Chest Reduction & Reconstruction

A variety of outcomes related to chest reduction and reconstruction

Reduction vs Reconstruction

Reduction and reconstruction surgeries look to remove tissue and skin to create a flatter chest.

Reduction surgery removes little to some of the tissue from the chest. Some skin may be removed to sup- port and contour the tissue that remains.

Reconstruction surgery will re- move some to most of the tissue from the chest. Skin on the chest is removed and contoured along our pec muscles.

There are different types of reduction and reconstruction procedures that we can choose from based on the amount of tissue we need to remove.

Reduction

Reduction procedures are ideal when we expect some of the tissue on our chest to remain after surgery.

Scarring can look different depending on the amount of tissue and skin that is removed. Depending on our surgeon, we may have options between inverted T scars, scars just under the chest tissue (along our pecs) or around the areola.

Our areola may be reduced in size to match the proportions of our chest. Depending on the amount of tissue removed and location of incisions, our nipple sensation may change or be slow to return after surgery.

Reconstruction

Reconstruction procedures are ideal when we expect most of the tissue on our chest to be removed during surgery.

Scarring can look different depending on the technique we discuss with our surgeon. Depending on our surgeons’ experience we may have the option to choose between double incision, keyhole/ peri-areolar, fish mouth, and inverted T techniques.

Nipple grafts, or parts of our nipples and areolas, are removed then resized and placed back in a lower and outer facing direction. Before surgery the surgeon draws guides on our chest to be sure they line up as best as possible after recovery.