“Scarless” Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction using liposuction alone is often referred to as “scarless” breast reduction surgery. Although some incisions are required, breast reduction through liposuction is as close as modern technology has come to allowing certain patients to improve their self-image and health without highly visible scars.

Breast Reduction through Liposuction Information

Breast reduction using liposuction alone involves removing excess fatty tissue from the breasts in order to reduce overall volume. Following the procedure, the remaining skin will shrink naturally over time to fit the new breast volume. When the breasts have more fatty tissue than glandular tissue, breast reduction with liposuction alone can have a very good outcome. Below, we have provided more information about the scarless breast reduction procedure.

Incision Locations

When performing breast reduction with liposuction, the surgeon makes a small incision under the armpit or in the crease beneath the breast. A surgical tube, called a cannula, is inserted into the breast through this incision and is used to break up and remove fatty tissue and reduce breast volume. Breast reduction performed through liposuction alone only affects the fatty tissue and not the connective tissue of the breast. Typically, connective tissue is affected more than fatty tissue in traditional breast reduction surgery and vertical incision breast reductions.

Advantages

Breast reduction surgery generally results in visible scars that may fade over time but will never completely disappear. One of the main advantages of scarless breast reduction surgery is that liposuction leaves so little scarring: only one small, inconspicuously placed incision is needed for each breast. Also, since breast reduction through liposuction only affects the fatty tissue of the breast and the nipple is not removed, there is no risk of sensation loss in the nipple area or breast skin. Additionally, the milk ducts are usually not affected and breast feeding is still possible following the procedure.

Other advantages of scarless breast reduction include faster breast reduction recovery, less trauma to the breast, reduced bleeding, and fewer breast reduction surgery complications.

Disadvantages

Scarless breast reduction surgery is not the best choice for women with excessively large breasts or those with more glandular tissue than fatty tissue because liposuction only reduces the amount of fatty tissue in the breasts.

Breast reduction through liposuction alone will not affect the shape of the breasts, only the volume. Other types of breast reduction surgery often provide a visible lift because excess skin is removed and the nipple is repositioned to a higher location. A visible lift can be achieved through the liposuction procedure if the breast skin has ample elasticity, however, it is not guaranteed in every case. Therefore, droopy breasts may still appear to droop following the procedure.

Ideal Candidates

Women whose breasts have more fatty tissue than glandular tissue are ideal candidates for scarless breast reduction because liposuction can only reduce the amount of fatty tissue in the breast. Also, men with gynecomastia (excess breast tissue) can often achieve good results with male breast reduction through liposuction. Breast reduction using only liposuction is usually not an option for more slender women with large breasts, women with very pendulous breasts, or women with excessively large or dense breasts, as these women tend to have more glandular tissue than fat.

In general, ideal candidates for any type of breast reduction surgery should be looking to reduce the size of their breasts and should be well-informed about their surgical options. During your consultation, your surgeon can help you determine if you are a good candidate for breast reduction surgery and work with you to select an appropriate surgical technique.

Consult a Plastic Surgeon near You

One of the most important steps to take before receiving a breast reduction is to fully understand what will take place during surgery. Visit DocShop’s online directory to find a plastic surgeon near you today and find out if scarless breast reduction surgery through liposuction is best for your body type and expectations.