Treating the Not-So-Sexy Side Boob after Breast Reduction

However, not all side boobs are sexy or desired for that matter.

Dr. Gilbert Lee, a board-certified plastic surgeon in San Diego, CA., has coined the term “side boobs” as an undesirable outcome of most breast reduction surgeries, and he has set out to eliminate this condition as it pertains to surgical breast reduction.

Here’s the difference in a natural side boob and the one resulting from breast reduction. Most women who seek to reduce the size of their breasts tend to have an apple-shaped body. Apple body types hold weight in the trunk with no issue in the arms or legs. The apple body type is compared to the pear-shaped body type which tends to hold weight in the lower portion of the body, with weight in the hips, buttocks, and thighs. A large breasted, apple body not only presents with large breasts but will have excess fat around the entire trunk, side and back included. Redundant skin and fat on the lateral chest can get as big as a breast.

Breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) surgical are also applied to mastopexy (breast lift). The plastic surgeon cuts and removes excess tissues (fat, glands, skin) and repositions the nipple higher up on the breast hemisphere.

This technique reduces the breast itself, but the bulk of excess skin just lateral of the breast, under the arm, is left creating a bulge, previously hidden by the breast mounds. The patient below shows a good example of side boob.

This patient had previously undergone a breast reduction with another plastic surgeon, leaving her with pronounced lateral chest bulk. She also gained 10 pounds, and as an apple body type, the excess weight was evident in the lateral chest and back. In order to reduce the side boob and narrow the breast, Dr. Lee performed extensive liposuction of the lateral chest, axilla and axillary region. There was a significant amount of excess skin and breast sagging (ptosis), as well, which necessitated a longer incision in order to remove all the skin and also to create a sharper, more definite breast fold.

A note for patients seeking breast reduction, most plastic surgeons only reduce the breast and not the side boob. In order to reduce side boob deformity, liposuction of the lateral chest is essential, and Dr. Lee performs lateral chest liposuction and excision of excess skin with most of his breast reduction cases.

Most women feel a surge in self-confidence after breast reduction; thankful to have relief from the weight of large breasts.  They often feel sexier and relish in the idea of expanding their wardrobe to show off their new smaller, perkier breasts. To leave a breast reduction patient with bulky side boobs is, in short, an incomplete surgery.  If you are considering breast reduction, be sure to ask your surgeon if he includes lateral chest liposuction in your procedure.

For more information on breast reduction with side boob correction, contact Changes Plastic Surgery & Spa at 858-720-1440 or use the convenient contact form below.