You Might Need A Second Breast Reduction To Achieve Your Desired Results
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), breast reduction surgery was one of the most sought procedures between 2021 and 2022. Unlike other plastic surgery procedures focusing on aesthetics, many individuals seek breast reduction for physical and mental health reasons. While large breasts are often lauded in the media, they can cause an array of issues that can take a toll. This includes back, neck, and shoulder pain. Rashes and nerve pain are also common. Likewise, having large breasts can limit your ability to participate in physical activities and can be downright uncomfortable.
These factors can ultimately cause an individual to have a negative self-image. Breast reduction can help with these issues and works by surgically removing breast tissue, fat, or sagging skin. Liposuction can also be used. However, breast reductions are not cheap and can cost anywhere from $7,000 to nearly $10,000. For many, this is a small price to pay for an outcome that will have you feeling better in your clothes and, in some cases, more youthful. Several celebrities have been open about getting plastic surgery, specifically breast reductions, including Amber Rose and Ariel Winter. And although getting a breast reduction can appear to be a one-and-done deal, this isn't always the case.
Breast tissue can grow back
Plastic surgeon Liza Wu told Health, "Just because you have this surgery doesn't mean your breasts will remain like that forever." Simply put, breast reduction is not permanent, as removed breast tissue can, unfortunately, grow back. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight gain, weight loss, and hormonal changes can all cause breasts to enlarge. This can also occur in individuals who underwent a breast reduction procedure before the end of puberty. If this is your case, you can undergo a second breast reduction to get back the results of your first procedure. Nonetheless, there are other reasons for choosing to go ahead with a second breast reduction.
Some patients may want to give themselves a more youthful appearance and get a second breast reduction combined with a breast lift. In other cases, people chose to get a second breast reduction because they were not happy with the result of their first procedure. Published in the journal of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, "How to Approach Secondary Breast Reduction: International Trends and a Systematic Review of the Literature," notes that besides enlargement, asymmetry and scarring can lead patients to go under the knife a second time.
In an article for Redbook, writer Sunny Kay wrote that she got a second breast reduction because she felt that her post-op breasts were still too big for her petite body. She states that this left her devastated, which resulted in her waiting three years until her second surgery.
A second breast reduction is complicated
If you're contemplating a second breast reduction, there are certain things you should be aware of. First and foremost, you should wait at least a year after your first breast reduction to undergo your second breast reduction. This allows you to fully heal and see the complete results of your first procedure. If you want to have children or have plans to expand your family, it's advised to wait before having your second breast reduction. As aforementioned, pregnancy and breastfeeding can increase the size of your breasts.
However, getting a second breast reduction is not without its complications. Per "How to Approach Secondary Breast Reduction: International Trends and a Systematic Review of the Literature" (via Aesthetic Plastic Surgery), this can include necrosis or problems with the nipple-areolar complex, such as a loss of sensation. Moreover, issues can arise due to scar tissue from your first breast reduction. For this reason, a second breast reduction is usually more costly and takes more time than the first.
It's essential to consider these factors and to have a realistic expectation of the size you want your breasts to be after your second breast reduction. Despite these cons, Sunny Kay wrote in Redbook that her second breast reduction was everything she wanted and more. As she put it, "My body finally felt like my own."