What Is Breast Reduction?
Reduction mammaplasty reduces breast volume by removing a planned amount of glandular tissue, fat and skin, then reshaping the breast. In many techniques, the nipple and areola remain attached to their blood and nerve supply while being repositioned. In very large reductions, a free nipple graft may occasionally be required, which has different implications for sensation and breastfeeding. Liposuction can sometimes assist contouring but does not replace tissue excision when substantial skin or glandular reduction is needed.