Breast Reduction Risks

All operations have some risk and breast reduction surgery is no exception. Before proceeding, be sure that you have thoroughly researched the procedure and thought through your motivation for permanently changing the shape and size of your breasts.

The main risks in breast reduction surgery are swelling, bruising, bleeding, infection, a scar and numbness or a change in feeling touch. A primary concern, which is specific to breast reduction surgery, is damage to the blood supply of the nipple and a heavy scar. This means you could significantly reduce or lose your nipple sensation for life. Some operative techniques preserve at least the possibility of breastfeeding while other techniques eliminate any such possibility. If this is a major concern it should be discussed in detail with your surgeon.

An excellent book, called Defining your Own Success: Breastfeeding After Breast Reduction Surgery written by Diana West, provides a detailed discussion on this topic.

So far there has been no scientific evidence to suggest that breast reduction increases your risk of breast cancer.

Postoperative recovery takes about two weeks. You will not be able to do any lifting for up to six weeks.

Reducing Your Risks