Breast Reduction

For many women, large or sagging breasts can be a source of unwanted attention, physical discomfort and inconvenience. At Advanced Cosmetic Surgery, our expert surgeons perform breast reduction surgeries to resolve these issues and improve our patients’ quality of life. 

If you’re in the Greenville, Spartanburg and Anderson area, schedule a consultation with Dr. McFadden or Dr. Felice to discuss how we can help transform your life – both physically and mentally.

Reasons for undergoing breast reduction surgery

Women choose to undergo breast reduction surgery for many reasons. The most common are to:

• Alleviate chronic back, neck and shoulder pain
• Relieve chronic rash or irritation under the breasts
• Fit better into bras and clothing
• Reduce nerve pain
• Improve self-esteem and confidence
• Gain greater freedom of movement
• Correct sagging and asymmetry

This surgery also includes the option of reducing the size of the areola, the darker area around the nipple.

Before and After Photos

Ideal candidates for breast reduction surgery

The ideal candidates for breast reduction surgery are women who are:

• Impeded by the size and weight of their breasts
• Have negative feelings about their size 
• Experiencing discomfort and irritation from bra straps digging in
• In generally good health
• At a stable weight
• Nonsmokers

There is no required size to qualify for breast reduction, however, most of our patients wear a DD cup or larger.

In some cases, women as young as their mid-teens can receive the surgery. However, we generally recommend waiting until you’re at least 18 to ensure you have completed growing and that you’re emotionally ready for the procedure. 

What to expect from your breast reduction surgery

Immediately after surgery, you’ll be relieved from the weight of your excess breast tissue, and related problems such as back pain will begin to resolve. You’ll be able to return to a desk job after about 1 week.

The improvements are so great, our breast reduction patients are often our happiest, most satisfied clients,

For 3 weeks post surgery, you’ll have soreness and limited mobility, and you’ll likely have less energy and tire more quickly than usual. Limit your physical activity to walking for 3–4 weeks, or until your surgeon tells you it’s safe to resume exercise. 

After a breast reduction, you’ll have an anchor-shaped scar: a vertical scar running from the areola to the bottom of the breast, a curved horizontal scar along the bottom of each breast and a circular scar around each areola. 

You may experience tightness and lack of sensation and swelling in your breasts, but these side effects will disappear as your body heals.

Related procedures

If you’re considering additional plastic surgery procedures, you may wish to undergo them at the same time as your breast reduction. This strategy minimizes your total downtime and recovery period. 

The surgeries most often paired with breast reduction are:

• Liposuction: This technique removes excess fat from the abdomen. Liposuction performed with a breast reduction will dramatically reshape your entire silhouette

• Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck): If your breasts have increased in size and are starting to sag after pregnancy, it’s likely you’re also experiencing loose skin around the stomach. A breast reduction paired with a tummy tuck can help you regain your prepregnancy figure. Abdominoplasty can also correct diastasis recti, the separation of the ab muscles that sometimes occurs in pregnancy

How Much Does Breast Reduction Surgery Cost?

The cost of breast reduction surgery depends on multiple factors, including how much tissue needs to be removed and whether you’re having an areola reduction. For more information, please contact us.

Breast Reduction FAQ

Is breast reduction surgery safe?

Breast reduction surgery is considered quite safe. However, it does have the same risks as any major surgery, namely bleeding, infection and anesthesia-related complications.

How many cup sizes can I go down with a breast reduction?

How greatly your breasts can be reduced depends on the size and shape of your breasts. On average, most of our patients go down 1 to 2 cup sizes. However, we encourage our patients to focus on the desired shape of their breasts, not the cup size, which is difficult to predict. We will discuss your best options.

Will I be able to breastfeed after the surgery?

Most patients can successfully breastfeed after undergoing a breast reduction. However, it’s possible that internal scarring will affect your ability to produce milk. Women who undergo particularly major reductions in size are more likely to have issues breastfeeding in future.

Will I lose nipple sensation?

For several months after your surgery, you’ll likely have numbness around the nipple. (Heightened sensitivity can also occur) Your sensitivity should eventually return to normal; however, it may remain permanently reduced. Generally, full sensitivity loss only occurs if the nipple must be fully removed and reattached during surgery, which is very rare.

How long should I wait before shopping for new bras?

After a breast reduction, your breasts require several months to heal fully and assume their final shape. For this reason, we recommend waiting 2–3 months before purchasing new bras, at which point you’ll be able to determine your new cup size with confidence.