Breast Reduction Risks

Surgical Risks & Potential Complications of Breast Reduction Surgery

What are the surgical risks and potential complications of Breast Reduction Surgery?

While breast reduction surgery, when performed by an experienced and qualified plastic surgeon, often has pleasing results, there are a number of breast reduction risks that you should be aware of. The decision to have breast reduction is extremely personal, and you’ll have to decide if the procedure will achieve your goals and whether or not the risks and potential complications are acceptable. While the majority of women do not experience these complications, Dr. Agha will discuss each potential complication with you to make sure you understand the risks and consequences of the procedure. Click Here for our Gallery on Breast Reduction.

Breast Reduction Surgery Risks:

• Unfavorable scarring
• Infection
• Changes in nipple or breast sensation, which may be temporary or long-lasting
• Risk related to anesthesia
• Bleeding (hematoma)
• Blood clots
• Poor wound healing
• Breast contour and shape irregularities
• Skin discoloration, long-lasting pigmentation changes, swelling and bruising
• Damage to deeper structures-such as nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and lungs-can occur and may be temporary or long-lasting
• Breast asymmetry
• Fluid accumulation
• Excessive firmness of the breast
• Potential inability to breastfeed
• Potential loss of skin/tissue of breast where incisions meet each other
• Potential partial or total loss of nipple and areola
• Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications
• Pain, which may persist
• Allergies to tape, suture materials and glues, blood products, topical preparations or injectable agents.
• Fatty tissue deep in the skin could die (fat necrosis)
• Possibility of revisional surgery

The practice of medicine and surgery is not an exact science. Although good results are expected, there is no guarantee.

• Talk to Dr. Agha in detail about the potential risks, benefits and possible complications of breast reduction surgery before you commit to having the procedure performed.
• Be aware that long-lasting scarring cannot be avoided when a patient undergoes breast reduction surgery. While plastic surgeons can do an excellent job of hiding and masking the scarring, and it will be hidden when wearing a bra or bathing suit, it will be present to some degree.
• Prepare to face post-surgical pain. This can typically be managed through the use of prescription painkillers.
• Be aware that all breast reduction procedures carry a risk that the woman will lose the ability to breastfeed. This is because some of the milk ducts and the breast gland are removed during the surgical procedure. If your ability to breastfeed is important to you, a breast reduction may not be the right choice until you have completed your family.
• Be prepared for a period of several weeks to make a complete recovery from your breast reduction surgery.