Unfortunately, the answer is yes. There is a possibility that your breasts will return to their previous size even after they've been reduced. The good news is that this is a rare occurrence among patients and can be prevented in most cases.
If they are still too small after 6-12 months, then a breast augmentation or fat grafting may be options to help you increase their size.
Generally, this is a permanent result. If you put on weight or become pregnant then your breasts will increase in size but, on the whole, they will remain small and shapely. You have to allow for the natural effects of the ageing process though.
Many women are concerned that their breasts grow back after a breast reduction, and while this is very unlikely, pregnancy is one of the common contributing factors when regrowth occurs.
Know that your breasts will continue to age – right along with the rest of your body – even after surgery. Even so, your breasts will be smaller and in a better position. They won't sag as they would without the surgery.
After breast reduction with an inverted T scar and sometimes with mastopexy the tightening of the skin envelope means that the point of maximal tightness is in the midline between the nipple and the inframammary fold. Occasionally this may lead to some fullness laterally which gives a flat, rather square appearance.
The results from a breast reduction surgery are permanent as the excess skin, fat, and tissue that's removed cannot grow back. However, weight gain can lead to new fat accumulating in the breasts. Likewise, pregnancy and breastfeeding can significantly increase the size of the breasts.
Gaining weight after breast reduction will cause increased size of the breast beyond the hoped-for result. Losing excess weight after surgery can cause sagging of the tightened skin and possibly a size and shape that is too small.
Typically, most reductions bring the cup size down one to two sizes, though in cases of extremely large breasts, more drastic results may be achieved. For example, a woman who is a DD but wants a reduction to reduce discomfort, especially during physical activity and exercise may be able to go down to a B-C cup.
If you had a breast reduction at a younger age and weren't happy with your new size, or if your surgery created an asymmetry in size or position, it's absolutely possible to undergo a second breast reduction, when you choose an experienced plastic surgeon.
Most surgeons do not dictate or require a particular size to qualify you as a candidate for breast reduction. The most vital factor they consider is if the breast size causes you mental and physical health problems.
While you won't lose much weight from a breast reduction surgery, your appearance will change, and you will look slimmer. Large breasts tend to change the proportion of your figure and make you appear bigger. When the breast size is altered, it has a slimming effect.
During your recovery, your activity level will be significantly reduced. This decrease in movement can lead to fluid retention, increasing your swelling and bloating symptoms. Without being able to engage in the physical activity you usually would, you may even recognise a small weight gain. This is completely normal!
The most common breast reduction complications are infections, loss of nipple sensation and breast reduction scars. Most patients have a lollipop-shaped scar that circles the nipple and includes a straight line down to the crease under the breast, or an anchor-shaped scar along the fold under the breast.
After surgery, you will probably feel weak. You may feel sore for 2 to 3 weeks. You also may feel pulling or stretching in your breast area. Although you may need pain medicine for a week or two, you can expect to feel better and stronger each day.
For sensation to gradually increase after the cosmetic surgery, the damaged nerves need time to regenerate. For some patients, nipple sensation has been reported to return within 2-3 months, but this can vary. Although surgeons will try to preserve the nerves, 20-30% of patients lose some sensation.
Breast lift surgery is very effective for reversing sagging. Your doctor can remove excess skin to bring the sagging breast up. You may also want to have a breast implant inserted to make the whole breast look fuller.
The fat and other breast tissue removed during breast reduction can't grow back. However, if you gain weight after your procedure, new fat can accumulate in your breasts and make them grow in size.
Breasts can shrink for many reasons, including hormonal changes during menopause or simple weight loss. But if one breast begins to shrink while the other remains the same size, it may be caused by a tumor developing around your chest wall. This pulls in the breast tissue, making the breast appear smaller.
After investing in breast surgery, the last thing you want is to achieve the results you desire, only to have them diminished because you lost weight afterward. After weight loss, your breasts may develop laxity, causing them to sag.
The breast shape will not look quite right for several weeks because of the breast lift that is done as part of the reduction procedure. It leaves the breast looking a little flat on the bottom and a little wide and these changes resolve in a few weeks.
Will I Lose Weight After a Breast Reduction? Yes, you will probably lose some weight after this procedure because you are removing fat from your body. The amount of weight you'll lose depends on how much tissue you remove with surgery. However, you shouldn't expect your operation to tip the scales.
It is critical that patients wear their supportive unwired medical bra at all times for the first 1 – 2 weeks after breast lift surgery. At this point, you may be able to sleep without a bra, though most patients find it more comfortable to continue wearing an unwired bra around the clock for several more weeks.