Breast Reduction with Liposuction

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Looking to go down a cup size? You may not need as invasive of an approach as breast reduction surgery to accomplish your goals. For patients who desire only a small decrease in breast volume, no lift…no drastic alteration in size.., liposuction can be a viable option.

Breast Reduction Surgery

While formal breast reduction surgery is a well-established procedure with a successful track record, it comes with a price: visible scarring, post-operative discomfort and increased surgical costs.

During a formal breast reduction surgery, multiple incisions must be made including one around the nipple, another vertically under the nipple plus or minus additional incisions.  If a large nipple lift is needed it may be necessary to complete a long anchor incision at the horizontal crease under the breast. Excess skin and breast tissue are then removed and re-contoured using a combination of liposuction and sharp dissection to lift the nipple and shape the breast.  Eventually, these incisions result in visible scarring.  While, in less severe cases, we can use a less invasive incision technique to reduce the appearance of scarring, breast reduction surgery is ultimately more intensive than a simple reduction by means of  liposuction.

Following breast reduction surgery, patients typically require 5 to 8 days of recovery. Although most patients are up and walking the day after surgery, strenuous activities should be avoided for six weeks.

For patients seeking a significant change in size and a re-contouring effect, breast reduction/lift surgery remains the best course of action.  Not only can it reduce breast size, it can also lift, firm and provide a more “perky” appearance to sagging breast. The cost of breast reduction surgery can range anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000.

Reduction with Liposuction

Another breast reducing option is breast reduction liposuction.  Although still a surgical procedure, is considered less invasive, less costly and results in minimal to no visible scarring.  While liposuction cannot drastically alter size, provide lift or a more pleasing contour, it can decrease breast volume by one cup size.   Skin reduced in size will often respond with some skin tightening.  For patients only wanting a small reduction, liposuction may be the more sensible option.

During liposuction, the breasts are treated with a tumescent solution intended to numb the area and control bleeding. The cannula, less than 3mm in size, is inserted through small 3mm incisions. VASER ultrasound can be used to dislodge fat from the surrounding breast gland tissues using sound waves.  The liposuction cannula then suctions the desired amount of fat tissue from the treated areas.

Following breast reduction with liposuction, patients will be required to wear a compression garment for 1 to 3 weeks. Depending on the patient’s occupation, many can return to work only a few days after surgery.  The cost of liposuction starts around $3000.

While patients desiring more extensive changes in breast size and contour may be better off with formal breast reduction surgery, patients only hoping to achieve slight alteration in size can bypass increased costs, scarring and recovery time by opting for reduction by liposuction.

If you are interested in exploring your options, call 423-648-4011 to schedule you complimentary consultation with our Board Certified Surgeons.