Most patients do very well in the outpatient setting. Your best bet: choose your plastic surgeon very carefully; everything else including  good judgment/advice/planning, anesthesia provider and safe surgery facility will follow. Best wishes.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

Very good question. When I was new as a surgeon we admitted breast reduction patients the night before surgery and kept them in the hospital for two days after the surgery. In the last 20 years I have not admitted a patient for that surgery, they are all outpatient, they go home 2 hours after surgery and have a safe and relatively easy recovery. Some of that is due to surgical improvements, but the biggest change is due to advances in anesthesia. All sorts of surgical procedures have benefited from these advancements from taking out gallbladders to fixing blocked coronary arteries. You certainly can stay in the hospital if you feel strongly about it but the cost to you would be well over $10,000 dollars in addition to all the regular costs. If you want your insurance to cover things like that then your annual insurance costs would go up by several thousand dollars per year.

Why is breast reduction surgery an outpatient surgery?

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