Breast
Relieve the back, neck, and shoulder pain of overly large breasts and restore a comfortable, proportionate size.
Breast Reduction
If large breasts cause you daily back, neck, and shoulder pain, dig grooves into your shoulders from your bra straps, or make exercise and everyday activities difficult, a breast reduction can change your life as much as your appearance. Breast reduction, or reduction mammoplasty, removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to bring your breasts to a smaller, lighter, more proportionate size, and it lifts and reshapes them at the same time. Unlike most cosmetic surgery, breast reduction often relieves a real physical problem, which is why it is one of the most satisfying procedures in plastic surgery.
At his Denver practice, Dr. Jason Martin performs breast reductions for women whose breast size affects their comfort and their daily life. As a board-certified plastic surgeon, he reduces, lifts, and reshapes the breast in a single operation for a comfortable, proportionate result.
At a Glance
These are typical starting points. Dr. Martin confirms the specifics for your case at your consultation.
Depending on the technique and the amount of tissue removed.
A surgical bra is worn for 4 to 6 weeks.
Final shape at 3 to 6 months.
Pregnancy or significant weight gain can affect the result.
Depending on how much tissue is removed.
Depends on the technique and the amount of tissue removed.
Functional indications
For many women, the reason for a breast reduction is physical, not cosmetic. Overly large breasts put constant strain on the back, neck, and shoulders, and that strain shows up in daily symptoms:
Reducing the size and weight of the breasts relieves this strain, and most women describe the difference in their comfort as immediate. That relief is what makes breast reduction one of the most satisfying procedures in plastic surgery, and what sets it apart from a purely cosmetic operation.
Your options
A breast reduction removes tissue and also lifts and reshapes the breast, so the technique, and the resulting scar pattern, depends on how much tissue needs to come out.
A vertical reduction is best for small to moderate reductions.
The incisions go around the areola and straight down to the breast crease, which limits the scar while removing a moderate amount of tissue. It suits women who need a meaningful but not extreme reduction.
An anchor reduction is best for larger reductions.
It adds a horizontal incision along the breast crease, which allows the most tissue to be removed and the most reshaping for very large breasts. The scar is more extensive in exchange for the fuller correction.
Candidacy
You may be a good candidate for a breast reduction if your breast size causes physical symptoms like back, neck, or shoulder pain, limits your activity, or simply feels out of proportion with your body, and you are in good general health. The relief tends to be greatest for women whose symptoms have a clear link to their breast size.
You may be a good candidate if you:
A common question is whether you should lose weight first. Being at or near a stable weight is preferred, since significant weight changes after surgery can affect your result, and in some cases weight loss alone reduces breast size. That said, when symptoms are severe, you do not always need to reach a specific number on the scale first. As with any surgery, it is best done once you are finished having children, since pregnancy can change breast size again. Dr. Martin gives you a straight assessment of timing at your consultation.
Experience & judgment
Dr. Martin selects the technique based on how much tissue needs to be removed, always balancing the fullest relief with the most limited scarring your case allows. He repositions the nipple and reshapes the breast as part of the reduction, so the result is comfortable and natural in proportion.
What he brings to that work
The procedure, step by step
A breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia. The steps follow a consistent sequence:
while you are sitting up, so the new size, shape, and nipple position are planned accurately.
in the pattern chosen for the amount of reduction (vertical or anchor).
and the remaining breast tissue is reshaped to a smaller, lighter size.
to a natural height and resized as needed.
in layers to support the new shape and keep the scars as fine as possible, and a surgical bra is placed.
Recovery
Recovery from a breast reduction is often easier than women expect, in part because the relief from the weight is immediate. The pattern below is typical; Dr. Martin gives you specific instructions for your case.
The first few days
Some soreness and swelling are normal and well controlled, but many women notice the weight relief right away. You will wear a surgical bra from the start.
About 1 to 2 weeks
Most women return to desk work, still wearing the surgical bra and limiting how much they raise their arms.
About 4 to 6 weeks
The surgical bra is worn through this period, and exercise gradually resumes as Dr. Martin clears you.
Months
Swelling settles, the breasts soften into their final shape over 3 to 6 months, and the scars continue to fade over about a year.
Investment
In Denver, a breast reduction generally runs from about $9,000 to $14,000. The cost depends on the technique and the amount of tissue removed, along with anesthesia and facility fees.
At your consultation you will receive a clear, itemized quote for your specific plan, and our team will walk you through financing options so the cost fits your budget.
Common questions
A breast reduction in Denver generally runs from about $9,000 to $14,000, depending on the technique and the amount of tissue removed, along with anesthesia and facility fees. You will receive an itemized quote for your specific plan at your consultation, along with financing options.
Being at or near a stable weight is preferred, since significant weight changes afterward can affect your result, and in some cases weight loss reduces breast size on its own. When symptoms are severe, though, you do not always need to reach a specific weight first. Dr. Martin gives you a straight answer based on your situation at your consultation.
The most common reasons to wait are smoking, an uncontrolled health condition, or being well above a stable weight. Planning a future pregnancy is also a reason to consider waiting, since pregnancy can change breast size again. Most of these are temporary; Dr. Martin assesses your candidacy at your consultation.
Yes. A breast reduction includes a lift as part of the procedure, since the nipple and areola are repositioned and the breast is reshaped along with being made smaller. So you get both a smaller size and a higher, firmer shape.
Most women return to desk work in about 1 to 2 weeks and wear a surgical bra for 4 to 6 weeks. Exercise resumes gradually over that period, and the breasts settle into their final shape over 3 to 6 months as swelling resolves.
Some women can breastfeed after a breast reduction, but the surgery can affect milk production depending on the technique and how much tissue is removed. If breastfeeding in the future is important to you, raise it at your consultation so Dr. Martin can factor it into your plan and timing.
Begin
The best way to know whether a breast reduction is right for you is an exam with the surgeon who performs the surgery. Dr. Martin will assess your symptoms and your goals, explain your options in plain terms, and build a plan around the relief and proportion you are looking for. Take our virtual consultation to get started, or call our Denver office at (303) 321-1439 to schedule your visit.
(303) 321-1439