does breast reduction remove your nipples

In the field of plastic surgery, there are two major categories: cosmetic surgery and reconstructive surgery. Cosmetic surgery is purely done for aesthetics and self-confidence, while reconstructive surgery has more of a medical aspect because it’s repairing an area that has been affected by an illness or injury. Breast reduction, though, splits the difference. Large breasts cause cosmetic and medical problems alike, so patients benefit in both physical and emotional ways.

If you’re considering breast reduction surgery and you have questions about the procedure, I’ve answered some of the most common questions to offer a helping hand:

What health problems can a breast reduction help?

Any health issue or pain that is caused by the excessive size of your breasts is likely to get better after a breast reduction. The most common ones include pain in the back, neck, and shoulders, bra strap indentations in the shoulders, recurrent rashes under the breasts, poor posture, and even some numbness in parts of the breasts and upper chest.

Are there any nonsurgical ways to reduce my breast size?

Unfortunately no, there is no way to get the results of breast reduction without surgery. Depending on how much of your breast size is fat and how much is breast tissue, losing weight may make your breasts smaller. However, it also tends to make breasts sag more, whereas a breast reduction provides a youthful breast lift. There are rumors that exercising your chest muscles with make breasts sag less, and this is untrue. In the past, pills have been sold with the promise of reducing breast size, but none have been FDA-approved and some have even been dangerous to your health. The thought of surgery may make you nervous, but if it’s performed by an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon, the risks are very low while the likelihood of a great result is very high.

How much time do I need to take off work for breast reduction?

Your recovery will depend on the extent of your surgery, your overall health, your body’s natural healing process, your commitment to following your post plastic surgery instructions, and more. In general, most patients are back at work within one to two weeks. Make sure you consider the physical requirements of your job, as well as your commute. It’s best to overestimate and return to work early than to underestimate and risk your job or return to work too early for your body to handle.

After breast reduction surgery, will I still be able to have children and breastfeed?

In terms of pregnancy, a past breast reduction should have no effect on the health of your pregnancy. Your breasts go through many changes in both size and shape during pregnancy, though, and this is likely to affect the way your breasts look. Depending on the technique that is used, breast reduction may affect your ability to breastfeed in the future. It isn’t a common complication, but it isn’t unheard of either.

If you are nearing the completion of your family, it may be best to wait until you’re finished having children, because this will help your breast reduction results last longer. However, if you’re young, don’t assume you need to wait another 20 years to have surgery. Many young women have breast reduction and are perfectly happy with their results long-term whether they have children in the future or not.

Is the nipple removed during breast reduction?

No, you won’t come away from breast reduction without nipples, unless perhaps there is an extreme complication (which is incredibly rare). For most women the nipple remains attached to the underlying tissue throughout the entire surgery, and the breast is reshaped around it. This allows the nipple to remain functional. In less frequent cases of women with extremely large breasts, the nipple may need to be moved and re-attached during surgery, and this does mean that the nipple can lose sensation and functionality. However, this would be discussed with you in your consultation if it is necessary for you.

What factors could prevent me from getting breast reduction surgery?

As with any plastic surgery, you need to be deemed a good candidate before we can proceed with breast reduction. You may not be a good candidate if you have:

• A history of irregular mammograms
• An undiagnosed mass in your breast(s)
• Severe obesity
• Diabetes
• A wound healing disorder or clotting disorder
• Heart or circulatory conditions

Breast reduction also should not be performed on women who are currently lactating. Ultimately, your eligibility for any procedure can only be determined with an in-office consultation and medical testing as well.

Will health insurance cover a breast reduction?

As you know, every insurance company is different, and their benefits change from one plan to the next as well. Many do cover breast reduction as long as it meets certain stipulations. You will need to have documentation of the back pain, neck pain, skin rashes, or other health issues caused by your large breasts, and you may need to show evidence of other treatments you’ve tried (chiropractors, skin treatments, etc.). Insurance companies will often only cover breast reduction if a certain amount of tissue is removed. If you’re planning to have an insurance-funded breast reduction, make sure you find out the requirements ahead of time so you can be prepared and won’t need to delay your surgery.

Breast reduction can be an incredibly freeing surgery for women who have spent their entire adult lives *literally* under the weight of their own breasts. If you’re ready to be more comfortable in your body both emotionally and physically, I would be honored to help. Get started with a breast reduction consultation with me, Dr. John L. LeRoy.