Post Breast Reduction and Brown Nipple Discharge?

   12 weeks after breast reduction there should not be any drainage.  The plastic surgeon would want to know about that and examine you for fluid collection or signs of infection.

A brown discharge from the nipples after a breast reduction could be several different things.  It could represent old blood, seroma fluid, infection to name a few. Best to be evaluated by your surgeon.

Amizzz41: By your account, you had "gigantomastia" and had a very large breast reduction.  Did you have drains placed?  I suspect that given your history of drainage, 6 weeks post-op, you probably didn't.  There are two possibilities to explain the spontaneous nipple discharge: 1) the firmness could represent fat necrosis, areas of fat in the breast, which didn't tolerate the breast reduction, lost blood supply and subsequently broke down or liquefied, resulting in brown nipple drainage.  2) the firmness could represent a consolidated hematoma (collection of blood), which was undergoing secondary liquefaction or breakdown, resulting in nipple drainage.  Consult with your PS, who will undoubtedly be able to manage it for you.  good luck. 

It sounds like you have a small hematoma and the nipple is draining a bit of the hematoma.  It should not persist long.  If it does, consult your physician.

Talmage Raine MD FACS

dr@drraine.com