Breast Reduction

What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction surgery is a procedure to reduce the size of very large breasts. Breast reduction surgery is done to relieve physical discomfort associated with large sagging breasts. It is not performed for appearance only.

The aim of surgery is to make the breasts smaller and to improve their shape so they are in proportion to the body. The surgery removes excess tissue, fat, and skin from large, often sagging breasts. At the same time, the areola (the circle of dark skin around the nipple) may be made smaller. Sometimes the nipple and areola are moved to a higher position.

The technical name used for the procedure is reduction mammaplasty .

Breast reduction surgery has among the highest patient satisfaction rate of any cosmetic procedure.

Facts about breast reduction surgery:

  • About 90,000 breast reduction surgeries were performed in 1999, an 88% increase from the past two years.
  • In the U.S., breast reduction surgery is done most frequently in the Midwest, and least frequently in the west.
  • Most women get breast reduction surgery in early middle age. The frequency with which women seek breast reduction surgery by age breaks down like this:
    • Under 18: 3.8%
    • Age 19-34: 38.4%
    • Age 35-50: 41.9%
    • Age 51-64: 13.6%
    • 65 and older: 2.2%

 

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