My doctor told me I have "fluffy breast tissue." What does this mean?

Question

I recently went for a breast reduction consultation. I'm a 36 DD and the doctor said a reduction would put me at a small to mid C cup which it great and what I was hoping for anyway. However, he went on to describe my breast tissue as fluffy and I was too confused to ask more about what he meant. My question is what exactly does "fluffy" tissue mean? Is this an issue with my weight or is this just something some women have? I'm 5'6" and 175 pounds.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

There are 2 types of breast tissue: parenchyma which is hard and rubbery and then breast fat which is soft.  He may be referring to your breasts as having a high concentration of fat and very little parenchyma.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

The best person to answer this question is your surgeon.  He could have been describing the density of the breast tissue.  Some women have very fibrous breasts which make them dense.  Others have less fibrous tissue.  The only one who can tell you for sure is your surgeon.

Vasileios Vasilakis, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question. It is hard to speculate, but you should definitely ask your surgeon to explain this to you, and how it affects the surgical plan. I wish you the best of luck. Vasileios Vasilakis, MD. Double board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon, Houston. TX.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Vivid785010,
breast reduction is best suited for women who wish to decrease the size of their breasts. While there are different techniques used to perform this surgery, I prefer the vertical incision (lollipop pattern) breast reduction technique instead of the anchor scar pattern, which reduces more noticeable scarring than usual. I also use a SAFE liposuction technique to reduce additional fat around the stubborn axilla area and bra line. This way, my patients are achieving beautiful results with minimal incisions which reduces downtime and delivers an overall better breast shape long term.If you are considering breast reduction surgery, you should consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options and make sure your surgeon understands your goals. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Jose A. Munoz, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Breast tissue is composed of milk glands, milk ducts, fibrous tissues, and fat. All breasts are not alike in their physical make up. Dense breast tissue has a higher percentage of fibro-glandular tissue and a lower percentage of fat than normal breast tissue. The diagnosis is usually made after radiographic examination. Dense breast tissue is opaque on mammogram while normal tissue is more translucent. It is more difficult to diagnose a malignancy if the breast tissue is dense. The normal breast may be softer or "fluffy" on physical examination.It has nothing to do with body weight and won't affect the result.Best wishes...

My doctor told me I have "fluffy breast tissue." What does this mean?

Answers (5)

Answer: Breast reduction

Answer: Breast reduction

Answer: "fluffy breasts"

Answer: "fluffy breasts"

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

My doctor told me I have "fluffy breast tissue." What does this mean?

Answers (5)

Answer: Breast reduction

Answer: Breast reduction

Answer: "fluffy breasts"

Answer: "fluffy breasts"

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Reduction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.