What are the Risks of Breast Liposuction?

The primary risks connected to breast liposuction include infection and difficulty or inability to breastfeed. Some patients also experience scarring and dimpling around the breasts, along with chronic pain. In spite of the risks, liposuction is often considered a safer and less invasive option for reducing the size of the breasts. When compared to a traditional breast reduction surgery, breast liposuction normally requires less time in the hospital and faster recovery overall. This type of liposuction is not necessarily the right option for everyone looking to reduce the size of their breasts, and in some cases a traditional breast reduction surgery may be a better option.

Infection is one of the most common breast liposuction risks. Many doctors will put their patients on a round of antibiotics immediately following the procedure to help prevent the onset of infection. Most doctors also advise their patients to be extremely careful to take good care of the incision site. It is important for a patient to follow all after-care instructions given by her doctor, and not doing so may greatly increase the chances that the incision site will become infected or inflamed.

A woman who is planning to have a child in the near future may want to put off breast liposuction for a few years. This is because there is a slight chance the procedure will damage some of the glandular tissue inside the breast, which could make breastfeeding either difficult or impossible. Glandular damage doesn't always occur, and many women who have this type of liposuction are able to successfully breastfeed, but it is important that a woman who intends to have children is aware of the risks.

Dimpling and scarring are also possible problems that may result from breast liposuction. This disappoints many people who have the procedure because the end result does not appear as they had hoped. There is very little that can be done to prevent this from occurring, but selecting a well-trained, qualified doctor who has a lot of experience with this type of breast reduction may help ensure that dimpling and scarring are minimal. Not every person experiences dimpling, but the site of incision nearly always develops a scar. Doctors normally attempt to make incisions in areas that are not noticeable, such as in the folds of the armpit or underneath the bottom of the breast.

Almost everyone experiences some pain after breast liposuction, but it can vary in intensity depending on a person's pain tolerance and how invasive the procedure was. Most pain can be dealt with by using either prescription or over-the-counter pain medication. Pain that is very intense, does not respond to pain medication, or does not abate after a few weeks should be immediately evaluated by a doctor.

Breast liposuction may not be the answer for everyone despite the fact it is less invasive than traditional breast reduction surgery. A person with a bra size that exceeds DD may need to consider traditional breast reduction because liposuction may not give her the results she desires. Another thing a person should consider before deciding what type of breast reduction to have is how much fatty tissue is inside her breasts. Liposuction is typically considered a good choice for people with lots of fatty tissue, while breast reduction surgery might be best for people with mostly glandular breast tissue because it cannot be suctioned out.