Breast Reduction
Breast reduction removes excess breast tissue to relieve the back, neck and shoulder pain that comes with disproportionate weight, and it is one of the highest-satisfaction procedures in plastic surgery.
What is abreast reduction?
Breast reduction, or reduction mammoplasty, removes excess breast tissue, fat and skin so the breast is smaller, lighter and better proportioned to the body. It is worth saying at the outset that this operation is as much about physical relief as it is about appearance. The people who come in for it are typically dealing with chronic back, neck and shoulder pain, grooving where bra straps cut into the shoulders, rashes and irritation in the fold beneath the breast, difficulty exercising, and posture that has adapted to carrying the weight.
There is no non-surgical way to make a large breast meaningfully smaller. Surgery is the only treatment that changes how much weight the shoulders and spine are actually carrying, which is why it is the only thing that reliably settles the symptoms.
Satisfaction after breast reduction is consistently among the highest of any procedure in plastic surgery. Patients describe discomfort that had been constant for years being gone, and often report not only that physical relief but a renewed sense of confidence and happiness with their appearance. Breast reduction at our practice in Cincinnati is performed by our experienced, board certified plastic surgeons.
Who is breast reduction for?
Breast Reduction is surgery, so candidacy is decided in person.
Dr. Arora assesses your anatomy, your health, and what the operation can and cannot achieve in your case, including risks and recovery, before anything is scheduled.
Chronic pain from the weight
People with chronic back, neck or shoulder pain caused by the weight of their breasts.
Grooving and skin irritation
People with bra strap grooving, or with rash and irritation in the fold beneath the breast.
Limited by breast size
People whose breast size limits exercise, movement or how clothing fits.
Asymmetry or disproportion
People with noticeably asymmetrical or disproportionately large breasts.
Healthy non smokers
Non smokers in good general health with realistic expectations of the result.
The right timing
Best done at a stable weight, since weight gain, pregnancy and hormonal change can all alter breast size afterwards.
Where breast reductionworks
Reduction works on the breast and on what the breast is doing to the rest of the body. Excess tissue, fat and skin are removed, the remaining tissue is reshaped, and the nipple and areola are repositioned, because a breast made lighter also has to be re-supported in its new position.
The relief patients describe is usually felt away from the breast, in the shoulders, neck and back that had been carrying the weight.
How the operation is performed
Breast reduction is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia and generally takes two to four hours depending on complexity. Excess tissue, fat and skin are removed, the remaining breast tissue is reshaped, and the nipple and areola are repositioned and sometimes resized. A lift is part of the operation rather than an addition to it, since a breast that has been made lighter also has to be re-supported in its new position.
The incision pattern depends on how much has to come out and how much skin has to be taken in. Your surgeon will explain which pattern your anatomy calls for and why, before you commit to anything.
Anchor pattern. Runs around the areola, vertically down to the fold, and along the crease.
Lollipop or vertical pattern. Runs around the areola and straight down to the fold, without the horizontal component, and suits moderate reductions with moderate sagging.
Vaser liposuction as a less invasive route
For selected patients whose breast bulk is largely fatty, the practice offers a Vaser liposuction reduction rather than an open operation. Vaser uses high frequency ultrasound energy to loosen fat cells before they are removed through a cannula, which makes the removal gentler and more controlled than traditional liposuction and spares the surrounding muscle, nerve and tissue. Removing that weight allows the breast to reduce in volume and to sit higher.
It avoids the anchor and lollipop incisions altogether and leaves virtually no scarring.
It can be performed under local anesthetic.
There is less bruising and swelling.
Patients get back to their activities considerably sooner.
It is not the right operation for everyone. Vaser suits patients whose excess breast tissue is primarily fatty, and where the tissue is dense and glandular the open reduction is the operation that will actually solve the problem. Deciding between the two is the main work of the consultation.
Some medical histories change the picture, including heart disease, diabetes and elevated breast cancer risk, though none of these rules the procedure out automatically. Patients who are pregnant or nursing should wait until they have finished and recovered.
Recovery and results over time
Symptom relief is often the first thing patients notice, and it frequently arrives immediately. The shape takes longer, settling as swelling resolves, with the final result typically at three to six months.
Expect swelling, bruising and discomfort for the first several days, managed with prescribed medication and a supportive surgical bra or compression garment. Arrange for someone to stay with you for at least the first 24 hours. Most patients drive again within about a week, once they are off pain medication and feel physically capable, and return to work and non-strenuous activity within one to two weeks. Sleep on your back for the first few weeks to protect the healing tissue.
Light activity can usually resume around two weeks. Strenuous exercise and heavy lifting are held for four to six weeks.
There will be scars, and they fade substantially over time. The reduction itself is permanent, since the tissue that was removed does not return, though weight gain, pregnancy and hormonal change can still alter breast size afterwards. Risks include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, changes in nipple sensation and problematic scarring, and these are discussed with you in detail before you decide.
Breast Reduction at our office
Filmed at the Montgomery Road office. Seeing the procedure explained and performed answers questions a written page cannot.
Whatto expect.
Book a consultationWhere the reduction is judged medically necessary because of chronic pain or physical impairment, insurance may cover part or all of it, and documentation and prior authorization are usually required first. Coverage rules differ between insurers and plans, so check yours directly, and our staff can help you assemble what they ask for.
Breast reduction is done on an outpatient basis under general anesthesia and generally takes two to four hours depending on complexity. A Vaser liposuction reduction, where you are a candidate for one, can be performed under local anesthetic.
Most patients return to work and non-strenuous activity within one to two weeks, and drive again at around a week once they are off pain medication. Light activity resumes near the two week mark, while strenuous exercise and heavy lifting are held for four to six weeks.
Symptom relief is often the first thing patients notice and it frequently arrives immediately. The shape continues to settle as swelling resolves, with the final result typically at three to six months.
Frequently asked questions
Will insurance cover breast reduction
Sometimes. Where the reduction is judged medically necessary because of chronic pain or physical impairment, insurance may cover part or all of it, and documentation and prior authorization are usually required first. Coverage rules differ between insurers and plans, so check yours directly. Our staff can help you assemble what your insurer asks for.
How long is the recovery
Most patients are back at work and non-strenuous activity within one to two weeks, and driving at around a week once they are off pain medication. Light activity resumes near the two week mark, with strenuous exercise and heavy lifting avoided for four to six weeks. Swelling continues to settle well past that, and the final shape is usually reached between three and six months.
What will the scars look like
An open reduction leaves scars in the anchor or lollipop pattern, placed deliberately so they sit where clothing and the natural fold conceal them. They typically fade significantly over time. A Vaser liposuction reduction, where you are a candidate for it, leaves virtually no scarring at all.
Will I still be able to breastfeed
Many women can breastfeed after a reduction, but the surgery can affect milk production and there is no way to guarantee the outcome in advance. If you may want to breastfeed in future, raise it clearly at your consultation so it can be weighed in the surgical plan and in the timing.
Will I lose sensation in the nipple
Some change in nipple sensitivity after surgery is common and it is usually temporary, with most patients regaining sensation as the nerves recover. There is a small risk that some change is permanent. This is a standard part of the consent discussion, and your surgeon will go through it with you before you decide.
Can breast reduction be combined with other surgery
Often, yes. Patients commonly combine a reduction with liposuction, a tummy tuck or other body contouring work in a single anesthetic. Your surgeon will advise on what is safe and appropriate to combine, rather than simply on what is possible.
Where to next
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Surgical procedures reviewed by Dr. Balvant Arora, MD, MBA, board-certified plastic surgeon at The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a surgical consultation. Every operation carries risk, and candidacy is determined in person.