Breast reduction surgery can be a life-changing procedure for women living with the burden of overly large breasts. Dr. Neil Zemmel is proud to offer his expertise with this surgery to improve patients’ overall quality of life, often by alleviating associated pain as well as helping them realize their aesthetic goals. He customizes every procedure to the specific needs of each patient to ensure they achieve the most natural-looking reduction possible.
Throughout the breast reduction process – from before your surgery through the end of your recovery – our team will be in close contact with you to make sure all of your questions are answered and any concerns you have are addressed.
To get a better understanding of what to expect as you navigate through your breast reduction recovery, read about results and what to expect long-term below.
When Will My Breast Reduction Results Be Apparent?
For the first couple weeks, your breasts may feel tight and appear swollen. Although every patient heals at a different pace, this typically resides very quickly after the first week. Your breasts may also be positioned higher on the chest and feel slightly firm. However, as your body continues to heal over the next few weeks, your breasts should settle into their final position and achieve a more natural contour.
Recovery typically extends over the course of several months. As your breasts gradually evolve into their final shape, you can notice a more natural-looking teardrop shape and a softer feel. In addition, breast reduction scarring from the incisions gradually becomes less noticeable. If you suffered from upper body pain caused by enlarged breasts prior to surgery, you should already be noticing relief from having the excess tissue removed.
How Long Do Breast Reduction Results Last?
Most patients experience a permanent reduction in their breast size following surgery, as the tissue that is removed should not regrow. Keep in mind, however, the breast reduction procedure does not stop the aging process, and you may notice sagging over time. In addition, certain factors may cause fluctuations in your breast size and shape, such as pregnancy or weight gain.
To help preserve your breast reduction results for as long as possible, Dr. Zemmel advises patients to wear a supportive bra, which can help prevent premature sagging caused by stretched or loose skin and ligaments. If you find your breasts have started to change and you are unhappy with their new size or shape, a breast lift or revision of your initial breast reduction can be performed. In general, most patients do not need a repeat procedure, but some may wish to undergo surgery several years later to address new unwanted changes to their breast appearance.
How Soon Can I Get a Revision to My Breast Reduction Results?
Dr. Zemmel has helped many individuals who underwent breast reduction surgery from another surgeon and were not satisfied with their results. A secondary surgery can be performed to revise these initial results, helping you achieve your desired results. While a breast revision may be performed for a variety of reasons, some women choose to undergo the procedure because they want further reduction in their breast size.
In general, Dr. Zemmel advises those wanting a revision to wait at least six months before undergoing their second breast reduction. This allows the body enough time to heal before another surgery is performed. A breast reduction revision is performed in a similar way to the initial surgery. Incisions are typically placed along the existing scars, which helps minimize additional scarring. Breast tissue is removed and reshaped, while scar tissue is removed.
Although perfect results from a breast reduction cannot be guaranteed, Dr. Zemmel is experienced in performing revisional surgery, helping patients achieve their aesthetic goals that were not obtained from their previous surgeon.
How Much Weight Do You Lose After Breast Reduction?
Soon after breast reduction surgery, patients may notice their weight has decreased due to the removal of excess fatty and glandular tissue. Beyond the weight of this tissue that was removed, additional weight loss will depend on each individual and their lifestyle habits. That said, it is very common for breast reduction patients to become more active after surgery, since limited mobility from enlarged breasts is no longer a problem. As a result of this increased activity, many patients end up losing weight as they become healthier.
However, if you find you are losing a significant amount of weight and have unexplained symptoms, you may want to see your primary care doctor to schedule an evaluation, so you can rule out potential health problems that may be contributing to weight loss. In general, though, weight loss after breast reduction is often a normal side effect of enhanced mobility.
Will Breast Tissue Grow Back After Reduction Surgery?
The fat, glandular tissue, and skin removed during breast reduction surgery should not grow back, but in rare cases the breasts can grow in size following surgery. Common reasons why breast tissue may become enlarged later on include weight gain, pregnancy, breastfeeding, hormonal changes, aging, menopause, and certain medications. Patients who are more likely to notice an increase in their breast size are those who are younger at the time of their reduction surgery. This may be because their breasts were not fully developed when the reduction was performed.
For the rare patients who eventually notice their breasts have returned to their pre-surgery size, revision surgery can be performed to restore their ideal breast appearance. In general, one way to help maintain your reduced breast size is to lead a healthy lifestyle to prevent weight gain.
Will I Be Able to Breastfeed After Breast Reduction Surgery?
Whether a woman is able to breastfeed after breast reduction surgery cannot be predicted. This is because some individuals may naturally have difficulty producing milk, but they may not be aware of this until they have children. Our surgeon has a track record of success with breast reduction patients being able to breastfeed later on. However, it is important to understand that the procedure comes with some degree of risk. During breast reduction surgery, glands can be reduced and milk ducts can be severed, limiting or preventing milk production in the future. Dr. Zemmel is meticulous in his surgical technique to ensure breast glands and milk ducts remain uninjured during surgery.
Our team will go over all associated risks of surgery with you before you procedure to ensure you can make an informed decision about your care. If you plan to breastfeed in the future, you should discuss this with your surgeon during your consultation, as they may recommend certain breast reduction techniques that carry fewer risks.
“I cannot thank Dr. Zemmel and the surgery team enough for what they’ve done for me these past several months! I had been dreaming of getting a breast reduction to help my back pain and overall confidence and with their help I was able to get the surgery. I was walked through the entire process, everything was explained, and my countless questions were answered. I couldn’t be happier with Dr. Zemmel and the results! Thank you again for making this dream come true!”
Schedule Your Consultation
If you are ready to learn how breast reduction can help you obtain your desired breast appearance, please contact us to schedule your consultation. To view examples of the results you may be able to achieve from our plastic surgeon, please visit our patient gallery of breast reduction before-and-after pictures.
