From our decades of practice and published research, we know breast reduction surgery (reduction mammoplasty) has consistently demonstrated high satisfaction rates among women. This procedure not only alleviates their physical discomfort but also enhances their psychological well-being, leading to a significant improvement in their overall quality of life. So what are the numbers, what is the breast reduction surgery satisfaction rate?
Understanding Breast Reduction Surgery Satisfaction Rates
Reduction mammaplasty is a surgery where we reduce the size of large or sagging breasts to achieve a more comfortable and proportionate appearance based on a woman’s body shape, activity levels, and personal desires. Women with excessively large breasts (macromastia) often experience a range of physical and emotional pain associated with their breast size, including:
- Chronic pain in the neck, back, and shoulder
- Skin conditions and rashes
- Poor posture
- Limitations in physical activities
- Numbness
- Low self-esteem
- Increased self-consciousness and anxiety
After surgery, women who have felt held back in life due to restrictions and limitations from their breast size now have the freedom to do what they want with more ease and wear clothes they love. While the primary goal of the surgery is to reduce breast size, a secondary outcome is providing women with the life they dreamed of.
Patient Satisfaction Rates
Women who have undergone breast reduction surgery will tell you about all the positive changes in their lives after choosing the procedure. They are now able to exercise pain-free, wear clothes they love and that make them look and feel great, and most importantly, they get to live their lives without the debilitating upper body pain they have endured for years due to the weight of their large breasts.
Breast Reduction Surgery Satisfaction Rates | ||
|---|---|---|
Component | *Satisfaction Rate | Explanation |
Overall Satisfaction | 95% | Most patients report high satisfaction and improved quality of life. |
Pain Relief | 90-95% | Significant reduction in discomfort is a major reason for high satisfaction. |
Physical Activity Improvement | 80-90% | Many patients report increased ease in exercising post-surgery. |
Aesthetic Satisfaction | 80-90% | Satisfaction depends on scar appearance and symmetry. |
Psychological Well-Being | 85-95% | Patients experience improved self-esteem and body confidence. |
Breastfeeding Ability | 40-60% | Some women may experience difficulty breastfeeding post-surgery. |
Scar Appearance | 70-85% | Some patients are concerned about scars, though most find them well-hidden. |
Complication Impact on Satisfaction | 60-80% | Minor complications (e.g., delayed healing) may lower satisfaction slightly. |
*Information compiled from multiple studies and reviews
The positive outcomes of breast reduction surgery are not just immediate but also enduring. Long-term follow-up studies have shown that even decades after breast reduction surgery, women still had high levels of satisfaction and reported continued improvement in their daily lives.
Potential Risks and Complications
While breast reduction surgery boasts high satisfaction rates, there are always risks associated with any surgery. During your consultation, your plastic surgeon will cover all of these concerns with you and let you know the best practices to improve your healing and recovery and get the best possible outcomes from your surgery. Potential risks of breast reduction surgery may include:
- Infection
- Wound healing issues
- Bleeding
- Breast asymmetry
- Scarring
- Loss of nipple or breast skin sensation
- Breastfeeding difficulties
- Need for revision surgery
Even with the possibility of complications, most women have an uneventful surgery and recovery period. They can quickly get back to their daily activities with a newfound sense of freedom and improved self-esteem.
Harris Plastic Surgery: Your Trusted Choice for Breast Reduction Surgery
Breast reduction surgery can offer substantial benefits, including a high satisfaction rate and significant improvements in your daily quality of life. While potential risks exist, the overwhelming majority of women we have seen report positive outcomes and increased happiness after surgery.
Harris Plastic Surgery offers a comprehensive and patient-centered approach to breast reduction surgery. Dr. Harris is renowned for his expertise in plastic and cosmetic surgery and has decades of experience in providing women with surgical results they love paired with the health benefits they need. The whole office emphasizes a commitment to individualized care so each woman who walks through our doors receives the attention and support she needs throughout her entire surgical journey.
Harris Plastic Surgery - Your Breast Reconstruction Experts
Stephen U. Harris, MD FACS
Dr. Stephen U. Harris is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and recognized expert in breast reduction and reconstruction surgeries, having performed thousands in his career. When it comes to patient care, his philosophy is that every surgery should improve his patient’s overall quality of life, not just their appearance. Dr. Harris stays up-to-date on all the latest advancements in breast augmentation, reconstruction, and reduction and is a recognized innovator in the field. In fact, he was the first surgeon at Good Samaritan Hospital to offer primary prepectoral implant breast reconstruction, as well as secondary prepectoral revision surgery.
Dr. Harris also serves as Chief of Plastic Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, New York and is an active staff surgeon (and former Chief of Plastic Surgery) at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, New York.
