In my plastic surgery practice, women frequently come to me wanting larger, fuller breasts. On the other hand, I also have many patients who would like their breasts to be smaller. Very large breasts, especially on small-framed women, can cause significant physical discomfort, neck pain, back pain, rashes, posture problems and even exercise interference. Overly large breasts can also make it hard to find properly fitting clothing and bathing suits, and for many women, can make them uncomfortably self-conscious.

If you feel your breasts are too large and are causing you discomfort, I recommend breast reduction surgery. As well as reducing the size and weight of your breasts, this surgical procedure can help you feel dramatically better about yourself and your appearance. I also perform breast reduction on men, usually due to a condition called gynecomastia, where the breasts are abnormally enlarged. In addition to breast reduction, I offer a complete range of breast procedures which you can learn about here.

3 things that breast reduction surgery accomplishes

1. Repositions the nipple and areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple) and repositions it higher up on the chest.
2. Removes extra tissue. The amount that gets taken out can vary. For some women it’s a pound, for other women it might be as much as 2 or 3 pounds.
3. Removes extra skin. Once I’ve decreased the size of the breast, I shape the skin around it to give a higher and tighter appearance to the breast.

Get the facts about breast reduction in this short video

No matter which type of plastic surgery procedure my patients are considering, I truly believe that the best patient is an informed patient. It's very important to me that before you have a procedure, you have all the information you need to make the decision that's right for you. That's why I like providing short videos where I briefly explain a certain body enhancing procedure—in this case, breast reduction. Simply click on the image below.

Who is a good candidate for breast reduction?

As well as decreasing the size of a person’s breasts, breast reduction surgery relieves many other symptoms, including:

• rashes
• neck, shoulder and back problems and accompanying pain
• after-effects of back surgery due to large breasts
• being chronically hunched over
• deep grooves due to bra straps
• other large breast-induced deformities

What are the surgery and recovery like?

Generally speaking, the procedure lasts 1-1½ hours. It is outpatient surgery, so patients are in and out in the same day. Typically, they feel better right away and are relieved to not have to carry around that weight any longer. There will be a certain degree of pain from the surgery, but the neck, shoulder and back pain improve almost immediately.

Sometimes a breast lift is what’s best

For some of my patients, their breasts have begun to sag and droop but they don’t have particularly large breasts. In these cases, breast reduction really won’t serve the purpose of relieving the symptoms associated with breasts that are too large. For these patients, I would recommend a breast lift.

You may be a good candidate for breast reduction if:

• The size of your breasts is out of proportion with your body
• One breast is disproportionately larger than the other
• You have discomfort, back problems, or other health problems from overly large breasts
• Wearing a bra with wide straps for at least 12 months has not helped
• Physical therapy for at least 6 months has not helped
• Your general health is good
• You have realistic expectations for improvement and not perfection
• You are a man whose breast enlargement has not responded to medication and whose breast development is stable

Who is not a good candidate for breast reduction

• You are pregnant, breastfeeding, or recently stopped breastfeeding
• You have an abnormal mammogram or an undiagnosed breast condition
• You have a history of poor wound healing or a clotting disorder
• You are severely obese
• You have a severe illness or infection

I perform breast reduction surgery at the Surgical Specialty Center of Westchester

For almost every plastic surgery procedure I perform, including breast reduction, I use the Surgical Specialty Center of Westchester. Located in Harrison, NY, the Surgical Specialty Center has four operating rooms and an 11-bed recovery room. Each operating room is fully equipped with state-of-the-art anesthesia (provided by a board-certified anesthesiologist), emergency equipment and everything else I and my surgical team need to provide the highest standard of care to each one of our patients. To learn more, watch this short video.

How much does breast reduction cost?

One of the first questions many patients ask me when they’re considering breast reduction is how much it will cost. My answer is that there is no one standard price. Every woman’s breasts are unique, and the results she is seeking from breast reduction surgery are specific to her. Plus, she may have breast implants that she wants to exchange for a smaller size. For these reasons, I determine the exact cost of the procedure after I have met with the patient, evaluated her breasts, her overall physical condition and her personal goals and expectations. Then together, we decide how to achieve the best possible results. For further pricing details, please contact me.

Insurance coverage

It’s important to know that with breast reduction, if your symptoms are severe enough—neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain—it often will be covered by insurance companies. It’s a fairly common operation and usually covered.

Considering breast reduction?

Deciding to have breast reduction surgery is a big decision, impacting how your breasts look and how you will feel about your body for the rest of your life. If you are thinking about this procedure and would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact me and I will send you additional information prior to your appointment. I will assess the current appearance of your breasts, your reasons for wanting surgery, and your expectations. Then together, we will decide which options will bring you the results you’re looking for.

To learn more about breast reduction, I recommend these 3 blogs

So you can be fully informed about this important decision, I’ve written several blogs explaining the many aspects of breast reduction surgery:

• Would You Like Smaller, Less Painful Breasts? Consider Breast Reduction
• How Long Does Breast Reduction Surgery Take?
• When to Consider Breast Reduction

For more information on the many types of breast surgery I offer, please visit these pages on my website: 

You can find detailed information on my website about the many breast procedures available to you:

• Breast Procedures
• Breast Augmentation
• Breast Lift
• Breast Reconstruction
• Breast Reduction
• Breast Revision

Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Samuel J. Beran, MD is a highly accomplished plastic surgeon with offices in Manhattan, Harrison and Mount Kisco, NY. With more than 20 years’ experience and a thorough command of the most advanced techniques and technologies, Dr. Beran consistently provides his patients with the highest level of plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast, face, skin and body. Recently, Dr. Beran was named a “Top Doctor” by RealSelf for his dedication to responding to consumer questions and patient feedback. The “Top Doctor” designation is awarded to less than 10% of the RealSelf physician community.