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Breast Reduction

Consultations offered at our three convenient locations in Austin, TX, San Antonio, TX and Westlake Hills, TX

Breast reduction, known medically as reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure that reduces the size of the breasts. If you have chronic back and/or neck pain or have difficulty with physical activities due to the size of your breasts, a breast reduction can help improve your comfort as well. ⁽¹⁾ Breast reduction can also help create more harmonious proportions.

At Austin Plastic Surgeon, we take special care to help you achieve your cosmetic goals. If you would like to explore the benefits of breast reduction, schedule a consultation.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to call any of our offices:

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About Breast Reduction

Breast reduction surgery can enhance both physical comfort and emotional well-being for individuals with large breasts. ⁽¹⁾ Excessively large breasts can lead to strain on the back, neck, and shoulders, and these issues may worsen over time.

The procedure typically involves the removal of excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin to achieve a breast size that is proportionate to the individual’s body shape. Thousands of women undergo breast reduction each year, highlighting its popularity as an effective solution to the issues that overly large breasts can cause.

Benefits

Breast reduction surgery offers many benefits. At Austin Plastic Surgeon, our patients typically experience the following:

Reduced pain: Many patients report relief from chronic pain in the back, neck, and shoulders caused by large breasts.
Improved posture: Reducing breast weight can lead to better posture.
Boosted self-esteem: Achieving a breast size that aligns with one’s body shape can enhance self-confidence.
Improved clothing fit: Individuals often find that different types of clothing fit better, and they are able to broaden their wardrobe options.
Long-lasting results: Results from breast reduction are essentially permanent as long as a stable weight is maintained. The breast tissue will continue to be affected by the processes of aging.
Fulfilled aesthetic goals: Breast reduction allows individuals to align their breast size with their aesthetic wishes, contributing to overall satisfaction with physical appearance.

It is important to remember that a breast reduction is also a breast lift. The excess breast tissue is removed and then the breast is lifted and shaped to give the breast a more youthful aesthetic appearance.

Candidates

You may be a great candidate for breast reduction surgery if:

You have back, neck, or shoulder pain caused by the size of your breasts
You have large, sagging breasts and low nipples
One of your breasts is significantly larger than the other
It is difficult to find bras and tops that fit well
You are self-conscious about your breast size
You want to enhance your breast shape

Personal Consultation

Your candidacy will be determined during a personal consultation. At this appointment, you will also explain your goals for your procedure, your motivations behind seeking treatment, and explore the options available to you. Your surgeon and their team will create a plan that uniquely aligns with your goals. We will also review your medical history and perform a physical exam to determine the best course of treatment at this time.

Preparation

Once your reduction mammoplasty is scheduled, you will receive preparation instructions. All patients should plan to:

Discontinue any blood-thinning medications or supplements
Avoid drinking alcohol for a period of time
Quit smoking and/or other forms of nicotine use (if applicable)
Preemptively fill prescriptions
Arrange transportation
Schedule time off of work for recovery

Procedure

At the beginning of the procedure, you will receive general anesthesia. ⁽²⁾ Your surgeon will excise the excess breast tissue and skin in a strategic way that improves the overall shape and appearance of the breasts. In some cases, they may also reposition the areola higher on the breast. This is done with extreme care and advanced surgical methods to preserve natural nipple sensation. ⁽²⁾ Breast reduction can be achieved with a combination of surgical excision and liposuction, if necessary. After achieving your desired size and shape, the surgeon closes the incisions.

There are several popular breast reduction incision techniques. The type of incision used will depend on the size and shape of your breasts and the extent of your breast reduction.

Skin Excision Patterns

1. Vertical (Lollipop) Incision

Overview: Involves an incision around the areola and a single vertical line extending toward the breast crease, creating a “lollipop” shape.
Pros:
- Less scarring on the breast compared to an anchor incision.
- Can achieve a nice lift and reshaping for patients with mild to moderate breast size.
- Maintains good nipple positioning and blood supply.
Cons:
- May not be sufficient for very large reductions or significant excess skin.
- If a substantial amount of tissue needs to be removed, the resulting breast shape could be less predictable.

2. Anchor (Inverted-T) Incision

Overview: Often called a “full” reduction. Incisions go around the areola, extend vertically down from the areola to the breast crease, and run along the crease itself—forming an inverted T or anchor shape.
Pros:
- Allows for substantial tissue removal, making it ideal for more severe cases of macromastia (very large breasts).
- Better suited for patients with significant sagging or excess skin.
- Offers greater control over reshaping the breast and repositioning the nipple.
Cons:
- Results in more visible scars.
- Slightly longer recovery due to the extent of incisions.

Pedicle Options (Blood Supply and Nipple Position)

In any breast reduction, the nipple-areolar complex (NAC) needs to remain vital (alive with sufficient blood supply). Surgeons use different “pedicles,” or channels of blood flow, to keep the nipple and areola attached to underlying tissues.

1. Superior Pedicle

Overview: The nipple’s blood supply comes from the upper portion of the breast. The incision and tissue removal occur primarily in the lower parts of the breast.
Pros:
- Maintains nipple sensation and blood flow in many cases.
- Suitable for moderate breast sizes.
- Positions the nipple higher on the breast, which can be aesthetically pleasing.
Cons:
- Less common for very large or extremely sagging breasts.
- In certain cases, skin tension might affect the final nipple position.

2. Superomedial Pedicle

Overview: A variation of the superior pedicle, where the blood supply is preserved from the upper and medial side of the breast.
Pros:
- Offers good shape and projection, especially for moderate to large reductions.
- Often preserves nipple sensation effectively.
- Provides reliable blood supply in a wide range of breast sizes.
Cons:
- May not be ideal for extremely large breasts.
- Requires an experienced surgeon familiar with the technique.

3. Inferior Pedicle

Overview: One of the most traditional and commonly used techniques, where the nipple remains attached via the lower portion of the breast.
Pros:
- Often used for larger reductions.
- Good at maintaining nipple sensation and blood flow.
- Well-known, well-documented method with predictable outcomes.
Cons:
- Risk of “bottoming out” over time, as the lower portion of the breast can stretch.
- May not always achieve as high and perky a result as a superior pedicle.

4. Free Nipple Graft

Overview: Used in rare or extreme cases when the breast is very large. The nipple is completely removed and grafted onto the breast at a higher position.
Pros:
- Allows for the most significant volume removal.
- Can drastically reduce extremely large, pendulous breasts when other pedicles aren’t feasible.
Cons:
- Loss of nipple sensation because the NAC is no longer attached to nerve pathways.
- Potential for graft healing issues.
- More scarring and a longer healing process around the areolar region.

Recovery

Our team will see you a few days after your procedure to monitor your healing progress. For the first couple of weeks, you may feel a burning sensation around the incision and some breast soreness. You may receive prescriptions for pain medications, and if so, you should take these as instructed to minimize your discomfort.

You will also be required to wear a compression garment to help decrease swelling by maintaining consistent and regular pressure on your chest. We recommend sticking to bed rest for a few days. Most patients can return to work in a little over a week, but we recommend taking more time off than you think is necessary to not rush your recovery. It is best to refrain from more intense exercise or any strenuous activities for at least three weeks, or until we tell you it is safe to continue.

Results

You will see the full results of your breast reduction procedure once the swelling dissipates. You will see smaller, more proportionate, natural-looking breasts. Any neck, back, or shoulder pain you had previously experienced will no longer be a part of your daily life. Reduction mammoplasty procedures carry high patient satisfaction rates.

Corresponding & Complementary Procedures

If you are seeking a breast reduction after undergoing massive weight loss, you may be experiencing unwanted excess skin in other areas. At Austin Plastic Surgeon, we offer several different body contouring procedures for patients who want to address similar issues or enhance their figure.

For patients with excessively sagging breast tissue, a breast lift, also known as mastopexy, can rejuvenate the breasts for a perkier appearance. A breast lift can also tighten underlying structures. ⁽³⁾ Austin Plastic Surgeon also offers various breast implant and breast augmentation procedures to help you further sculpt your breasts to your ideal image.

Cost of Breast Reduction in Austin

Please visit our pricing page to see the estimated cost of breast reduction surgery at our practice. This page features cost estimates for other types of procedures as well. The price of our breast reduction treatment starts at $11,000, but this may change depending on other treatments you receive and other factors.

When you meet with one of our dedicated surgeons for a consultation, you will receive a more personalized price quote. If you have any questions, please call any of our Austin-area offices:

Our helpful staff are available to provide you with the information you need. We look forward to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals and live a more comfortable life after your breast reduction!

FAQ

Do breast reductions leave scars?

Breast reductions will leave scars, but we take special care to minimize tissue damage and the formation of scar tissue. Any scars present will fade as you continue to heal. There are also treatments available to diminish the appearance of scars after they have healed.

How long does it take to recover after a breast reduction?

Recovery time varies per individual. Most people can resume everyday activities after about two weeks, gradually returning to normal activity after about six weeks.

How long will my breast reduction results last?

Results from breast reduction surgery are long-lasting, although changes due to aging, weight fluctuation, and pregnancy can affect breast size over time.

Is breast reduction painful?

You may experience some soreness and discomfort after your procedure, and this will be mitigated by prescribed or over-the-counter pain medications, as directed by your care provider. You will receive anesthesia during your procedure for your comfort.

References

Sachs D, Szymanski KD. Breast Reduction. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441974/
Guridi R, Rodriguez JR. A Step-by-Step Approach to a Successful Cosmetic Breast Reduction. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open. 2019;7(4):e2117. doi:https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000002117
Martinez AA, Chung S. Breast Ptosis. PubMed. Published 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK567792/