Breast Reduction

Restoring Comfort and Balance

Breast size and weight can play a significant role in daily comfort and quality of life. When breasts are too large or heavy for the body, they can lead to physical symptoms of discomfort and interfere with the joy of fitting into clothing and swimsuits. For those who can relate to these frustrations, a breast reduction is a unique procedure that allows women to reclaim a sense of comfort and balance in their bodies.

What Is a Breast Reduction?

A breast reduction, also known as a reduction mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the size of large breasts. It also includes a breast lift, reshaping the them to be perkier for a more aesthetically-pleasing appearance. The life-changing surgery has many benefits, including:

Relief from discomfort due to heavy breasts: Patients with large breasts often experience neck & back pain, irritated skin, and shoulder indentations from bra straps digging into the skin. Reduction can alleviate these issues by lightening the weight of the breasts and distributing it more evenly.
Posture improvement: A decrease in size can help encourage better posture by reducing strain on the spine and neck, which can have positive effects on multiple aspects of one’s life.
Enhanced self-confidence: Achieving a smaller, more balanced chest through reduction surgery can provide patients with increased satisfaction with their appearance, leading to improved self-esteem and confidence.
Easier fitting of clothing: Oversized breasts can make it difficult to find clothes that fit well. Reduction can help patients feel better in their clothing and bras.
Improved lifestyle: Imagine the freedom of enjoying life without having to wear a tight bra every day and being able to jog and dance without heavy breasts.

Who Is a Candidate?

Dr. Min will assess you to determine whether breast reduction surgery is a suitable option for you. There is no strict age cut off for this procedure. If you are a teenager with large and heavy breasts, you can undergo this procedure as long as they have not been growing any bigger in size for at least a year. Generally, ideal candidates are:

In good overall health.
Not breastfeeding or pregnant.
Non-smokers before and after the surgery.
Without concerning findings on a recent mammogram in the past year (if over 35 years of age).
Free from any medical conditions that could impair healing.

No matter how big your breasts are, the amount of tissue that a plastic surgeon can remove is dependent on your body and what the breasts can handle. Generally speaking, the larger your breasts are, the less likely you can breastfeed if you go super small. If breastfeeding is something you’d like to do in the future, definitely consider your options with your plastic surgeon and raise your concerns!

Dr. Min reflects on a recent breast reduction surgery performed on an 18-year-old patient. Originally a triple D cup, the patient’s breasts were reduced to a C cup, which was her desired size. The decision to limit the reduction was based on essential considerations like preserving blood vessels and milk ducts, ensuring nipple health, and maintaining the potential for breastfeeding in the future

Breast Reduction Incision Types

Breast reduction procedures generally come in two incision types: Vertical (a “lollipop” incision) or Wise-pattern (an “anchor” incision). Every woman’s unique chest anatomy and shapes will determine which incision pattern would be necessary to achieve the most balanced results. Dr. Min, being a scar minimalist, will help you achieve the shortest possible scar of either type.

An Overview

During your initial consultation, we will discuss your aesthetic goals and expectations and assess the condition of your breasts to determine if moving forward is the right choice. For those patients with very thin skin and tissue, extra mesh reinforcement may be recommended to help with long-term results. Once you are ready to regain the comfort that your breasts have prevented you from achieving, the breast reduction procedure is performed under general anesthesia and will last about 4 hours.

Dr. Min will use her artist’s eyes and skillful hands to deliver beautiful results. She avoids scheduling other procedures before or after breast reduction to focus her energy exclusively on the surgery. She takes as much time as needed to ensure optimal outcomes, never rushing any step in the process. No surgical drains are placed during this procedure. After the procedure, the removed tissue will be sent to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center’s pathology lab, where a pathologist will check for any abnormalities. After awakening from anesthesia, you can go home with a responsible adult who will stay with you for the first 24 hours to ensure a safe recovery.

After the Surgery: Recovery

During your recovery period, you will be asked to wear a special post-surgical bra to help support the breasts as they heal. You will need a week of downtime to heal but will be able to participate in daily non-strenuous activities without issues. Dr. Min may place a sterile continuous suction device over the closed incisions at the time of surgery to help optimize healing. If you have this device, it will be removed a week after the surgery. You will be provided with detailed instructions on how to care for your surgical area and which activities you should avoid during the healing period. Dr. Min will see you in the clinic for multiple follow-up visits to ensure the recovery and results are coming along well.

Seeing Your Results

After your breast reduction surgery, you can expect to begin appreciating the results immediately despite the swelling and bruising you may experience. The final outcome of the procedure can be fully visible 3-6 months after the operation once the healing process is complete. With a healthy lifestyle and good self-care, patients can expect to enjoy their newfound comfort for years to come.

Combining a Breast Reduction With Other Procedures

Many women carry extra bulk in adjacent areas, such as the pinchable tissue next to the armpit area or the excess fatty tissue along the sides of the breasts. Dr. Min may recommend liposuction for these areas to help achieve an improved aesthetic contour for the chest as a whole. Other patients may choose to pair a breast reduction with abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) or more extensive liposuction to achieve comprehensive body contouring. During your consultation, we can work with you to explore possible combinations with your reduction procedure.

Meet Dr. Elise Min

Board-Certified Female Plastic Surgeon Specializing In Breast And Body Procedures In Los Angeles

Dr. Elise Min, a distinguished female plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, is renowned for her unique expertise in breast and body surgery. Board-certified and fellowship-trained, Dr. Min is celebrated for her personal approach to aesthetic surgery and her exceptional patient care. She places great emphasis on educating her patients, allowing them to make informed decisions about their treatment.

Before & Afters

Book Your Consultation for Breast Reduction in Beverly Hills

If you are interested in learning more about breast reduction surgery and how it can benefit you, we invite you to book a consultation with Dr. Min at her Beverly Hills practice today! During your appointment, we will discuss your concerns and aesthetic goals and assess the condition of your breasts to determine if a reduction is your ideal solution. Call our office or reach us through our online form to take your first step.

Breast Reduction FAQs

Will I be able to breastfeed after the surgery?

Breast reduction does not necessarily affect a patient’s ability to breastfeed. However, certain techniques may impact some aspects of breastfeeding, such as milk supply. Let Dr. Min know during your consultation if you plan to breastfeed at any point after the surgery. She can then adjust your options as needed to promote preserving your breastfeeding ability.

When does insurance cover breast reduction?

Breast reduction will often be a medically necessary procedure for women. Without the surgery, they could experience permanent health issues due to breast size and weight. When reduction is deemed medically necessary, insurance policies will usually cover the vast majority of the associated costs. However, insurance policies can vary significantly, so it is important to understand your policy ahead of time. Our team not only can work with you to understand what you policy might cover, but we have experience in understanding what insurance will cover. Using tools such as the Schnur sliding scale, we can evaluate your situation during the consultation. Based on the results and Dr. Min’s experience in the field, she can provide an estimate for whether the procedure will be deemed medically necessary. We are fully transparent either way, saving you time.

How much does breast reduction cost?

The final cost of the procedure will vary, reflecting the individualized parts of your plan. Dr. Min can provide a quote during the consultation once the outline of your plan is in place. Additionally, the out-of-pocket cost will be impacted by insurance coverage. Elements that can affect the procedure’s price include:

Any combined procedures
Complexity of the surgery
Anesthesia (we work only with board-certified anesthesiologists)

At what age can you have breast reduction?

In most cases, we can provide breast reduction for patients only once their breasts are fully developed. After this point, patients can have the procedure at any age. However, we recommend having it sooner rather than later. The sooner you address your concerns, the more time you will have to live symptom free. While some younger patients may have the procedure in severe cases, some insurance providers may require patients to be 16 years old before providing coverage.

See More Real Patient Results

This is a 22 year-old woman with 32DD breasts who felt that her breasts did not match her petite torso. She was experiencing neck and back pain and ideally wanted to be a C cup. The patient underwent a small breast reduction (130g removed from each breast), which included a breast lift procedure. She had the procedure done using a minimal scar approach with a lollipop incision. This is a good example that every breast reduction patient receives a breast lift procedure to achieve perkier breasts.

This is a petite 33-year-old woman who had been considering a breast reduction procedure for many years. She felt that her breast size did not match her petite frame and experienced the weight of her droopy breasts affecting her posture over the years. She underwent a vertical breast reduction with the minimal scar approach (‘lollipop’-scar) and had 173g removed from the left breast and 139g removed from the right breast. She went from 30DDD cup-sized breasts to her desired C cup-size after the procedure. She was excited to share that her posture improved, and feeling a lot lighter in the chest, she’s enjoying not wearing a bra at all.

This 40-year-old patient had DD-sized breasts and desired a C cup for a lighter, more comfortable fit. She underwent a breast reduction, with 250g and 270g of tissue removed from each breast, achieving a more proportionate shape. To enhance long-term support, she also opted for synthetic absorbable mesh (Galaflex) as an internal sling, often called an “internal bra.”

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