Breast Reduction Overview

Breast reduction is surgery to reduce the size of overly large breasts. The surgery can be either cosmetic (done strictly for the sake of appearance) or reconstructive (done to help alleviate a medical problem or physical condition). In some cases, health insurance will pay for the cost of breast reduction for women who suffer from backaches, sores on their shoulders caused by their bra straps, or rashes and infections under their breasts. Breast reduction is also called reduction mammoplasty.

A breast is made up of skin, fat, and the mammary gland tissue that produces milk. Some surgeons may use liposuction for part of breast reduction surgery. Liposuction can be used to remove areas of fat at the sides of the breast, but not glandular breast tissue. However, many surgeons reduce and reshape the breast by removing a combination of skin, fat and gland tissue.

If you have very large breasts, breast reduction surgery may be very extensive and you may need to stay in the hospital overnight and possibly longer. You may be able to go home a few hours after a less extensive breast reduction. Surgery for breast reduction usually takes 2 to 4 hours.

Breast reduction requires relatively long incisions, and the scarring can be extensive. The most commonly used incision pattern for a breast reduction is the anchor or T incision. The surgeon makes a keyhole-shaped incision around the areola of the nipple and then down to the crease below the breast. This incision is then usually extended to either side in the crease, making it look like an anchor or upside down T. Skin and breast tissue above the nipple is removed. The nipple may be completely detached from the breast or it may be left attached to the milk ducts that connect to the milk glands of the breast. Either way, the nipple is moved upward and reattached to the skin. More skin, fat, and glandular tissue are removed to reduce the size of the breast and the incisions are then closed.

Because parts of the milk-producing glands of the breast are removed and the nipple is moved, your ability to breastfeed a baby after breast reduction may be severely limited or eliminated.

In a very extensive breast reduction, the surgeon may place temporary drains in the incision. These are plastic tubes that lead out of the body to a bulb-shaped collection pouch. They are used to drain fluids and prevent pressure from building up behind the incisions. Drains are usually removed a few days to a week after the surgery.

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