Breast reduction
a new body awareness

Breast reduction: Information at a glance

duration of the surgery2-3 hours, surgery under general anesthesia
anesthesiageneral anesthetic
hospital stay1 – 2 nights in hospital
Post op6 weeks postoperative compression bra, at least 3 weeks only light daily tasks
socially acceptableafter 1-2 weeks
Costsfrom 9.500 € + anesthesia costs

Breast Reduction – Relief for Body and Mind

Many women who come to me have been suffering for years from the consequences of having large breasts – back pain, tension, postural problems, and pressure sores from bra straps. Some avoid sports because their breasts hurt with every movement. Others feel uncomfortable in their clothes or ashamed in public. What many don't know is that this isn't a matter of vanity – it's often a medical necessity.

I am Dr. Juliane Bodo, a specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Breast reduction – medically known as reduction mammoplasty or breast reduction – is one of the procedures that most often gives my patients the feeling of finally being able to breathe freely again. I place great emphasis on holistic consultations that focus on the health benefits.

Who is eligible for breast reduction?

Breast reduction surgery is advisable if you suffer from one or more of the following conditions:

  • Chronic back, neck or shoulder pain due to the weight of the breast
  • Postural damage or incorrect posture
  • Limited freedom of movement during sports
  • Skin irritations or eczema under the breast crease
  • Psychological distress caused by appearance

In principle, the operation can be performed at any adult age. However, two conditions apply: the breasts must be fully developed, and there should be no planned pregnancies or significant weight changes in the near future, as these can affect the outcome.

Is breast reduction covered by health insurance?

If medical necessity is proven – that is, if chronic conditions such as back or neck pain, skin eczema, or postural problems are present and conservative therapies have not provided sufficient relief – the health insurance company may cover the costs. A detailed medical documentation is required. As a private clinic, we can only admit privately insured and self-paying patients for inpatient care. I would be happy to assist you in clarifying your options.

The breast reduction procedure at my clinic

During the procedure, excess skin and breast tissue are removed, and the breast is reshaped. The nipple is repositioned to achieve a natural, harmonious shape. I specialize in scar-minimizing techniques – particularly the Lejour and Hall-Findlay methods. These procedures allow for a particularly gentle breast reduction, preserving nipple sensitivity and the ability to breastfeed as much as possible.

The operation takes approximately 2–3 hours and is performed under general anesthesia. A hospital stay of 1–2 nights is recommended.

Which surgical methods do I use?

Lejour method (lollipop cut)

The Lejour technique is a proven method for medium to large breast reductions. It allows for minimal scarring and a natural result with good breast shape.

Cutting guide:

  • Circular incision around the nipple (periareolar incision) – to lift and reposition the nipple
  • Vertical incision from the nipple to the inframammary fold – to remove excess tissue and reshape the breast.
  • No horizontal incision in the inframammary fold – that is the decisive advantage over the classic anchor technique.

Advantages:

  • Fewer scars – no horizontal scar under the breast
  • Natural breast shape with good support
  • Preservation of nipple sensitivity in most cases

Possible disadvantages:

  • Not suitable for very large breast reductions
  • It takes several months for the breasts to fully settle.

Hall-Findlay method (anchoring technique)

The Hall-Findlay technique is particularly suitable for larger breast volumes. It was developed by Dr. Elizabeth Hall-Findlay to enable a naturally shaped breast while preserving sensation and the ability to breastfeed.

Cutting guide:

  • Circular incision around the nipple – the nipple remains connected to nerves and blood supply and is moved to a higher position.
  • An additional horizontal incision is made along the inframammary fold to remove excess skin. This creates the typical T-shaped scar.

Advantages:

  • Suitable for larger breast reductions
  • Good preservation of nipple sensitivity and breastfeeding ability
  • Long-term stable breast shape

Possible disadvantages:

  • More scarring than with the Lejour method due to the additional horizontal incision.

Both methods involve gently repositioning the nipple, including its nerves and blood vessels. The wound is closed with very fine sutures placed within the skin – this intradermal suturing technique minimizes scarring and ensures that the scars fade significantly over time.

Breast reduction is often combined with a breast lift.

Especially after pregnancies or significant weight loss, the tissue becomes even more lax. In these cases, I routinely combine breast reduction with a breast lift – in a single procedure. The result is smaller, firmer, and harmoniously shaped breasts.

Preparing for surgery

For optimal preparation, I recommend:

  • Abstain from alcohol, nicotine, sleeping pills and painkillers for at least two weeks before the surgery.
  • Ultrasound to investigate possible tissue changes
  • Open discussion about regularly taken medications
  • If medically indicated: Documentation of symptoms for the health insurance company

Risks & possible complications

As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur during breast reduction:

  • Postoperative bleeding: Possible, especially in cases of undetected clotting disorders – minimized by careful preliminary examination.
  • Wound healing disorders & infections: Rare, but require close follow-up.
  • Altered nipple sensitivity: Temporary numbness is common and usually normalizes within a few months. In cases of very large tissue reductions exceeding 500 g per breast, the change may last longer.
  • Breastfeeding ability: My scar-minimizing techniques preserve this ability as much as possible – however, a 100% guarantee is not possible with any breast surgery.
  • Asymmetries: Minor differences are anatomically normal and usually not bothersome. In cases of pronounced asymmetries, correction is possible.
  • Scar formation: Depending on genetic predisposition for wound healing – consistent scar care significantly supports fading.
  • General surgical risks: thrombosis, anesthetic reactions, bleeding – will be discussed in detail during the personal consultation.

I will discuss all risks with you before the surgery. No question will go unanswered.

Healing & Aftercare

The healing process is usually uncomplicated. Swelling and bruising may occur in the first few days, but these subside quickly.

Immediately after the surgery:

  • Mild to moderate pain is possible and can be treated well with medication.
  • Support bra: Wear day and night for at least 6 weeks.
  • For at least 3 weeks, only light, everyday tasks.

recovery time:

  • Socially presentable: After 1–2 weeks
  • Sports and physical exertion: Resume only after 6 weeks
  • Sleeping on your stomach: Avoid during the first few weeks
  • First visible result: After a few weeks
  • Final result: After approximately 6 months – tissue hardening can continue to improve for up to 2 years after surgery.

Recommendations for faster healing:

  • Light exercise to promote blood circulation
  • Lymphatic drainage to reduce swelling
  • Special scar creams or silicone patches from the third week onwards

Cost of breast reduction in Berlin

Breast reduction surgery at my clinic starts at €9.500, plus anesthesia costs. If medically necessary, private health insurance may cover all or part of the costs. You will receive a transparent cost breakdown during your personal consultation.

If you are suffering from the effects of excessively large breasts and are longing for relief, I cordially invite you to a free, no-obligation consultation at my clinic in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Together we will examine your situation and I will explain the options available to you.

Frequently asked questions about breast reduction in Berlin.

Breast reduction surgery can generally be performed once the breasts are fully developed – usually from the age of 18.

Ideally, you should have a stable weight – without any planned significant weight loss or gain in the near future. Large weight fluctuations can affect the outcome of the surgery, as they alter the breast tissue. Being overweight is not an absolute disqualification, but any planned weight loss should be completed before the procedure to achieve the best and most lasting results.

Yes – and this is actually very common. Many women have breasts of different sizes, and breast reduction offers the possibility of correcting this asymmetry. We remove the necessary amount of tissue from each breast individually to achieve a symmetrical, harmonious result. Perfect symmetry is never anatomically achievable, but the result is usually much more balanced than before.

The scars are clearly visible and slightly reddened in the first few months. Over time, however, they fade considerably – after about 12 to 24 months, they are only visible as fine, light lines in most patients. The vertical scar is usually very inconspicuous, while the horizontal scar (in the Hall-Findlay method) lies in the inframammary fold and is barely visible when standing. Consistent scar care with silicone gel or patches from the third week onward supports the fading process.

No – the Lejour method is primarily suitable for moderate breast reductions. For very large breasts, where several hundred grams of tissue per side need to be removed, the Hall-Findlay method is often the better choice, as it provides greater stability and better skin tightening. This also depends on how much excess skin is present.

In most cases, yes. Both the Lejour and Hall-Findlay methods are designed to preserve the connection between the nipple, glandular tissue, and milk ducts as much as possible. The nipple is not completely severed but remains connected to nerves and blood supply via a tissue stalk—the superior pedicle. This increases the likelihood that breastfeeding ability will be preserved.

However, there is no guarantee: In cases of very extensive breast reductions, where a significant amount of glandular tissue must be removed, breastfeeding ability may be impaired. Approximately 1 to 3 percent of patients report breastfeeding problems after the procedure. If you are planning to become pregnant in the near future, we should discuss this during your consultation.

Immediately after surgery, temporary numbness or altered sensitivity in the nipple area may occur – this is normal and affects most patients. Sensation usually returns to normal within three to six months. In a small percentage of patients, permanently altered sensitivity may remain – either mild numbness or increased sensitivity. The risk is higher after very large breast reductions.

Yes – breast reduction surgery does not affect your ability to become pregnant. Breastfeeding ability is preserved in most cases, as described above. However, pregnancy after the surgery can alter the result: the breasts may grow again, stretch, or sag. For this reason, we recommend ideally undergoing breast reduction surgery only after family planning is complete – or at least when no pregnancy is planned in the foreseeable future.

Most patients report that the pain after breast reduction is significantly less than expected. Feelings of tightness, tenderness, and mild pain are normal in the first few days – these can be easily managed with pain medication. Many patients describe the sensation as unpleasant rather than painful. After about a week, the discomfort subsides considerably. The relief from the reduced weight is often perceived as very pleasant immediately after the surgery.

You will wear a special, wire-free support bra around the clock for approximately six weeks. This supports healing, stabilizes the tissue, and minimizes swelling. After these six weeks, you can switch to a regular bra—ideally still wire-free at first, until the scars have completely healed. Underwire bras are possible again approximately eight weeks after the surgery.

This depends on your occupation. For sedentary, non-physical jobs, most patients are able to return to work after 1 to 2 weeks. For physically demanding jobs (e.g., nursing, manual labor), you should plan for at least 3 to 4 weeks. We will discuss the exact duration individually after the surgery.

Light exercise, such as walking, is possible and even recommended after just a few days. You can begin light exercise (e.g., cycling, yoga without strenuous arm movements) after about four weeks. Intense exercise, especially exercises that heavily strain the chest muscles (push-ups, weightlifting, jogging), should only be resumed after six to eight weeks. The scars need time to heal properly.

Many patients require a combination of breast reduction and breast lift – especially if the breasts are not only too large but also sagging. In these cases, excess tissue is removed, and the remaining breast is reshaped and lifted. The nipple is repositioned higher, and the skin is tightened. In my clinic, we routinely combine these two procedures when it is beneficial for the outcome.

In cases of medical necessity – that is, when demonstrable physical complaints such as chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain, skin eczema, or postural problems are present – ​​statutory health insurance may cover the costs. This requires detailed medical documentation of the complaints and proof that conservative therapies (such as physiotherapy, back school, pain management) have not provided sufficient relief.

However, the final decision rests with the health insurance company – and they can be strict. Many patients therefore opt for self-pay treatment to receive prompt care without bureaucratic hurdles.

Authorized by dr Julian Bodo

last updated on 16.04.2026

Content

Let us advise you

We would be happy to provide you with detailed information about our treatments and answer your questions without obligation. Contact us now for a personalized consultation.

Reviews from our patients