Breast reduction
Overly large breasts can cause a wide range of problems, such as back pain, difficulty with physical activity, and limited clothing options. Just as very small breasts can mark a girl’s adolescence, excessively large breasts can affect the self-confidence of girls, women, and even men. Large breasts are usually also sagging and aesthetically unappealing. Breast reduction and reshaping surgery provide immediate relief.
Breast reduction is a surgical procedure very similar to a breast lift, with the important difference that excess tissue is removed at the same time. In addition to reducing the volume, we restore a more harmonious breast shape and reduce stretched areolae and sagging glandular tissue.
Depending on nipple position and the degree of sagging, several surgical techniques differ mainly in the length and pattern of the scars. Typically, the scar runs around the areola, with an additional vertical component and a scar in the inframammary fold. Scars generally fade over a few months and become barely noticeable. We discuss scarring in detail during the preoperative consultation.
A thorough preoperative examination and an in-depth conversation about your wishes and what is realistically achievable are crucial when planning a breast reduction.
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia and takes 2 to 3 hours.
After 8 to 12 hours of observation, the patient can go home. During this time, our experienced medical staff provides attentive care and comfort in the privacy of our clinic suite.
Sutures either dissolve on their own or are removed after about 2 weeks. For 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, we recommend wearing a sports bra. After just a few days, most patients can perform their usual daily activities with minimal limitations. Following recovery, most women are able to resume the same activities they had before surgery – often with significantly greater comfort.
The final shape of the breasts is established several months after the procedure, once the tissues have fully settled and adapted.
More about breast reduction
Overly large breasts can cause numerous problems, including back and neck pain, difficulty exercising, and limitations in clothing choices. Just as very small breasts can shape a girl’s experience of growing up, very large breasts can have a profound effect on the self-esteem of girls, women, and even men.
Large breasts are often sagging and aesthetically displeasing, and surgical reduction with reshaping can bring immediate physical and emotional relief.
Both too small and excessively large breasts can mark adolescence and influence self-confidence. Teasing from peers can be particularly painful during this sensitive period. In adulthood, problems related to large breasts often manifest as chronic back pain and skin irritation in the breast folds, which can sometimes lead to persistent inflammatory changes. Overly large breasts may interfere with physical activity, sports, and even comfortable sleep. Another common motivation for breast reduction is the desire for a more balanced, harmonious body shape.
Consultation and measurements
Breast reduction surgery is very similar to a breast lift. The scar pattern is essentially the same; the key difference is that the excess tissue is removed rather than used to add volume. The main factor that determines the type of procedure is the position and sagging of the nipple–areola complex.
During surgery, an appropriate amount of breast tissue is removed based on the desired final breast size and shape. We preserve the portion of glandular tissue that maintains blood supply to the nipple and areola. In very large, severely sagging breasts, where the areola needs to be lifted by more than 20 centimetres, it may be necessary to transplant the areola to a new position as a free nipple–areola graft.
Recovery after breast reduction
For the first few weeks after surgery, we recommend wearing a sports bra that provides firm support to the breasts. Postoperative pain usually subsides quickly, except in cases where breast reduction is combined with simultaneous augmentation by placing an implant under the muscle, in which case discomfort can last a little longer.
After the sutures are removed, it is important to massage the scars firmly to help them soften as quickly as possible. For the first few months, scars are relatively visible and reddish in colour, but this generally fades over time. Scars should not be exposed to the sun, as fresh scar tissue is more sensitive to UV radiation and may darken and become more noticeable.
In some cases, internal scars within the breast (at the sites where the gland has been reshaped) can feel firm or even slightly painful. In such situations, we recommend lymphatic drainage or ultrasound massage to promote faster softening of the breast tissue.
The final shape of the breasts and the final appearance of the scars are reached only after several months. This is especially important to understand with the vertical scar technique, where the lower pole can look somewhat flat and “unnatural” in the first few weeks. Sometimes a small crease of excess skin remains at the lower part of the scar – this is a consequence of our effort to keep the scar as short as possible, particularly in the area where the scar crosses onto the chest wall (the horizontal limb of the anchor).
In the months following surgery, the thinned skin usually contracts significantly, and the amount of excess skin becomes much smaller than it appeared during the operation. If a fold does not smooth out completely, it can later be corrected under local anaesthesia. The advantage of this two-stage approach is a shorter and less extensive final scar.
Frequently asked questions
Is breastfeeding possible after breast reduction?
In most cases, breastfeeding is still possible, but this cannot be guaranteed. Surgery is usually recommended after you have completed your family, as pregnancy and hormonal changes have a substantial impact on breast shape, including breasts that have already undergone surgery. After pregnancy, the breasts can sag again.
Can breast reduction affect nipple sensation?
Nipple sensation is often altered immediately after surgery and during the first few weeks. In most cases, these changes are temporary.
Am I a good candidate for breast reduction?
If you experience back or neck pain, skin irritation or rashes in the folds beneath the breasts, pain during sports or even while sleeping, or if you simply wish to achieve a more balanced figure, breast reduction is very likely to be highly beneficial and can significantly improve your quality of life.
Young women and men can also suffer from overly large breasts, which may strongly affect their self-image and emotional well-being during adolescence.
How long-lasting are the results?
Ageing of the tissues, gravity, and weight fluctuations inevitably affect operated breasts as well. Over time, natural physiological changes and gradual sagging can occur again. However, thanks to the reduction, these changes are usually much less pronounced than they would have been without surgery. Unfortunately, no procedure can stop time.
What do the scars look like after breast reduction?
Scars typically run around the areola and vertically down to the inframammary fold, where an additional horizontal scar may be hidden in the breast crease. Scars are usually fine and gradually fade over time. We select the surgical technique to achieve the desired breast size and shape with the shortest, least conspicuous scar pattern possible. In some cases, however, scars cannot be avoided. Scarring is always discussed in detail during the preoperative consultation.
