Breast reduction issues. What can be done to help with the hardness and lumps?

Hi Fearless,
Congratulations on your procedure! Breast reduction surgeries are the most rewarding for both patient and surgeon- truly one of my favorite procedures for that reason. Tingling, numbness, and even "zaps" of sensation around the nipple areolar complex are normal within the post operative period. The superficial nerves in the skin are beginning to grow back, and that process usually resolves within 6 months- 1 year. The lumps are something you should bring to your surgeon's attention. It's not something I see frequently in my practice, but on physical examination, your surgeon should be able to offer some diagnosis and treatment.
Best of luck to you!
-Dr. Nik

This is an excellent question. Depending on how long after surgery you started experiencing symptoms, you may have something called fat necrosis. It is important to see your plastic surgeon who performed the breast reduction operation to have an exam and for the surgeon to examine your breasts. A mammogram or ultrasound may be needed to better characterize the lumps.
Fat necrosis is a condition that can occur after breast reduction surgery. It is a complication in which the fatty breast tissue dies, and can lead to the formation of lumps or nodules in the breast that may be painful, tender, or hard. For large breast reductions, the risk of fat necrosis is higher.
The treatment options for fat necrosis after breast reduction surgery depend on the severity of the condition and the symptoms you are experiencing. Mild cases may resolve on their own with time, while more severe cases may require medical treatment.
Depending on how far out from surgery you are, you may need to get imaging (mammogram and/or ultrasound) and wait a little more time. Depending on what the imaging shows, you may be able to have a procedure to aspirate or drain the lumps if it is a cyst, although this is unlikely if it is firm and painful. If the exam and imaging is consistent with fat necrosis and it does not go away after ample time and waiting, you may need to have a procedure to cut those areas out. Again, it is important to see the surgeon who did the breast reduction surgery to have an evaluation by a plastic surgeon.