Breast Reduction Surgery

One cannot guarantee that sensation will not be altered by breast surgery, but it is rarely a problem. Clearly, if a breast has been removed, any reconstruction will have very limited feeling, but this is not usually uppermost in the patient’s mind.

Patients with very large breasts often never have significant feeling in the nipples and in the event that sensation is reduced after reduction surgery, it is unlikely to be missed. The degree of reduction is dependent on the technique employed. The breast lift, or mastopexy, is less likely to affect sensation as most nerves to the nipple are not touched.

Although breast augmentation with implants or even fat grafting does little to endanger nerves to the nipple, the skin and underlying nerves are stretched causing temporary numbness and rarely recovery is delayed or absent. We may find some loss when we test for sensation, but it is rarely enough for patients to complain.

More typically, however, following traditional techniques you should expect a small degree of scarring. There are different techniques for breast reduction and the scars created will depend on the technique employed, as well as the patient in question and the size of the breasts being reduced. Most commonly you should expect some scarring around the nipple, across the bottom of the breast fold, and a vertical scar linking the nipple scar to the breast fold scar giving rise to the so-called ‘inverted T’ or anchor pattern.

Breast reduction recovery time varies from case to case but you should be able to return to your normal day-to-day activities after about two weeks. However, I recommend my patients be sensitive to their body and try not to do too much too soon, ceasing activities after or during which any pain is experienced.

I recommend temporary suspension of activities such as going to the gym, and practicing aerobics and sports that involve using your arms. Any activity that requires lifting your elbows above your shoulders should also be carefully monitored.

All breast reduction techniques require an incision that will result in a scar that will likely be red and slightly raised in the weeks and months after your procedure, before fading completely.

Scar visibility can, however, be greatly impacted by the quality of the surgeon, as well as the level of aftercare you receive. In the hands of a skilled surgeon the scar can be positioned very discreetly, whilst an expert scar minimization team can provide you with the tools and techniques to enhance the healing process. For example, scar the appearance can be reduced by regular moisturisation and massage techniques, all of which our dedicated team will advise our patients in the days following your procedure.