Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Reduction mammoplasty
Introduction
Editors-In-Chief: Martin I. Newman, M.D., FACS, Cleveland Clinic Florida, [1]; Michel C. Samson, M.D., FRCSC, FACS [2]
Overview
Mammoplasty refers to a plastic surgery surgical procedure on the breast, to alter the shape or form of the breast. Most commonly, it refers to procedures such as breast enlargement or augmentation mammoplasty , breast lift or mastopexy, and breast reduction or reduction mammoplasty procedures. Mammoplasty procedures can also be combined; for example, breast lift and augmentation can be performed in one or two stages to achieve both enhancement of breast size and a lifted and tighter breast form.