Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location

We've expanded your view

You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Diseases & Conditions
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Services
  • Cosmetic Surgery
  • Breast Reduction
Content

Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is surgery to reduce the size of the breasts.

Alternative Names

Reduction mammoplasty; Reduction mammaplasty

Description

Breast reduction surgery is done under general anesthesia. This is medicine that keeps you asleep and pain-free.

For a breast reduction, the surgeon removes some of the breast tissue and skin. Your nipples may be moved higher to reposition them for cosmetic reasons.

In the most common procedure:

  • The surgeon makes three surgical cuts: around the areola (the dark area around your nipples), from the areola down to the crease under your breast, and across the lower crease of your breast.
  • Extra fat, skin, and breast tissue are removed. The nipple and areola are moved to a higher position. Often the areola is made smaller.
  • The surgeon closes the cuts with stitches to reshape the breast.
  • Sometimes liposuction is combined with breast reduction to improve the shape of the breast and armpit areas.

The procedure can last 2 to 5 hours.

Open Article Detail

Why the Procedure Is Performed

Breast reduction may be recommended if you have very large breasts (macromastia) and:

  • Chronic pain that affects your quality of life. You may be having headaches, neck pain, or shoulder pain.
  • Chronic nerve problems caused by poor posture, which result in numbness or tingling in your arms or hands.
  • Cosmetic problems, such as persistent bra-strap groove, scar-like lines in the skin (striae), difficulty finding clothes that fit, and low self-confidence.
  • Chronic rashes under your breasts.
  • Unwelcome attention that is making you feel awkward.
  • Inability to participate in sports.

Some women may benefit from non-surgical treatments, such as:

  • Exercising to strengthen their back and shoulder muscles
  • Losing excess weight
  • Wearing supportive bras

Risks

Risks of anesthesia and surgery in general are:

  • Reactions to medicines
  • Breathing problems
  • Bleeding, blood clots, or infection

Risks of this procedure are:

  • Difficulty breastfeeding, or being unable to breastfeed
  • Large scars that take a long time to heal
  • Loss of feeling in the nipple area
  • Uneven position of the nipples or differences in the size of the breasts

Before the Procedure

Tell your health care provider:

  • If you are or could be pregnant
  • What medicines you are taking, even drugs, supplements, or herbs you bought without a prescription

The week or two before surgery:

  • You may need a mammogram before the surgery. Your plastic surgeon will do a routine breast exam.
  • You may be asked to stop taking medicines that make it hard for your blood to clot. These include aspirin, ibuprofen, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.
  • Ask your surgeon which drugs you should still take on the day of the surgery.
  • If you smoke, try to stop. Smoking slows healing and increases the risk for problems. Ask your provider for help quitting.

On the day of surgery:

  • Follow instructions about when to stop eating and drinking.
  • Take the drugs your surgeon told you to take with a small sip of water.
  • Wear or bring loose clothing that buttons or zips in front.
  • Arrive at the hospital on time.

After the Procedure

You may have to stay overnight in the hospital.

A gauze dressing (bandage) will be wrapped around your breasts and chest. Or, you will wear a surgical bra. Wear the surgical bra or a soft supportive bra for as long as your surgeon tells you to. This will likely be for several weeks.

Drainage tubes may be attached to your breasts. These tubes will be removed within a few days.

Your pain should decrease in a few weeks. Take pain medicine to control it. Be sure to take the medicine with food and plenty of water. DO NOT apply ice or heat to your breasts unless your doctor has told you that is ok.

Within a few weeks, the swelling and bruising around your incisions should disappear. You may have a temporary loss of sensation in your breast skin and nipples after surgery. Sensation may return over time.

Follow any other self-care instructions you are given.

Schedule a follow-up visit with your surgeon. At that time you will be checked for how you are healing. Sutures (stitches) will be removed if needed. Your provider will discuss special exercises or massaging techniques with you.

Outlook (Prognosis)

You are likely to have a very good outcome from breast reduction surgery. You may feel better about your appearance and be more comfortable with various activities.

Pain or skin symptoms, such as striation, may disappear. You may need to wear a special supportive bra for a few months to reshape your breasts.

Scars are permanent. They will be more visible for the first year, but will then fade. The surgeon will make every effort to place the cuts so that scars are hidden. Cuts are usually made on the underside of the breast. Most of the time, the scars should not be noticeable, even in low-cut clothing.

References

Fisher J, Higdon KK. Reduction mammoplasty. In: Neligan PC, ed. Plastic Surgery. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2013:chap 8.1.

Related Articles

From Sutter Health

    Talking To Your MD

      Self Care

        Other Related Content

          Patient Information

          Couple in kitchen looking at digital tablet

          Interested in becoming a Sutter patient? Here’s what you need to know about health plans, choosing a doctor and how to get started today.

          • Accepted Health Plans
          • Tips for Choosing a Doctor
          • Health Insurance Guide

          Find a Doctor Who Fits Your Needs

          Related Videos

          Scott Imahara, M.D. - Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

          Scott Imahara, M.D. - Tummy Tuck

          Scott Imahara, M.D. - Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

          Scott Imahara, M.D. - Tummy Tuck
          http://www.pamf.org/dr-david-n-white.html. Dr. White, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of plastic surgery of the face/neck - and who are appropriate candidates for surgery.  He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Facial Plastic Surgery - David N. White, M.D., Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon

          http://www.pamf.org/dr-david-n-white.html. Dr. White, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of plastic surgery of the face/neck - and who are appropriate candidates for surgery. He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Facial Plastic Surgery - David N. White, M.D., Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon
          http://www.pamf.org/dr-steven-bates.html. Dr. Bates, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of breast augmentation surgery and who is an appropriate candidate.     He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Breast Augmentation - Steven Bates, M.D. Video, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon

          http://www.pamf.org/dr-steven-bates.html. Dr. Bates, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of breast augmentation surgery and who is an appropriate candidate. He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Breast Augmentation - Steven Bates, M.D. Video, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon
          http://www.pamf.org/dr-roy-w-hong.html. Dr. Hong, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of liposuction and who is the best candidate for the procedure.  He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Benefits of Liposuction - Roy Hong, M.D. Video, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon

          http://www.pamf.org/dr-roy-w-hong.html. Dr. Hong, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about the benefits of liposuction and who is the best candidate for the procedure. He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Benefits of Liposuction - Roy Hong, M.D. Video, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon
          http://www.pamf.org/heidi-keesis.html. Heidi Keesis, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgery physician's assistant, talks about sun damage and aging skin and non-surgical ways of improving one's looks. She works at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Sun Damage and Anti-Aging - Heidi Keesis, MPA, Cosmetic Surgery PA-C

          http://www.pamf.org/heidi-keesis.html. Heidi Keesis, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgery physician's assistant, talks about sun damage and aging skin and non-surgical ways of improving one's looks. She works at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Sun Damage and Anti-Aging - Heidi Keesis, MPA, Cosmetic Surgery PA-C
          http://www.pamf.org/dr-benjamin-maser.html.  Dr. Maser, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about rhinoplasty, cosmetic surgery of the nose - what it is and who is an appropriate candidate.  He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Rhinoplasty, Plastic Surgery of the Nose | Benjamin Maser, M.D. | Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon

          http://www.pamf.org/dr-benjamin-maser.html. Dr. Maser, Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon, talks about rhinoplasty, cosmetic surgery of the nose - what it is and who is an appropriate candidate. He is a doctor at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation.

          Rhinoplasty, Plastic Surgery of the Nose | Benjamin Maser, M.D. | Palo Alto Cosmetic Surgeon
          The Sutter Health Network of Care
          Expertise to fit your needs
          Primary Care

          Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

          Specialty Care

          Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

          Emergency Care

          For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

          Urgent Care

          After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

          Walk-In Care

          Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

          About Sutter

        • About Our Network
        • Annual Report
        • Awards
        • Community Benefit
        • Contact Us
        • News
        • Giving
        • Find Care

        • Birth Centers
        • Care Centers
        • Emergency Rooms
        • Hospitals
        • Imaging
        • Labs
        • Surgery Centers
        • Urgent Care
        • Walk-In Care
        • View All >
        • Featured Services

        • Behavioral Health
        • Cancer Services
        • Family Medicine
        • Home Health and Hospice
        • Orthopedics
        • Pediatrics
        • Pregnancy
        • Primary Care
        • Women's Health
        • View All >
        • Patient Resources

        • Accepted Health Plans
        • Classes and Events
        • Estimate Costs
        • Flu Resources
        • Health and Wellness
        • Medical Records
        • Medicare
        • My Health Online
        • Pay a Bill
        • Symptom Checker
        • Our Team

        • For Employees
        • Physician Careers
        • Recruiting Events
        • Sutter Careers
        • Vendors
        • Volunteers
          • ADA Accessibility
          • Contact
          • Privacy
          • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

          • LinkedIn Opens new window
          • YouTube Opens new window
          • Facebook Opens new window
          • Twitter Opens new window
          • Glassdoor Opens new window
          • Instagram Opens new window

          Copyright © 2021 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

          Cookie Policy

          We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences

          Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences