Breast reduction
a new body awareness

Breast reductionInfo at a glance

Duration of the surgery2-3 hours, surgery under general anesthesia
AnesthesiaGeneral anesthesia
hospital stay1 – 2 nights in the clinic
After the surgeryFor 6 weeks postoperatively, wear a compression bra; for at least 3 weeks, perform only light everyday 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 excessively large breasts – back pain, muscle tension, postural damage, and pressure marks from bra straps. Some avoid sports because their breasts hurt with every movement. Others feel uncomfortable in their clothing or ashamed in public. What many people do not know: This is not a matter of vanity – it is often a medical necessity.

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

Who is a breast reduction suitable for?

A breast reduction is advisable if you suffer from one or more of the following complaints:

  • Chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain caused by breast weight
  • Postural damage or poor posture
  • Limited range of motion during sports
  • Skin irritation or eczema under the breast fold
  • Psychological distress caused by appearance

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

Will health insurance cover the breast reduction?

In cases of proven medical necessity—meaning that chronic complaints such as back or neck pain, skin eczemas, or postural defects are present and conservative therapies have not helped sufficiently—health insurance companies may cover the costs. A prerequisite is detailed medical documentation. As a private clinic, we can only admit privately insured and self-paying female patients for inpatient treatment. I am happy to help you clarify the possibilities.

Procedure for breast reduction in 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-sparing techniques—in particular, the Lejour and Hall-Findlay methods. These procedures allow for a particularly gentle breast reduction while preserving the sensation of the nipple and the ability to breastfeed as much as possible.

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

What surgical methods do I use?

Lejour method (lollipop incision)

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

Incision technique:

  • Periareolar incision around the nipple – for lifting and repositioning the nipple
  • Vertical incision from the nipple to the inframammary fold – for the removal of excess tissue and reshaping of 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 sensation in most cases

Possible disadvantages:

  • Not suitable for very large breast reductions
  • The breasts take a few months to finally „settle.“

Hall-Findlay method (anchor 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.

Incision technique:

  • Round-block incision around the nipple – the nipple remains connected with nerves and blood supply and is relocated to a higher position
  • Additional horizontal incision 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 ability to breastfeed
  • Long-term stable breast shape

Possible disadvantages:

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

For both methods, the nipple, including its nerves and blood vessels, is gently repositioned. The wound is closed within the skin using very fine threads—the intracutaneous suture technique minimizes scar formation and ensures that the scars fade significantly over time.

Breast reduction is frequently combined with a breast lift

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

Preparation for surgery

For optimal preparation, I recommend:

  • Abstinence from alcohol, nicotine, sleeping pills, and painkillers at least two weeks before the surgery
  • Ultrasound to evaluate potential tissue changes
  • Open discussion about regularly taken medications
  • In case of medical necessity: Documentation of symptoms for the health insurance company

Risks & Potential Complications

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

  • Postoperative bleeding: Especially possible with undiagnosed coagulation disorders – minimized by a careful preliminary examination
  • Wound healing disorders & infections: Rare, but require close follow-up monitoring
  • Altered nipple sensitivity: Temporary numbness is common and usually normalizes within a few months. With very large tissue reductions of over 500 g per breast, the change may last longer
  • Breastfeeding ability: Is preserved as much as possible through my scar-sparing techniques – however, a one hundred percent exclusion is not possible with any breast surgery
  • Asymmetries: Small differences are anatomically normal and mostly unbothered. In cases of pronounced asymmetries, a correction is possible.
  • Scar formation: Depending on the genetic predisposition for wound healing – consistent scar care significantly supports fading
  • General surgical risks: thrombosis, reactions to anesthesia, bleeding – will be discussed in detail during the personal consultation.

I will discuss all risks with you prior to the surgery. No question will remain unanswered.

Healing & Aftercare

The healing process is usually uncomplicated. In the first few days, swelling and bruising may occur, which quickly subside.

Immediately after surgery:

  • Mild to moderate pain is possible and easily treatable 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 acceptable: After 1–2 weeks
  • Sports and physical exertion: Do not resume until after 6 weeks
  • Sleeping on the stomach: Avoid in the first few weeks
  • First visible result: After a few weeks
  • Final result: After approx. 6 months – Tissue hardening can continue to improve for up to 2 years after surgery

Recommendations for faster healing:

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

Cost of breast reduction in Berlin

A breast reduction in my clinic starts at €9,500 plus anesthesia costs. If a medical necessity is proven, private health insurance may cover the costs in full or in part. You will receive a transparent cost breakdown during your personal consultation.

If you are suffering from the consequences of excessively large breasts and are finally wishing for relief, I cordially invite you to a non-binding consultation at my clinic in Berlin-Charlottenburg. Together we will look at your situation and I will explain which options are available to you.

Frequently asked questions about breast reduction in Berlin.

A breast reduction can generally be performed as soon as the breast is fully developed – usually from the age of 18.

Ideally, you should have a stable body weight – with no planned drastic weight loss or gain in the near future. Severe weight fluctuations can compromise the surgical outcome, as the breast tissue changes. Excess weight is not an absolute contraindication, but any planned weight loss should be completed before the procedure to achieve the best and most lasting result.

Yes – and that is actually very often the case. Many women have breasts of different sizes, and a breast reduction offers the opportunity to correct this asymmetry. We remove the necessary amount of tissue from each breast individually to achieve a symmetrical, harmonious result. Perfect symmetry can never be completely achieved anatomically, but the result is usually significantly more balanced than before.

The scars are clearly visible and slightly reddened in the first few months. Over time, however, they fade significantly—after about 12 to 24 months, they are only recognizable as fine, light lines in most patients. The vertical scar usually heals very inconspicuously, 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 starting in the third week 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 need to be removed per side, the Hall-Findlay method is often the better choice because it provides more stability and better skin tightening. This also depends on how much excess skin is present.

In most cases, yes. Both the Lejour and the 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 a tissue stalk—the so-called superior pedicle—along with its nerves and blood supply. This increases the likelihood that the ability to breastfeed is preserved.

However, there is no guarantee: with very large breast reductions, where a lot of glandular tissue has to be removed, the ability to breastfeed may be limited. About 1 to 3 percent of patients report breastfeeding problems after the procedure. If you would like to become pregnant in the near future, we should discuss this during the consultation.

Immediately after the operation, temporary feelings of numbness or altered sensitivity in the area of the nipples may occur – this is normal and affects most patients. As a rule, the sensation returns to normal within three to six months. In a small percentage of patients, a permanently altered sensitivity may remain – either slight numbness or increased sensitivity. The risk is higher with very large breast reductions.

Yes, a breast reduction has no effect on your ability to become pregnant. The ability to breastfeed is preserved in most cases, as described above. However, a pregnancy after the surgery can alter the result: the breasts can grow again, stretch, or sag. For this reason, we ideally recommend undergoing a breast reduction only when family planning is complete, or at least when no pregnancy is planned in the foreseeable future.

Most patients report that the pain after a breast reduction is significantly less than expected. In the first few days, feelings of tightness, tenderness, and mild pain are normal – these can be well-managed with pain medication. Many patients describe the sensation as more uncomfortable than painful. After about a week, the symptoms subside noticeably. The relief provided by the reduced weight is often felt as very pleasant immediately after the surgery.

You will wear a special supportive bra without underwire 24/7 for about 6 weeks. This supports healing, stabilizes the tissue, and minimizes swelling. After these 6 weeks, you can switch to a normal bra—ideally still without underwire at first, until the scars are completely healed. Underwire bras are possible again starting about 8 weeks after the surgery.

That depends on your occupation. For sedentary, physically undemanding jobs, most female patients are able to work again after 1 to 2 weeks. For physically demanding jobs (e.g., nursing, manual trades), 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 after just a few days and is even recommended. You can begin light sports (e.g., cycling, yoga without intensive arm movements) after about 4 weeks. Intensive sports, especially exercises that heavily strain the pectoral muscles (push-ups, weightlifting, jogging), should not be resumed until 6 to 8 weeks later. The scars need time to heal securely.

For many female patients, a combination of breast reduction and breast lift is necessary—especially when the breast is not only too large, but also sagging. In these cases, excess tissue is removed while the remaining breast is simultaneously reshaped and lifted. The nipple is relocated to a higher position, and the skin is tightened. In my clinic, we routinely combine these two procedures when it makes sense for the result.

In the event of a medical indication—meaning when verifiable physical complaints such as chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain, skin eczemas, or postural defects are present—the statutory health insurance can cover the costs. The prerequisite is detailed medical documentation of the complaints as well as proof that conservative therapies (such as physiotherapy, back school, pain therapy) have not helped sufficiently.

However, the health insurance company ultimately makes the decision – and this can be strict. Many female patients therefore choose to pay out of pocket in order to receive treatment promptly and without bureaucratic effort.

Authorized by Dr. Juliane Bodo

last updated on 04/16/2026

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