Anchor Incision

The anchor incision is the most commonly used technique for breast reduction. This incision encircles the areola (the darker circle around the nipple), extends downward to the breast crease, and runs horizontally along the crease beneath each breast. The incisions create lines that look somewhat like a ship’s anchor.

Through the anchor incision, the surgeon can remove a substantial amount of excess fat, breast tissue, and skin, after which the surgeon can tighten, lift, and reshape the breasts to a more pleasing and youthful appearance. The surgeon may also resize overstretched areolas and reposition the areolas higher on the breasts. 

A traditional breast reduction with anchor incision provides the most tissue removal. Women who have a medical need for breast reduction, such as for pain reduction or other complications related to having oversized breasts, are more likely to need the anchor incision approach. This approach may also be recommended for women who want to have a significant amount of breast tissue removed for cosmetic reasons. Afterward, the patient will be left with an anchor scar on each breast.

Lollipop Incision

This lollipop incision differs from the anchor incision in that it does not extend along the breast crease, but only encircles and extends downward from the areola. It is so named because the shape is like that of a lollipop.

Through the lollipop incision, the surgeon removes excess tissue, fat, and skin and then tightens, lifts, and reshapes the breasts so that they appear perky and round. The surgeon can also reduce the size of enlarged areolas and reposition them with a lollipop incision.

Women who do not need as much tissue removal may be able to get a breast reduction with a lollipop incision instead of an anchor incision. If only a small to moderate amount of breast tissue needs to be removed, whether for cosmetic or medical reasons, the lollipop incision is usually sufficient and reduces the amount of scarring afterward.

Periareolar Incision

The periareolar incision goes only around the areola, with no incision lines extending downward or along the breast crease. Through this incision, the surgeon can remove excess tissue to reduce breast size, as well as reduce the size of the areolas if desired.

The periareolar incision is not often used for breast reduction because it allows for only a small amount of tissue removal. However, if appropriate, it can be used effectively to reduce breast size with minimal scarring afterward.

How Bad are Breast Reduction Scars?

Whether you can expect an anchor scar, a lollipop scar, or a periareolar scar from your breast reduction surgery, you should not expect the worst. In the hands of an experienced and board-certified plastic surgeon, your incisions will be inconspicuous, no longer than necessary, and well worth the results. Most of the time, breast reduction scars heal very nicely, and with passage of time, become quite inconspicuous in most patients. You can also help to minimize your breast reduction scars by choosing the right surgeon, avoiding direct sunlight, eating healthy foods, drinking fluids, avoiding smoking, using postoperative silicone gel patches or creams, and following all of your surgeon’s recommendations during recovery.

Even considering the surgical scars, breast reduction has one of the highest satisfaction rates of any plastic surgery procedure. The vast majority of women who undergo this procedure are satisfied with their results and experience remarkable improvements in the quality of their everyday lives. Breast reduction can improve body proportions, make it easier to exercise, eliminate rashes, prevent chronic pain, reduce bra strap grooves, and more. 

To learn more about breast reduction scars and how a breast reduction could help you, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Taleisnik today.