Consumer's Guide to Breast Reduction
Breast Reduction Assessment of Value and Outcomes (BRAVO) Study
Long-Term Considerations
- Will I be able to breast feed after surgery?
- What will my breast look like after I have healed?
- Will breast reduction increase my risk of breast cancer?
- Will I keep nipple sensation (nipple feeling) after reduction surgery?
- Will I regain full function and be pain free?
- Will future weight gain affect my breast size?
1. Will I be able to breast feed after surgery?
Depending on the type of breast reduction, studies report that the loss of the ability to breastfeed can range from 0-100% after surgery. Most pedicle techniques (See Section II) show better results, with most patients able to produce breast milk afterward. With free nipple reductions, you will not be able to breast feed following reduction.
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2. What will my breast look like after I have healed?
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3. Will breast reduction increase my risk of breast cancer?
Breast reduction involves removal of some but not all breast tissue. Recent studies have reported a lower risk of breast cancer after breast reduction surgery. This seems to be especially the case in women who are over 40 years old at the time of surgery. Risk of cancer reduction was 28 to 50 percent and thought to be due to the removal of breast tissue. There was no reduction noted for women having the surgery before the age of 40.
However, bear in mind that these studies are preliminary and that breast reduction should not be performed for cancer prevention reasons. How such surgery will affect your cancer risk should be discussed with your doctor. All women should continue to do monthly breast examines following breast reduction. Women over 40 should also have regular (yearly) mammograms.
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4. Will I keep nipple sensation (nipple feeling) after reduction surgery?
Following breast reduction, about 13% percent of women report some loss of nipple sensation. This loss may be permanent. In other cases, sensation will slowly return (at least partially) in the 6-12 months after surgery.
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5. Will I regain full function and be pain free?
Although most women in the BRAVO Study reported substantial improvements in physical functioning and pain following breast reduction, it is possible that your preoperative functional limitations and discomfort may not change after surgery. When breast reduction is done for the right reasons (physical limitations and pain), patients usually judge their surgery to be a success.
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6. Will future weight gain affect my breast size?
Weight gain or loss is something that you and your doctor should discuss at your original consultation and before your operation. Generally, if you are planning on losing weight you should do so prior to the operation. If you have your breasts reduced and then lose weight, you may find that they are significantly smaller than you had previously intended. On the other hand, if you have your breasts reduced and then experience weight gain, you may find your breasts increasing in size. Whatever the situation, it is important that your weight be stable (as much as possible) before your breast reduction.
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