Breast reduction is surgery to reduce the size of the breasts.

Breast reduction surgery is usually done under general anesthesia. You will be asleep and pain-free. Or, you may have local anesthesia. You will be awake and will receive medicine to numb your breast area to block pain. If you have local anesthesia, you will also receive medicine to relax you.

For a breast reduction, the surgeon removes some of the breast tissue and skin. Your nipples may be moved higher to center them, for cosmetic reasons.

In the most common procedure,

• The surgeon makes three incisions (cuts): around the areola (the dark area around your nipples), from the areola down to the crease under your breast, and across the lower crease of your breast.
• Extra fat, skin, and breast tissue are removed. The nipple and areola are moved to a higher position. Often the areola is made smaller.
• The surgeon closes the incisions with stitches to reshape the breast.
• Sometimes liposuction is combined with breast reduction to improve the shape of the breast and armpit areas.

The operation can last 2 - 5 hours.

Breast reduction may be recommended for you if you have very large breasts (macromastia) and:

• Chronic pain that affects your quality of life. You may be having headaches, neck pain, and shoulder pain.
• Chronic nerve problems caused by poor posture, which result in numbness or tingling in your arms or hands.
• Cosmetic problems, such as persistent bra-strap groove, scar-like lines in the skin (striae), difficulty finding clothes that fit, and low of self-confidence.
• Chronic rashes under your breasts

Some women may benefit from non-surgical treatments, such as losing excess weight, exercising to strengthen their back and shoulder muscles, and supportive bras.