Breast Reduction Procedure

Learn How the Breast Reduction Procedure is Performed


The breast reduction procedure reduces the size of a women’s breast while enhancing the shape so that it is in better proportion with her body. Women of all ages are good candidates for the breast reduction surgery. Women with oversize breasts (disproportionally large for the body) are at risk for medical problems including neck, back, and shoulder aches, rashes underneath the breasts, the pins and needles feeling in the hands, dilated veins on the breasts, and/or enlarged areola.

There are several types of breast reduction procedures that can be performed.

  • Pedicle Method
  • Free Nipple Graft
  • Anchor Incision
  • LeJour Incision
  • Stevens Laser Bra

During a consultation your plastic surgeon will take into account your age, the size and shape of your breasts, the condition of your skin and whether you are a good candidate for a breast reduction. Your surgeon will also recommend the most appropriate procedure for your situation in order to achieve the best results. However, it’s important to understand that scarring will result, but incisions are made where they will appear as inconspicuous as possible.

Before Breast Reduction Procedure

  1. Medications containing aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided two weeks prior to breast reduction surgery.
  2. Eat a healthy diet before and after your surgery. This will help speed your breast reduction recovery.
  3. You should not eat or drink the night before surgery, unless instructed differently by your doctor or anesthesiologist.
  4. Do not wear make-up, contact lenses, etc. to surgery.
  5. Arrange to have someone take you home after surgery and stay with you that evening and, if possible, for a few days while you recover.

The Procedure

There are different approaches to breast reduction surgery so your surgeon will recommend an approach depending on your preferences, body shape and prior and future treatments. The following provides a very basic overview of how the procedure is done.

Breast reduction surgery typically takes one to two hours per breast depending on the extent of the procedure. The procedure is performed in a hospital or state accredited surgery center on an outpatient basis. Patients are given general anesthesia during this procedure.

  1. After the patient is anesthetized, the surgeon makes an incision around the areola and straight down to and along the natural breast crease. This incision outlines the area from which breast skin, fat, and breast tissue will be removed. If the breasts are very large, the nipples and areola may need to be removed and repositioned.
  2. The surrounding skin is brought down and together to reshape the breast. Sutures close the incision, giving the breast its new contour.
  3. Stitches are usually located around the areola, in a vertical line extending downwards from the nipple area, and along the lower crease of the breast.

After Surgery

After the procedure, patients may experience some numbness, bruising, swelling or discomfort at the incision sight. This is normal and will pass with time. Incision site pain is usually minimal, and can be controlled with medication, if necessary. Breasts will be bruised, swollen, and uncomfortable for at least a day or two. Patients should plan on getting plenty of rest and allowing your body to heal.

Patients may experience numbness in the nipples and breast skin, caused by swelling after surgery. This numbness usually fades as the swelling subsides over the next six weeks or so. In some patients, however, it may last a year or more, and occasionally may be permanent. Future breast-feeding may be difficult, since the surgery removes many of the milk ducts leading to the nipples.

Patients will be instructed to wear an elastic bandage over gauze dressings. Within a few days, a soft support/sports bra will replace the bandages. You’ll need to wear this bra around the clock for three to four weeks, over a layer of gauze. Stitches are trimmed after a week or two.

Breast skin may be very dry following surgery. You may apply a moisturizer several times a day, but be careful not to tug at your skin in the process, and keep the moisturizer away from the suture areas.

Breast Reduction Recovery

Most patients are back at work within two weeks after surgery but should continue to take it easy. Rigorous activities should be avoided following your surgery. After a few weeks, you can start to resume these activities slowly. Because you have undergone invasive surgery, you’ll probably have less energy for the first two weeks, but by the third week, you’ll start to look and feel much better.

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