Breast Reduction

If your large breasts are uncomfortable or limit your life, consider breast reduction in Newport Beach and Temecula at United Plastic Surgery. Our board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. John Larson and Dr. Phuong Pham, are breast enhancement specialists who can help you look proportioned and feel lighter with this life-changing procedure.

What is breast reduction?

Breast reduction is a plastic surgery procedure that reduces the size and weight of the breasts by removing breast tissue, fat, and stretched skin.

What are the benefits of breast reduction?

Women who have completed puberty choose breast reduction to improve their quality of life in a variety of ways, including:

• Reducing the size and weight of overly large breasts
• Tightening lax breast skin and areolas
• Creating a youthful, rounded breast shape
• Increasing body confidence
• Relieving physical problems such as back pain, neck pain, and chafing
• Improving upper and lower body proportions
• Expanding clothing choices
• Enabling participation in a wider variety of activities

Our surgeons can perform breast reduction as part of mommy makeover surgery along with liposuction and tummy tuck.

How is breast reduction performed?

Our plastic surgeons perform breast reduction in one of our private surgery centers as an outpatient procedure using general anesthesia. Before surgery, your surgeon will measure your breasts while upright and use a surgical pen to mark the new location for the nipple/areola on the skin.

He will then make the incisions and remove excess fat and breast tissue. He leaves the nipple and areola attached to the breast tissue to preserve blood flow and sensation. In most cases, the surgeon will reshape the areola. Finally, the surgeon brings the breast skin together over the new breast shape, removes the excess, and closes the incisions with fine sutures.

How long does it take to recover from a breast reduction?

You can typically return to nonstrenuous work and school in about 2 weeks and are fully recovered in about 2 months.

Recovery Timeline

Recovery after breast reduction depends on the specifics of the surgery and the patient. In general, expect the following general milestones and timeline:

• Soreness and tightness fade: 1 week
• Return to work and nonstrenuous activities: 1 to 2 weeks
• Swelling dissipates: 3 months
• Resume high-impact activities: 3 months
• Numbness resolves: 4 to 6 weeks
• Scars flatten and fade: 1 to 2 years
• Results are noticeable: breasts are lighter and smaller right away; shape improves for 12 to 18 months