How Will Further Weight Loss After Breast Reduction Results?

         The results of
breast reduction surgery are better when patients are near their ideal body
weight. When patients are overweight they’re encouraged to lose weight prior to
surgery, unfortunately, the majority of patients with weight issues are not
successful dieting. Despite this, patients who are overweight derive
significant benefits from breast reduction. Many have increased exercise
tolerance following reduction and are able to lose weight elsewhere. For these
reasons, we don’t view excess weight as an absolute contra indication to breast
reduction surgery.

 

         It’s not unusual for
patients who lose weight following breast reduction to have changes in their
breasts. This may involve additional loss of breast volume and the development
of recurrent breast sag. When this situation arises secondary surgery may be
necessary. In some cases, either a breast lift or secondary breast reduction
may be indicated. Even when secondary breast surgery is necessary because of
continued weight loss, breast reduction patients report high satisfaction
rates. 

While it’s true that being at a healthy weight typically improves surgical outcomes, plastic surgeons understand that having excessively large breasts can make it difficult to exercise and lose the weight. The typical rule of thumb is to aim for a BMI of 30. This number is on the cusp between “overweight” and “obese,” and can be a fairly reasonable goal for you to work toward. Keep in mind that excessive weight loss after a breast reduction may affect your results, so if you plan to lose a more significant amount of weight, I recommend making every effort to do so before your surgery.

Weight loss after a reduction may cause your breasts to be smaller than you'd like, or sag undesirably. Sagging can be corrected with breast lift surgery and breast implants can give you larger breasts. If you're okay with the undesirable aesthetic effects, then please consult a board certified PS.