Breast Reduction Surgery Risks

While some women get cosmetic surgery to augment their breasts, others undergo breast reductions to relieve chronic back and neck pain, as well as to make their bodies more proportionate. Breast reductions can also boost patients’ confidence after a lifetime of slouching to minimize attention to their breasts. For these women, breast reduction surgery is often the answer.While breast reductions are typically performed on women, men may also get this procedure done, especially if they are obese or suffer from gynecomastia, a condition that enlarges men’s breasts.

Side Effects of Breast Reduction

Although breast reduction surgery has its own unique risks and potential complications, it is typically a very safe procedure. The most common risks of breast reductions are:
  • anesthesia-related complications: Difficulty with anesthesia can arise from any procedure that employs drugs to put a patient to sleep. Be sure to tell your surgeon if you have an allergies or chronic conditions so that (s)he can make the necessary adjustments and minimize your risk f suffering from these complications.

  • asymmetry of breasts: Breast reduction surgery can cause breasts and/or nipples to be misaligned. In particular, the inferior pedicle technique tends to make breasts to look a little “squared off.” However, all types of breast reductions can cause asymmetry.

  • loss of breastfeeding ability: Although rare, the inability to breast feed can be a complication for women who undergo a breast reduction. In general, the free nipple graft reduction (the procedure that removes and later reattaches the nipple) is the type of breast reduction most commonly associated with this complication.

  • nerve damage and/or loss of nipple sensation: Incisions made to the breast tissue can cause nerve damage to the breasts or nipples. The risk can be reduced depending on the specific technique used. For example, the inferior pedicle and vertical scar techniques are less likely to cause permanent nerve damage than a free nipple graft reduction, which requires the full removal of the nipple and its subsequent reattachment.

  • scarring: Along with nerve damage, incisions can also cause permanent scarring. However, modern techniques can help minimize this problem. The vertical scar technique, which employs a “lollipop” incision, requires fewer incisions than most of the other types of breast reductions. Liposuction-only breast reductions don’t make any incisions at all, merely insertions of the tumescent suction tube, making it the best procedure to get to prevent skin and nerve damage, as well as loss of nipple sensation.
Talk to your doctor about the possibility of experiencing any of the above listed complications.
 
Keep in mind that women who have undergone breast reductions report a high level of satisfaction with the procedure, likely due to the fact that women usually get breast reductions to help alleviate physical problems, rather than for purely cosmetic reasons.

Pros and Cons of Breast Reduction

Since breast reductions are often inspired by physical problems, they have less associated disadvantages, unlike many other elective surgeries. The primary cons of breast reduction surgery include the above listed complications, most of which are not common.
 
The major advantages associated with this procedure are reduced back and neck pain caused by heavy breasts, as well as more confidence.
 
Resources
 
American Society of Plastic Surgeons (2007). Breast reductions. Retrieved August 20, 2007, from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Web site: http://www.plasticsurgery.org/patients_consumers/procedures/
ReductionMammaplasty.cfm.