By Dr. Killeen, published on August 18, 2025
Understanding when and how second breast reductions are performed safely, including timing and surgical considerations.
Patients frequently ask whether it's safe to undergo a second breast reduction surgery. The short answer is yes—in most situations, it's completely safe. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind.
Ideally, you should wait at least five years after your first breast reduction before considering a second procedure. Waiting this amount of time allows breast tissue to establish a healthy, robust blood supply. As a result, your risk of complications during a second surgery is significantly reduced, approaching the lower risks associated with a first-time breast reduction.
Sometimes, patients opt for a second breast reduction sooner because they aren't satisfied with the initial results—either the breasts weren't reduced sufficiently, or the shape didn't meet their expectations.
For example, I recently performed surgery on a patient who had her first breast reduction just 18 months prior. While performing a second procedure earlier can be done safely, it does carry slightly increased risks and surgical limitations.
When a second surgery is done relatively soon after the first, your surgeon must closely follow the original surgical technique. For instance, when I performed this recent revision, I carefully reviewed the operative notes from the patient's first surgery to precisely repeat the procedure, ensuring maximum safety and optimal results.
Typically, revision breast reductions utilize the same incision patterns as the original surgery. If you had an anchor-shaped incision (inverted-T), we usually repeat the anchor incision. If your first surgery used a vertical incision (lollipop incision), we typically stay with the vertical pattern but can convert to an anchor incision if necessary.
Deciding to undergo a second breast reduction can feel intimidating. Often, patients find it even more daunting than the initial procedure because they understand more about the process and potential risks.
However, revision breast reduction surgery is commonly performed with great success. When done correctly by an experienced surgeon, it can significantly improve your comfort, appearance, and overall satisfaction. Discuss your concerns openly with your surgeon to ensure that you fully understand the risks, benefits, and expectations.