How Much Tissue can be Removed from the Breasts?


Cosmetic Surgery Enquiry

The amount of tissue that is removed from your breasts during breast reduction surgery largely depends on the size of your breasts and the problems that they are causing you. To get a better idea of what is possible you should speak to a specialist who will be able to tell you what you can expect from surgery.

Radical Breast Reduction Surgery

If your breasts are extremely large, you may require radical breast reduction surgery. This means that large amounts of tissue will be removed from the breasts. There is no general limit to the amount of tissue that can be removed from the breasts. However, in some cases the amount may be limited due to the formation of the breasts and the tissue surrounding them.

The amount of breast tissue that will be removed during breast reduction surgery will be agreed upon by you and your surgeon prior to the procedure. This means that you will have realistic expectations of what the surgery can achieve, however some complications can develop during surgery that may reduce the amount of tissue removed.

Moderate Breast Reduction Surgery

It may be the case that your breasts are only moderately out of proportion with your body. In this case, you will only need a small amount of tissue to be removed. Your surgeon may advise you that there are more appropriate treatments for this level of breast reduction. Breast reduction surgery can be used to remove small amounts of tissue. However, many people prefer other treatment options due to the scarring caused by the surgery.

Surgical Complications Affecting Tissue Removal

Although it is a rare occurrence, there is a chance that complications may develop during surgery that affect the amount of tissue that can safely be removed from your breasts. For example if you have a reaction to the anaesthetic, the anaesthetist may have to bring you round before the surgery can be performed.

There may also be some complications during the surgery. You could start to haemorrhage, meaning that the surgery may have to be cut short and less tissue would be removed. Such complications are very rare and most people are happy with the amount of tissue removed.

What to do if you Are Unhappy with the Amount of Tissue Removed

If you are unhappy with the amount of tissue that has been removed from your breasts, you should speak to the surgeon who performed your operation. It is important to be honest, from the start, about what you expect from breast reduction surgery and about what you think of the results.

If you are unhappy with the results of your surgery immediately after it has been performed this may be as a result of the swelling caused by the surgery. Many people experience irregularities in breast and nipple size after their operation. It is important to remember that recovery from breast reduction surgery is a long process and it can take up to twelve months before the final results are visible.

If you are really unhappy or concerned you should speak to your consultant. They will be able to address any of your concerns and tell you what you can expect in the future.

If you feel that your breasts are still too large after you have fully recovered, you should speak to the surgeon about further surgeries. These may or may not be possible. It is likely that you will have to pay for further surgery unless a mistake led to your unhappiness. Repeat surgeries can be more complicated than the initial surgery and it is important that you consider whether the risks outweigh the benefits.

Further Articles