Breast
Breast reduction in Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece
I perform 10 to 15 breast reductions a year. I plan each operation to relieve neck, back and shoulder pain while keeping the breasts well shaped and the scars as discreet as possible.
Breast reduction removes part of the breast gland, fat and skin so that your breasts become smaller, lighter and more lifted, and the pain in your back, neck and shoulders eases. It is performed under general anaesthesia as a day case, with no overnight stay in hospital.
10–15
operations a year
At a glance
What it treats
Large, heavy breasts with back, neck or shoulder pain, sagging and asymmetry
Anaesthesia
General
Operating time
2.5 to 3 hours
Hospital stay
None; you go home the same day, with someone to accompany you
Back to work
About 1 week for desk work
Exercise
After 1 month
Final result
Final shape at 4 to 6 months; scars mature in about 1 year
Where
Interbalkan Medical Center, Thessaloniki · Athens Medical Center, Marousi
Medically reviewed by Dr Prodromos Papaioannou, Plastic Surgeon, HESPRAS member, ASPS International Member · Last reviewed:
What is breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction, also called reduction mammaplasty, reduces the volume and weight of the breast. Part of the gland, fat and skin is removed, the nipple is moved higher and the breast is given a more lifted shape, so that the physical symptoms caused by heavy breasts are relieved.
Breasts can grow disproportionately large at puberty, with weight gain or around the menopause. The extra weight usually brings sagging too: the nipple drops, the areola widens and the lower part of the breast becomes heavy.
Large breasts strain the neck, back and shoulders, irritate the skin in the fold beneath the breast and make sleep and exercise harder. If you are happy with your breast size and only the sagging bothers you, a breast lift (mastopexy) is the right operation instead.
Am I a good candidate for breast reduction?
Breast reduction is suitable when large, heavy breasts cause physical symptoms or limit your daily life. No particular cup size makes it necessary: what matters is the balance between volume, sagging and skin quality, which I assess when I examine you. It suits healthy adults whose weight is stable.
Who is a typical candidate?
- Back, neck or shoulder pain caused by the weight of the breasts.
- Skin irritation or fungal infection beneath the breast (intertrigo).
- Repeated skin inflammation in the fold beneath the breast, such as hidradenitis.
- Pain in the neck, shoulders and lower back, or difficulty exercising and sleeping.
- Difficulty with breast screening: examination by touch is almost impossible, and in a very dense, large breast a mammogram does not easily show abnormalities.
- Grooves in the shoulders from bra straps, and difficulty finding clothes and swimwear that fit.
- A marked difference in size between the two breasts.
When do I advise against breast reduction?
- When your weight has not stabilised, or you plan to lose a significant amount of weight.
- During pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- If you have an active infection or an illness that increases the risk of anaesthesia, the operation is postponed.
- In heavy smokers, unless they stop smoking 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery.
- If you are planning a pregnancy soon, we discuss whether it is better to wait.
How do I prepare for breast reduction?
Preparation starts with a consultation, where I examine you, we agree on the size you would like and you receive a written plan. Before surgery you need blood tests, an anaesthetic assessment and, depending on your age, breast imaging. If you take blood thinners, tell me: only the prescribing doctor can stop them.
What happens at the consultation?
I examine the size and symmetry of your breasts, the position of the nipple and the quality of the skin. We discuss your symptoms, the size you would like, the scar and whether you plan to breastfeed in the future. You leave with a written plan.
Which tests do I need before surgery?
You need blood tests, an assessment for anaesthesia and, depending on your age, imaging of the breasts, usually an ultrasound and, from about age 40 or earlier with a family history, a mammogram. If you take blood thinners, let me know; they are only stopped in agreement with the doctor who prescribed them.
How is breast reduction performed?
Breast reduction is performed under general anaesthesia, takes 2.5 to 3 hours and needs no hospital stay. I remove the excess gland, fat and skin, move the nipple higher on a pedicle that keeps its blood supply and nerves, and shape the breast into a natural teardrop form.
I mark the breasts while you are standing, to plan the new nipple position and the incisions. Between 200–300 g and more than 1.5 kg of tissue is removed from each breast, and I check symmetry with measurements during the operation.
Inverted-T or vertical scar?
With the inverted-T (anchor) technique, the scar goes around the areola, runs vertically down and continues horizontally in the fold beneath the breast; it suits a large excess of skin. With the vertical-scar technique there is no horizontal part, and I prefer it when there is less excess skin.
How is the nipple protected?
The nipple stays attached to a pedicle, a section of gland that carries its blood vessels and nerves, and is moved up without being detached. Techniques differ in which part of the gland is removed. Only in very large reductions is the nipple transferred as a free graft. The areola is made smaller in proportion.
Incisions and stitches
The stitches are dissolvable and do not need to be removed. The horizontal part of the incision, when there is one, is hidden in the fold beneath the breast. In most cases no drains are placed.
Can breast reduction be combined with other procedures?
Liposuction helps a great deal: it sculpts areas that are otherwise hard to reach, such as the sides of the chest towards the armpit, and so reduces the overall length of the scar. When the upper part of the breast is very empty and flat and reshaping the gland is not enough, I add a small amount of fat or small silicone implants.
Do I need to stay in hospital?
No. You go home the same day with someone to accompany you, wearing an elastic bra. You must not drive after general anaesthesia.
What is recovery like after breast reduction, week by week?
Pain after breast reduction is mild and is controlled with ordinary painkillers for the first 2 to 3 days. You can shower after 5 to 6 days, return to desk work in about a week and start exercising again after a month. The final shape develops over 4 to 6 months.
| When | How you feel | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Day of surgery | Mild pain and a feeling of tightness | Go home with a companion, in an elastic dressing or bra; no driving |
| Days 1–3 | Pain eases; swelling and bruising | Ordinary painkillers; walking around the house; no lifting |
| Days 4–7 | Less swelling; possibly some numbness in the nipple | Shower after 5–6 days; desk work by the end of the week |
| Weeks 2–4 | Swelling and numbness settle gradually | Everyday activities; no exercise or heavy lifting until the end of the month |
| Month 1 | Sensation almost back to normal | Gradual return to exercise |
| Months 3–4 | The breasts, deliberately high at first, settle and take on a teardrop shape | Normal activity |
| Months 4–6 | Final breast shape | Check of the result |
| About 1 year | Scars mature and become much less visible | Protect the scars from the sun until then |
How long do I need to stay in Greece after breast reduction?
Breast reduction is a day case, so you spend no nights in hospital: you leave the hospital the same day with someone to accompany you. Plan to stay in Greece for 5 to 10 days. Before you leave the hospital, we give you written instructions on your medicines, your support bra and wound care, and book your check-ups, including the final one the day before your flight.
The stitches are dissolvable, so there is nothing to remove before you travel, and in most cases no drains are placed. Pain is usually managed with ordinary painkillers within 2 to 3 days.
Once you are home, follow-up continues by video call at 10 days, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year. Between calls you can reach us on WhatsApp, and you receive a reply the same day.
At home, arrange for someone to stay with you on the first night if possible, and to help with lifting during the first days. Plan for about a week away from desk work and a month away from exercise and heavy lifting, including heavy luggage. Your support bra is usually worn for about 4 to 6 weeks.
When will I see the final result of breast reduction?
You will see the final result at 4 to 6 months, and the scars mature over about a year. At first the breasts sit deliberately higher, because I build in a planned overcorrection. The tissue removed does not grow back, so with a stable weight the result lasts for years.
In the first weeks the breasts look high and the upper part looks full; within 3 to 4 months they settle and take on a teardrop shape. Because you carry less weight, posture, pain and exercise improve. Your breasts will still change with weight, hormones and pregnancy.
What are the risks of breast reduction?
Serious complications after breast reduction are rare and can be treated. The scars are permanent, and nipple sensation and the ability to breastfeed can be affected. We go through the risks that apply to your own case at the consultation, before you decide on surgery.
| Complication | How common | Prevention and treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Haematoma (collection of blood) | Rare, in the first days | Medicines that affect clotting are reviewed beforehand; drained if it occurs |
| Wound infection | Rare | Wound care; antibiotics if needed |
| Delayed wound healing | Uncommon; more likely in smokers and in large reductions | Stopping smoking; local wound care until healed |
| Hypertrophic scars or keloids | A few cases, more often in women who have had them after earlier injuries | Silicone sheets, injections, laser |
| Change in nipple sensation | Usually temporary; rarely permanent | The pedicle preserves the nerves; sensation usually returns within weeks to months |
| Loss of nipple or skin tissue (necrosis) | Rare; more likely in very large reductions and in smokers | A pedicle with a good blood supply, stopping smoking; wound care or corrective surgery |
| Reduced ability to breastfeed | Breastfeeding is often preserved but can be reduced | We discuss it before surgery and I take it into account in planning |
| Asymmetry of the breasts or nipples | Slight asymmetry is normal; more marked asymmetry is uncommon | Measurements during surgery; correction if needed |
| Need for revision surgery | Uncommon | A minor corrective procedure; the type of anaesthesia depends on the case |
Smoking. Smoking significantly increases the risk of delayed healing and of nipple or skin necrosis. For this reason I do not perform breast reduction on heavy smokers unless they stop smoking at least 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery.
Blood thinners. Tell me if you take anticoagulant or antiplatelet medicines. They are only ever stopped in agreement with the doctor who prescribes them.
What affects the cost of breast reduction?
We do not publish prices, because the cost depends on the technique, how much tissue is removed and whether liposuction or fat transfer is added. You receive a quote after I have examined you at the consultation. The main factors are:
- How much tissue is removed and the technique (inverted-T or vertical scar).
- Whether liposuction or fat transfer is added.
- The length of the operation and of the anaesthesia, and the operating theatre and materials costs.
Frequently asked questions
Will breast reduction leave scars?
Yes. Breast reduction leaves permanent scars, because skin has to be removed. The scar runs around the areola and vertically down to the fold beneath the breast and, with the inverted-T technique, horizontally inside that fold, where it is hidden. The scars mature and fade over 10 to 12 months. A small number of patients form hypertrophic scars or keloids, usually women who have already had them after earlier injuries. If that applies to you, tell me at the consultation.
Can I breastfeed after breast reduction?
Breastfeeding may be possible after breast reduction, but the ability is often reduced, because the operation removes glandular tissue and can affect the milk ducts and the nerves of the nipple. How much depends on the technique and on how much tissue is removed. If you plan to breastfeed in the future, tell me at the consultation so that we can take it into account in planning. In some cases it makes sense to postpone the operation until your family is complete.
When will I see the final results of my breast reduction?
The final result shows at 4 to 6 months. At first the breasts sit deliberately a little high, because of a planned overcorrection, and within 3 to 4 months they settle into a natural teardrop shape. The scars take longer and mature over about a year. The tissue removed does not come back, but breast size can still change with weight, age and pregnancy.
Do I need someone with me after breast reduction?
Yes. Breast reduction is done under general anaesthesia and you go home the same day, so you need someone to take you home and, ideally, to stay with you on the first night. You must not drive after general anaesthesia. For the first few days you should avoid heavy chores and sudden movements, so it helps to have support at home.
Do I have to stay in hospital after breast reduction?
No. Breast reduction is performed as a day case, with no overnight stay, and you leave with someone to accompany you. Before you go, we check that you have recovered well from the anaesthesia and give you written instructions on your medicines, your bra and wound care, together with an appointment for your first check-up.
Will I lose nipple sensation after breast reduction?
Nipple sensation can change after breast reduction, but the change is usually temporary. The nipple stays on a pedicle that carries blood vessels and nerves, so that it remains alive and sensitive. In the first weeks sensation may be reduced or heightened, and it returns gradually over months. Permanent loss of sensation is rare and more likely in very large reductions.
How long does a breast reduction last?
The result of breast reduction is long-lasting: the glandular tissue and fat that are removed do not come back. The breast is still living tissue, however, and continues to change with weight, age, hormonal changes and pregnancy. A stable weight and a supportive bra during exercise help to keep the shape. A large weight gain or loss can affect the size and position of the breasts.
How do I care for my scars after breast reduction?
In the first period I usually recommend St John’s wort oil, which helps healing and keeps the skin moisturised. If after a few months the scars become redder or more prominent, we use silicone sheets or laser. Protect the scars from the sun for the first year, because sun exposure can darken them. At your check-ups after surgery we decide together whether any further care is needed.
Will my areolas be smaller after breast reduction?
The nipple itself does not get smaller; the diameter of the areola, the darker skin around it, is reduced to suit the smaller breast. We plan the final size together before surgery, when I mark the breasts. The nipple is moved higher without being detached from the gland, so that it keeps its blood supply and nerves.
Can breasts grow back after a reduction?
Yes, they can. The gland that has been removed does not regrow, but the tissue that remains grows or shrinks with weight and hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or the menopause. That is why I advise having the operation at a stable weight and keeping your weight stable in the years afterwards.
Is breast reduction painful?
Pain is usually mild and is covered by ordinary painkillers for 2 to 3 days. In the first days you will have swelling, bruising and a feeling of tightness, mostly when you move your arms. Usually no drains are placed and the stitches dissolve, so there is nothing to remove. You can return to desk work in about a week.
How much breast tissue is removed in a reduction?
The amount varies, from 200–300 g to more than 1.5 kg per breast. It depends on your starting size, your build, your symptoms and the size you would like to be. At the consultation we agree on the goal and I plan the operation. During surgery I use measurements to check symmetry in size, shape and nipple position.
When can I fly home after breast reduction?
Breast reduction is a day case with no nights in hospital, and the stitches dissolve, so there are none to remove before you travel. Plan to fly home from day 5, after your final check the day before the flight. Avoid lifting heavy luggage, as heavy lifting is restricted for the first month. We confirm your travel dates with you at the consultation.
Can my follow-up be done at home?
After your check-ups in Greece, follow-up continues from home by video call at 10 days, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year. The recovery milestones are the same wherever you are: shower after 5 to 6 days, desk work in about a week, exercise after a month and the final shape at 4 to 6 months. If something worries you between appointments, message the practice on WhatsApp and you receive a reply the same day; in an emergency, call us, and for an acute problem go to the nearest hospital emergency department. Follow-up checks are done by me, and nursing care at home can be arranged if you need it.
References
- Wise RJ. A preliminary report on a method of planning the mammaplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1956;17(5):367–375.
- Strömbeck JO. Mammaplasty: report of a new technique based on the two-pedicle procedure. Br J Plast Surg. 1960;13:79–90.
- Hall-Findlay EJ. A simplified vertical reduction mammaplasty: shortening the learning curve. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1999;104(3):748–759.
- Kraut RY, Brown E, Korownyk C, et al. The impact of breast reduction surgery on breastfeeding: systematic review of observational studies. PLoS One. 2017;12(10):e0186591.
- Chadbourne EB, Zhang S, Gordon MJ, et al. Clinical outcomes in reduction mammaplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies. Mayo Clin Proc. 2001;76(5):503–510.
- Collins ED, Kerrigan CL, Kim M, et al. The effectiveness of surgical and nonsurgical interventions in relieving the symptoms of macromastia. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2002;109(5):1556–1566.
- Jones SA, Bain JR. Review of data describing outcomes that are used to assess changes in quality of life after reduction mammaplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2001;108(1):62–67.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterThese photos include nudity.
Breast reduction
Woman, 42 · 12 months after
Front
Results vary from patient to patient.
Consultation
In Thessaloniki, in Athens or by video. Examination, options and a written plan.