Less weight, with the proportions kept,Breast reduction that fits your figure
Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammoplasty)
Breast reduction removes excess breast tissue and skin to reduce the size and weight of the breasts; in most cases a lift is performed at the same time.
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Overview
Large breasts are not only an aesthetic concern. They bring physical discomfort: shoulder, neck and back pain, bra-strap grooves, eczema and chafing in the inframammary fold, limits on exercise, and a hunched posture. Breast reduction reduces excess breast tissue and skin to take away the weight, and in the same surgery raises the nipple and areola to the appropriate position to correct sagging as well.
How much to reduce, in what pattern to excise the skin, and along which route to protect the blood supply and sensation of the nipple and areola are the core of the surgical design. Dr. Juyoung Go has lectured at conferences in Korea and abroad on tailoring the skin excision pattern in breast reduction to each patient and on managing the skin envelope; those talks are listed under Related research at the bottom of this page.
Atelier Plastic Surgery does not simply make the breasts smaller. We choose a size that harmonizes with your shoulders, waist and hips, and reposition the tissue so that a natural shape and projection remain after excision. We perform only one general anesthesia surgery per day, and Dr. Go personally handles everything from consultation to surgery and follow-up.
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Recommended for
Shoulder, neck or back pain from the weight of the breasts
Bra straps that dig into the shoulders, or recurring eczema and chafing in the inframammary fold
Breasts so large that they limit exercise or clothing choices
A large difference in size between the two sides, where you want only one side reduced to match
Large breasts together with sagging, where a lift alone is not enough
Breasts that have enlarged and sagged after pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or weight change
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Surgery & treatment methods
01
Vertical-incision reduction
Through a periareolar incision and a vertical incision below the areola, breast tissue is excised and the remaining tissue is gathered upward and secured. No incision is made in the inframammary fold, and because the tissue is gathered and lifted, projection is maintained. If the amount removed is very large or the skin is severely stretched, skin may remain at the bottom and need additional tidying.
Suited for · A moderate amount of reduction with some skin elasticity remaining
02
Inverted-T (anchor) incision reduction
A horizontal incision along the inframammary fold is added to the periareolar and vertical incisions, so that tissue and skin are addressed in three directions. Even when the amount removed is large and the skin is greatly stretched, the nipple position and shape can be corrected at the same time. The scar is longer, but the fold scar sits within the bra line.
Suited for · A large amount of reduction with greatly stretched skin
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Designing the blood-supply route to the nipple and areola
The nipple and areola are moved to their new position while still attached to the tissue by a stalk (pedicle) that supplies their blood flow and sensation. Whether the pedicle is placed above, on the inner side or below is decided by the distance the nipple needs to be raised, the amount removed and the distribution of tissue. In very large breasts where the nipple must be moved a long way, the route is chosen with the risk to blood supply in mind.
Suited for · Decided together with the excision pattern in every reduction
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Combined liposuction
Volume at the front of the armpit and the side of the breast is better addressed with liposuction than with excision, as it leaves less scarring. When the proportion of fat is higher than that of breast tissue, a small reduction is sometimes done with liposuction alone, but in that case sagging is not corrected.
Suited for · Addressing side-breast and armpit volume at the same time, or a high proportion of fat
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Illustrations & photos
Before · Surgical design · Right after surgeryBefore · 6 months after surgeryScar position of an inverted-T reductionSurgical design · After surgeryBefore · After surgerySurgical design · Right after surgeryBefore · 6 months after surgeryDr. Juyoung Go lecturing on breast reduction at Korean and international meetings
Surgical designs and results are drawings based on photos; results vary by individual.
These may vary depending on your condition; we will give you precise details at your consultation.
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Atelier Plastic Surgery's approach
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We design the shape that remains before the amount to remove
The plan is built not around how much is excised but around what shape remains afterward. We first decide the nipple position, the height of the inframammary fold, and the width and projection of the breast, then work backward to calculate the position and amount of tissue to excise.
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The excision pattern is tailored to the patient
We choose between a vertical incision and an inverted-T incision according to the amount removed, the elasticity and laxity of the skin, and the distance the nipple must be moved. Breasts of the same size may call for different patterns depending on the skin, and Dr. Juyoung Go has lectured on this subject at a regional chapter symposium of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons and at conferences abroad.
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We choose a route that protects the sensation and blood supply of the nipple and areola
If the route for moving the nipple and areola is chosen poorly, reduced sensation or impaired blood supply can result. We plan the direction and thickness of the pedicle from the distance to be moved and the distribution of tissue, and check the blood supply during and after surgery.
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Size is decided by proportion to your body
Making the breasts as small as possible is not the goal. We decide together at consultation on a size that suits your shoulder width, waistline, height and weight, and confirm the expected shape with 3D simulation.
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After surgery
Day of surgery
After waking from general anesthesia, you rest in a private recovery room. Drains are placed and a compression bra is worn, and you stay in hospital for one day.
Days 1–3
After discharge, the breasts feel tight and sore and there is swelling. Drains are removed based on their output, and you avoid raising your arms high.
Week 1
At the first visit we check the wound and the blood supply to the nipple and areola. Most seated work is possible, and you can take a light shower with the waterproof dressing in place.
Week 2
Stitches are removed and scar care begins. We review the pathology results for the excised tissue. You continue wearing the support bra.
Months 1–2
Swelling subsides and you notice the weight on your shoulders and neck easing. Light aerobic exercise can begin; upper-body strength training resumes after a check at your visit.
Months 3–6
Scar redness fades and the shape stabilizes. Laser scar care is added as needed, and the final shape takes about 6 months to 1 year to complete, varying by individual.
Recovery care and the aftercare schedule are described in the Safety Care System. Safety Care System
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Side effects · Precautions
Breast reduction is a surgery with a wide area of excision, and the following side effects and complications may occur: bleeding and hematoma, infection, seroma, wound dehiscence where the closure separates (especially at the junction of an inverted-T incision), fat necrosis, reduced or lost sensation in the nipple and areola (which often recovers but may persist), impaired blood supply to the nipple and areola (rarely partial or total necrosis, with a higher risk when a very large amount is removed), reduced breastfeeding function, hypertrophic scars or keloids, asymmetry between the two sides, renewed sagging over time, distortion of the areola shape, and the possibility of revision surgery. The excised tissue is sent for pathological examination. Smoking affects wound healing and the blood supply to the nipple, so you must stop smoking before and after surgery, and a large change in weight can alter the result. We fully explain the risks that apply to you at consultation.
The content on this page is general medical information provided in accordance with the Medical Service Act. The results of surgery and treatments and the recovery period may vary by individual. All surgeries and treatments carry a risk of side effects, so please decide after a thorough consultation with a specialist.
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Related research
ConferenceSpeaker
Tailoring Skin Resection Patterns to Patient Needs in Reduction Mammoplasty
Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Chapter Symposium · 2025.03
How the skin excision pattern in reduction is chosen according to the patient
ConferenceSpeaker
Reduction Mammoplasty
Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, 4th Virtual Impact Seminar · 2023.08.30 · Online
A lecture covering breast reduction surgery as a whole
ConferenceSpeaker
Skin Envelope Management in Reduction Mammoplasty
2019 Chinese Medical Association Annual Meeting · Taipei Veterans General Hospital 60th Anniversary Symposium · 2019.06 · Taipei, Taiwan
How stretched skin is managed in reduction
ConferencePanelist
Breast Reduction Session
Korean Society of Breast Plastic Surgery, Summer Symposium · 2019.06 · Seoul
Each treatment page lists the items relevant to it; the full list is on the Academic Activities page.View all academic activities
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FAQ
Q1Will I be able to breastfeed after surgery?
When the nipple and areola are moved while still attached to the tissue, breastfeeding function is often maintained, but it may be reduced depending on the amount removed and the route. If you plan to breastfeed, please tell us at consultation and we will design accordingly; where possible, we recommend having surgery after you have finished childbearing and breastfeeding.
Q2How much can be reduced?
The amount removed is set by the amount of breast tissue, the condition of the skin, and the range within which the blood supply to the nipple and areola can be protected. Because we also look at proportion to your body, rather than simply going as small as possible, we decide together at consultation on a size that suits your shoulders and waist.
Q3Where will the scars be?
With a vertical incision, the scars are at the areola border and in a vertical line below the areola; with an inverted-T incision, a horizontal line along the inframammary fold is added. Scars are red for several months and gradually fade, to a degree that varies by individual. Scar care begins right after the stitches are removed.
Q4What happens to nipple sensation?
Immediately after surgery, sensation is often dulled, and in most cases it recovers over several months. However, when a large amount is removed or the nipple has to be moved a long way, reduced sensation may persist; we explain this risk to you individually at consultation.
Q5Can the breasts become large again after reduction?
The excised breast tissue does not grow back, but the remaining tissue can enlarge with weight gain, pregnancy or hormonal changes. Keeping your weight stable helps maintain the result over the long term.
Q6Can liposuction alone reduce the breasts?
When the proportion of fat is higher than that of breast tissue and there is no sagging, a small reduction is possible with liposuction alone. However, glandular tissue cannot be suctioned and sagging is not corrected, so in most cases excision and a lift are needed.
