Breast Reduction Before & After Photos

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 1

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

This lovely woman is seen 11 months after breast reduction. Large breasts can cause back and shoulder pain, deep shoulder grooves, and difficulty with exercise and daily activities.

Breast reduction removes excess skin and breast tissue, while reshaping the breast and repositioning the nipple and areola to a more lifted position on the breast.

Typically one night in the hospital is included for comfort. A drain may be used to help with swelling and soreness, especially when a larger volume of breast tissue is removed. Patients are usually back to full activities 4 to 6 weeks after surgery.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 2

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Breast reduction is perhaps our highest-satisfaction surgery for our patients. Lighter and lifted, with a natural contour.

Back and shoulder pain, and strap grooving, tend to improve immediately. Especially for our younger patients, confidence and comfort noticeably rises. Exercise and daily activities also get easier. It’s a commonly sought-after procedure for a reason!

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 3

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Another happy patient, 1 month after her breast reduction/lift. The lift and reshaping gives a boost of confidence. Even somewhat moderate reductions in weight can make a big difference in the pull and weight on one’s shoulders and back.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 4

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Over 3 pounds of breast tissue was removed for this woman, taking literal weight off of her shoulders.

Common symptoms that may expect to improve include deep shoulder grooving, back and neck pain, and rashes on the underside of the breast. Exercise and activities of daily living tend to be easier.

Some insurances do cover this surgery when patients continue having symptoms despite trying things like weight loss, multiple bras, powders/creams, antibiotics, and surgeries for infections. We have had particular success with Aetna and United of late, and welcome patients with those insurances (or are choosing a plan for the upcoming year) to let us help get the surgery covered by your insurance.

She is seen at 4 weeks after her surgery.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 5

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

FAQ: Is the areola (the pigmented area around the nipple) reduced as part of a lift/reduction? Yes! This is a routine part of the surgery.

Nipple size sometimes increases significantly after breastfeeding as well, and that may be individually reduced as well, if requested.

Overall, studies have shown nipple sensation to be the same in 1/3, decreased in 1/3, and actually increased in 1/3 of women undergoing reduction.

Ability to breastfeed is similar in those who have had reduction and those who have not. A fair number of women at baseline are unable to breastfeed, and some require supplementation with formula. At least anecdotally and anatomically, it makes sense that there may be some more difficulty after reduction. But by the numbers, it seems that change is small compared to someone’s baseline anatomy.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 6

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Breast reduction helps improve pain in the back and shoulders from removing some of the weight of the breast.

At the same time, most patients enjoy the lift and repositioning of the areola and nipple to a higher position.

The areola is usually reduced in size to match the smaller breast size. A very wide areola will rarely leave a small amount of pigmented tissue along the vertical scar, though this is uncommon and may be revised as a quick office procedure once the patient is healed.

The fullness and contour of the lateral breast extending towards the lateral chest wall (that spills over a bra strap, for instance) can often be improved with targeted liposuction and/or skin excision at the same time.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 7

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Breast reduction helps to reduce back and shoulder pain, often immediately with up to several pounds removed.

At one month, her scars have already made great progress.

In addition to relief of her pain and rashes, she loves the lift of her areola and nipple to a higher position.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 8

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Breast reduction is a commonly performed procedure to improve neck and back pain, deep bra strap grooves, and recurrent rashes.

2-5 pounds or more may be removed, immediately improving symptoms.

Insurance plans will sometimes cover the surgery, though individual plans vary, and it is necessary to have it authorized ahead of time.

A lift alone (mastopexy) falls on the same spectrum. The nipple and areola are repositioned aesthetically with the lifted breast, but with much less volume removed (or sometimes with volume added with liposuctioned fat or an implant — an augmentation-mastopexy).

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 9

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Breast reduction is a commonly performed procedure to help improve neck and back pain, deep bra strap grooves, and recurrent rashes. Over 100k women (and 20k men) undergo this surgery annually in the USA.

2-5 pounds or more may be removed, immediately improving many of the symptoms.

Insurance plans will sometimes cover the surgery, though individual plans vary, and it is necessary to have it authorized ahead of time.

A lift alone (mastopexy) falls on the same spectrum. The nipple and aerola are repositioned aesthetically with the lifted breast, but with much less volume removed (or sometimes with volume added with liposuctioned fat or an implant — an augmentation-mastopexy).

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 10

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Breast reduction surgery is commonly performed to improve neck and back pain, deep bra strap grooves, and recurrent rashes. Typically patients have limitations with exercise and other activities.
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Usually 2-5 pounds is removed (in this case well over 6 pounds), immediately improving symptoms.
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Insurance plans will sometimes cover the surgery, though individual plans vary, and it is necessary to have it authorized ahead of time.
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A lift alone (mastopexy) falls on the same spectrum. The nipple and areola are repositioned aesthetically with the lifted breast, but with much less volume removed (or sometimes with volume added with liposuctioned fat from another area, or added with an implant for an augmentation-mastopexy).
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Down time is usually 4-6 weeks of no heavy lifting or activities. Patients are normally back to work in a week. A suction drain is often used with larger volume reductions.
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Ability to breastfeed is the same before and after reduction as long as no free nipple graft is needed (this is performed rarely). Sensation is usually the same before and after. In about 1/3rd of cases may go down, and in another 1/3rd of cases actually goes up as the nerves are less stretched.
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As always, photos shared with written and verbal consent.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 11

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

“So my incisions are better than my sister’s. It’s almost like they’re not there!”

Incision care is important after breast reduction surgery. Usually I use steri-strips in surgery for a little bit of extra support and pressure, though it’s no substitute for surgical technique.

After the initial bandages come off, additional taping with brown paper tape or silicone tape help the scar to mature as quickly as possible.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 12

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

What size will I end up? One of the most common questions, and it doesn’t have a specific answer. The goals are lighter, proportionate, aesthetic, and safe. Size varies depending on band size and where you shop. Usually, a full C is about where we end up.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 13

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Lighter and lifted, with the nipple and areola to a more centered and balanced position.

There is good reason for over 95% of patients to be satisfied, and report that they would do it again.

Time off is usually 1 week from work, 4 weeks to cardio, and 6 weeks to strength training and high impact moves.

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 14

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Breast lift and reduction are related surgeries with a lot of overlap, tailored to each patient’s anatomy and goals.

Here, baseline asymmetry was improved, and the weight and downward pull of her breasts made lighter.

It’s always fun when patients tell me they get to go without a bra now (though I have to remind them that gravity and time will win eventually!).

Immediate before and after here, with final photos to come!
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Breast Reduction Before & After Case 15

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Essentially all breast reductions include a lift, raising the nipple/areola to a more centered position on the breast.

In my hands, a superomedial pedicle combined with a Wise (inverted-T) pattern skin excision gives a reliable outcome with excellent blood flow and sensation for the nipple and areola.

Selective liposuction can contour the lateral breast without needing to directly lift it all away from the chest, also helping to maintain your circulation and sensation. Wound healing complications have also reduced tremendously since I modified my technique.

See our other post for 3-month before-and-afters!

Breast Reduction Before & After Case 16

Breast Reduction Before and After Photo. Surgery performed in Dallas, TX at Law Plastic Surgery.

Immediate breast reduction/lift with trunk liposuction.

The goal was primarily to help reduce neck and back shoulder pain, and also to improve mobility and comfort.

Many of our younger patients also note a lot of unwanted attention and negative assumptions about promiscuity.

Here, 4 pounds of breast tissue was removed, and another 7.5 pounds was liposuctioned from her trunk.

Despite all the surgery, she could immediately feel the improvement, and was looking forward to shopping for some new clothes!