A breast reduction is helpful if you have large or excessive breast size that interferes with normal daily activities or exercise. Large, heavy breasts may cause a variety of difficulties including: back, shoulder and neck pain, poor posture, infections underneath the breast in the crease, bra-strap indentations and/or chafing. A breast reduction can help overcome these difficulties as well as provide a more attractive contour and improved self-image.

Our Technique

This procedure, performed under a general anesthesia, usually takes about 4 hours (but can be as long a 6 in some cases) and is performed on an outpatient basis. It is very similar to the mastopexy (breast lift), except that more breast tissue and skin are removed. Dr. Hunsicker typically uses the common anchor-shaped incision. In some circumstances, Dr. Hunsicker can perform a breast reduction using LipoSelection by Vaser. This technique may be an option for some women who are concerned about the scarring of a traditional breast reduction. Please see our LipoSelection section for more information on this technique.

After surgery you will likely experience some swelling and bruising of your breasts. You will have medication to help with the discomfort caused by the swelling. In addition it will be important to maintain good wound care to help you incisions to heal well. You should expect to have lifting and physical activity restrictions for 4-6 weeks. It is usually best to plan for a week of down time prior to returning to work.

Our Before & After Photos

Patient One

This 49 year old woman is 5’7” and 168 lbs. She complained that her DDD-cup breasts were causing shoulder-grooving, mid-back pain, and rashes underneath her breasts. Furthermore, this patient was having difficulty finding clothes and bathing suits that fit properly. Her goal was to reduce her breast size to a C-cup. She elected to have a traditional breast reduction surgery. During surgery she had 288 grams removed from her right breast and 354 grams from her left breast. She is now very happy as she is able to be more active and wear a wide variety of clothes. She often tells us “I can’t believe I waited so long to do this!”

Before	Before	Before
After - 6 months	After - 6 months	After - 6 months

Patient Two

This is a 31 year old woman who is 5’4” and 136 lbs. She desired a breast reduction because of shoulder grooving, and upper back and neck pain. She had D-cup breasts and desired to reduce her size to a C-cup. Because she did not have much excess skin and was not looking for an extreme change, she was a great candidate for a breast reduction using LipoSelection by Vaser. This technique is less invasive and does not require the long incisions of a standard breast reduction. During surgery a total of 175 cc were removed from each breast. She is now very happy with her C-cup breasts and is doing great!

Before	Before	Before
After - 8 months	After - 8 months	After - 8 months

As with any surgical procedure, complications from a breast reduction, although rare, do exist. The specific risks, as well as suitability, for any given individual cannot be determined until the time of consultation. While we hope this information is helpful, it can not substitute for a consultation. We invite you to contact us at 720-283-2500 or online to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hunsicker. Together, you can determine if you are a good candidate for a breast reduction as well as specific risks and complications that may occur.

For more detailed information please visit The American Society of Plastic Surgeons® (ASPS) ®