4. How is a breast reduction performed?
Step 1: Anesthesia
Before your procedure, your doctor will recommend the best choice of anesthesia for you. The options are intravenous sedation and general anesthetic.
Step 2: The incision
There are three types of incisions made when undergoing breast reduction surgery. These options include a circular pattern around the areola (donut incision), an incision around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease (Lollipop incision), and an inverted T-shape incision (anchor incision).

Step 3: Removing tissue and repositioning the breast
The nipple is repositioned after the incision is made and the areola is then reduced by trimming around the edges (if necessary). The breast tissue is then reduced, lifted, and shaped.
The nipple and areola may need to be removed and transplanted to a higher place if the breasts are extremely large.
Step 4: Closing the incision
Sutures, skin adhesives, and/or surgical tape are used to hold the incisions together to create a smaller breast. Incision lines are permanent, but in the vast majority of cases, they diminish and improve over time.
Step 5: Enjoy the results
The results of your procedure are usually visible immediately. There will be some swelling and visible scarring, but these will fade over time.