Can you die from a breast reduction surgery?

All surgeries carry risks, but in health patients having elective surgery like breast reduction, the risk of death is extremely low, and relates to very rare anaesthetic problems, such as severe allergies. This is around 1 in 60 000.If you have major symptoms related to your heavy breast, in the long term this is going to be more damaging to your health than the likelihood of death during anaesthetics.Regards, Dr Steve Merten, Sydney

hi. If you are fit and well the risk of dying is about 1 in 100 000. This is less likely than dying on the roads when you travel. It is extremely rare and should not put you off having surgery. CheersDamien

Thank you for the question. Based on your description of breast size, you will likely be an excellent candidate for breast reduction surgery; this operation tends to be one of the most patient using operations we perform. Of course, every operation carries risks that you should be aware of and should consider carefully as you make your decisions, whether or not to proceed. 


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 vast 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.


 Specifically to your questions, the majority of patients who undergo breast reduction surgery will be able to breast-feed and will have sensation afterwards.


Based on your description, I think that it is very likely that you will undergo breast reduction surgery at some point; timing of the surgery will likely be one of the main factors in your decision making.  When the time is right, select your plastic surgeon carefully and communicate goals carefully as well.


Most patients wish to achieve enough of a reduction to help with their symptoms while remaining proportionate with the remainder of their torso.  With the goal of improving communication with my patients I find the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) very helpful.  For example, I have found that the use of words such as “natural” or “B or C cup” means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful. Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate. 


 Best wishes.