Breast Reduction in Denver
Regain confidence in your appearance with Dr. Aline Rau
What is a breast reduction?
A breast reduction, medically known as reduction mammoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure that removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to make the breasts smaller, lighter, and lifted, in proportion to your frame.
At Amavi Aesthetic Surgery in Denver, every breast reduction is performed by Dr. Aline Rau, a board-certified, aesthetic fellowship-trained female plastic surgeon. For most women, it is as much about relief as it is about appearance: less back, neck, and shoulder pain, bras that fit, and exercise without the strap grooves.
A breast reduction can significantly improve your quality of life by alleviating physical discomfort, such as back, neck, and shoulder pain. It can also increase your self-confidence: well-fitting bras and clothing are easier to find, and physical activity is no longer limited by your breast size. The procedure takes the weight off, lifts what's left, and puts your breasts in proportion with the rest of you.
During your breast reduction consultation, you'll be able to ask questions and talk through any emotional and physical burdens associated with large breasts in a warm, discreet environment with no rush. Together, we'll determine the most appropriate course of action, make sure you're well-informed, and align your expectations with your goals.
What happens during a breast reduction procedure?
A breast reduction is an outpatient surgery under general anesthesia, so you go home the same day.
Dr. Aline Rau removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin, reshapes the remaining breast, and repositions the nipple and areola to sit naturally on the new, smaller breast. If the areola has stretched, she reduces it in the same step so that it stays proportional.
The incision pattern is customized to the amount of sagging and excess skin you have. A vertical, or "lollipop," pattern runs around the areola and down to the breast fold. An anchor, or "inverted T," pattern adds a line along the crease and allows more reshaping when there's more skin to remove.
Scars fade over time but are permanent, and Dr. Aline Rau will show you at your consultation which pattern fits you and why.
Planning and markings
Your plan is set at the consultation and confirmed at a pre-operative visit: how much tissue to remove from each side, where the new nipple position will be, and which incision pattern fits your anatomy. On the morning of surgery Dr. Aline Rau marks the plan on your skin while you're standing, because that's how your breasts sit in real life.
Removing tissue, fat, and skin
Under general anesthesia, Dr. Aline Rau removes the excess breast tissue and fat through the planned incisions, then the extra skin. This is the step that takes the weight off. Liposuction can be added along the side of the chest to smooth the transition toward the armpit.
Reshaping and lifting
The breast tissue that stays is reshaped into a rounder, higher mound, and the nipple and areola are moved up while still attached to the tissue beneath them. That connection is what keeps the blood supply and, for most patients, sensation. A stretched areola is made smaller here.
Closing and going home
Incisions are closed in layers with dissolvable sutures and covered with light dressings, and you're placed in a soft, supportive bra with no underwire. You go home the same day with someone to drive you, written post-op instructions we've gone through with you in detail, and our team's number for anything that comes up that night.
A reduction almost always includes a lift because removing weight without repositioning the nipple would leave the breast low.
If you'd like to keep some fullness at the top of the breast, Dr. Aline Rau can often reshape your own tissue to achieve it, without an implant or fat transfer.
If your main concern is position rather than size, a breast lift on its own may be the better fit, and a reduction can also be planned as part of a mommy makeover with a tummy tuck or liposuction.
How long does breast reduction recovery take?
A breast reduction is an outpatient procedure, so you go home the same day. The first two weeks ask the most of you; after that, daily life returns faster than most patients expect, and relief in the neck and shoulders usually shows up before the swelling is gone.
Most patients are doing light activity within a few days, avoid lifting for four to six weeks, and wear a supportive bra for six weeks. Swelling settles over two to three months, and the final result shows by three to six months.
Here's what to plan for, phase by phase:
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Day of surgery: Home the same day
You leave in a soft, supportive bra with no underwire and light dressings, with written post-op instructions we've already gone through together. Plan on someone with you for the first 24 hours. Rest, sip water, and take short walks around the house to keep your circulation moving.
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Days 2 to 7: Tightness more than pain
Expect swelling, bruising, and a tight, heavy feeling across the chest. Most patients are off prescription pain medication and doing light activity within a few days. No lifting, no reaching overhead, and no driving until you're off the prescription medication.
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Weeks 1 to 2: Back at a desk
Most patients return to desk or remote work within one to two weeks. Showers are fine. The supportive bra stays on day and night. Many women notice the neck and shoulder strain is already gone.
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Weeks 2 to 6: Moving more, still no lifting
Walking for exercise comes back, then light lower-body workouts around week four. No heavy lifting, running, or chest and upper-body exercise until Dr. Aline Rau clears you. Swelling keeps improving and the breasts start to soften.
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Week 6 and beyond: Cleared for exercise
Dr. Aline Rau clears most patients for full workouts around six weeks. The supportive bra comes off and underwire is allowed again.
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Months 2 to 6: Swelling settles, final shape
Swelling resolves gradually over two to three months, and the final result shows by three to six months. This is when bras, necklines, and workout tops fit the way you pictured.
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Ongoing: Scars fade, support continues
Follow-ups at 1 day, 1 week, 1, 3, 6 months, and 1 year, with 24/7 aftercare access in between. Scars fade from pink to pale over 12 to 18 months; they soften and lighten but never disappear entirely.
Want the full breakdown? Read our guide to week-by-week breast reduction recovery. Maintaining a stable weight afterward is what keeps the result; the tissue that's removed doesn't come back, but the breasts that remain still change with big weight swings. Following your pre- and post-op instructions is the single most important thing you can do to keep your recovery smooth.
What will my breast reduction scars look like?
Every breast reduction leaves scars, and the honest answer is that a well-placed scar is the trade-off for a breast that's lighter and sits where it should. The lines trace the edge of the areola, where the change in skin color hides them, run vertically down to the breast fold, and, with the anchor pattern, along the crease underneath. None of it shows in a bra, a swimsuit, or a low neckline.
Scars change a lot in the first year. Expect them to look pink and slightly raised for the first few months, then flatten and fade between month six and month eighteen. Your skin type and genetics are the biggest factors, then how the incisions are closed, then aftercare: scar massage, sun protection, and the topicals we recommend. Smoking makes every part of this worse, which is why we ask you to stop well before surgery.
Your nipple and areola stay attached to the underlying breast tissue as they're moved up, which is how Dr. Aline Rau preserves blood supply and, for most patients, sensation. Some numbness in the first weeks is normal and usually settles as the nerves recover.
Changes in sensation, and what a reduction can mean for breastfeeding if you haven't finished having children, are part of the honest conversation at your consultation.
Am I a good candidate for breast reduction?
If your breasts cause neck, back, or shoulder pain, limit what you can do, or make finding clothes a chore, you're likely a candidate. The best candidates are at a stable weight, in good general health, non-smokers, and have realistic expectations about scars and healing. Finishing pregnancies helps the result last, though it isn't an absolute rule. The only way to know for sure is an exam, and Dr. Aline Rau will tell you plainly where you stand.
A breast reduction may be right for you if
- You have back, neck, or shoulder pain from the weight of your breasts, or grooves where your bra straps sit
- You get rashes or skin irritation under or between the breasts
- Running, yoga, or lifting means doubling up on sports bras, or skipping it
- Tops and dresses fit your shoulders or your chest, never both
- One breast is noticeably larger than the other
- You'd like your breasts smaller and higher, in proportion with the rest of you
- You're a non-smoker in good health with a stable weight and realistic expectations
Wait on surgery if
- You're pregnant, breastfeeding, or within about six months of either
- You're actively losing weight, including while a GLP-1 dose is being adjusted; a reduction is planned around the weight you'll keep
- You smoke and aren't ready to stop for the weeks before and after surgery
- You're still deciding what you want; a consultation is a fine place to work that out first
Breast reduction or breast lift: which one do I need?
A lot of women come in asking for one procedure and leave with another, so it's worth being clear about the difference.
A breast reduction removes tissue, so your breasts end up smaller and lighter, and it lifts them in the same surgery. A breast lift lifts and reshapes them, but the size stays about the same.
If your breasts are heavy and you want relief, that's a reduction. If they've dropped after kids or weight loss but the size is fine, that's a breast lift.
Our breast augmentation vs. breast lift guide covers the third option, and Dr. Aline Rau will tell you at your consultation which option is best for you.
| Breast reduction | Breast lift (mastopexy) | |
|---|---|---|
| Main goal | Smaller, lighter breasts and relief from pain | Higher, reshaped breasts; size stays about the same |
| What's removed | Breast tissue, fat, and skin | Mostly skin |
| Cup size change | Yes, a meaningful reduction | Minimal, unless volume is added |
| Nipple repositioned | Yes | Yes |
| Incision pattern | Vertical or anchor | Around the areola, vertical, or anchor |
| Includes the other? | A reduction almost always includes a lift | A lift alone doesn't reduce size |
How much does breast reduction cost in Denver?
Every breast reduction at Amavi is planned around you, and so is the cost. What you pay depends on the amount of tissue removed, whether liposuction is added, the surgical facility and anesthesia, and whether you combine it with another procedure. At your consultation, Dr. Aline Rau walks you through every detail, and you leave with a clear quote.
Breast reduction at Amavi is a self-pay procedure. We partner with PatientFi for monthly payment plans, and we're happy to review any estimates you've already received elsewhere.
Your Questions About Breast Reduction, Answered
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If your breasts cause neck, back, or shoulder pain, limit your activity, or make finding clothing difficult, you are likely a candidate. The best candidates are at a stable weight, in good general health, and finished with pregnancies, though none of these are absolute rules. Dr. Aline Rau evaluates your anatomy and goals at your consultation in Greenwood Village.
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At Amavi, breast reduction is performed as a self-pay procedure with a custom quote at your consultation, and financing is available through PatientFi.
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A reduction removes breast tissue to decrease size and weight; a breast lift repositions breasts without significantly changing size. Many women need volume reduction, position correction, or both; a reduction almost always includes a lift. Dr. Aline Rau will tell you honestly which one your anatomy calls for.
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Most patients return to desk work within one to two weeks, do light activity within a few days, and avoid lifting for four to six weeks. Dr. Aline Rau clears most patients for full exercise around six weeks; swelling settles over two to three months, and the final result shows by three to six months.
Relief from neck and back pain is often noticeable within weeks. Our week-by-week recovery guide details what to expect.
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Yes, every breast reduction leaves scars, typically around the areola and vertically down to the breast crease. They fade significantly over 12 to 18 months, and technique, aftercare, and scar therapy all affect the final result. Dr. Aline Rau will show you exactly what to expect for your anatomy.
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For most patients, yes. Removing excess breast weight relieves the constant strain on the neck, shoulders, and upper back, and posture often improves naturally. Most women report meaningful pain reduction within weeks of recovery.
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Cup size is not an exact science, it varies by bra brand and your frame. Instead of promising a letter, Dr. Aline Rau plans your reduction around proportion: a size that relieves your symptoms and fits your body. You'll align on realistic goals together before surgery.
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Verify board certification with the American Board of Plastic Surgery, "cosmetic surgeon" is not the same credential. Then review before-and-after results, read patient reviews, and meet the surgeon in person. Dr. Aline Rau is a board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon who performs every consultation and surgery herself.
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Many women can, but not all. Because tissue is removed and the nipple is moved, milk production can be reduced, and some women can't breastfeed afterward.
Dr. Aline Rau keeps the nipple attached to the tissue underneath it, which gives the best chance. If you're planning to breastfeed in the future, tell her at your consultation so the plan and the timing account for it.
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The tissue that's removed doesn't return. Your breasts can still change with significant weight gain, pregnancy, or hormonal shifts, which is why we recommend a stable weight before surgery. Most women keep their result for decades.
Why choose a female plastic surgeon for your breast reduction in Denver?
A reduction is one of the few plastic surgeries where "I want them smaller" is the whole point, and how small, how high, and what you'll look like in a swimsuit are questions most women would rather work through with another woman. Dr. Aline Rau is a board-certified plastic surgeon with aesthetic fellowship training, and our women-owned practice is a private, discreet space where you can say exactly what the weight has cost you. As a female-led practice, we closely guide your entire journey, from your first consultation through your final post-op visit.
Bring your questions, a bra that fits well, and a photo of a size you'd be happy with. We'll take it from there.
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Book a consultation with Dr. Aline Rau, a board-certified female plastic surgeon in Denver, and find out whether a breast reduction, a lift, or a combination is the right plan for you.
Call us at (303) 381-0919 or complete the form, and our patient concierge will contact you.
Serving Denver & The Rocky Mountain Region
Amavi Aesthetic Surgery is conveniently located in the heart of the South Denver corridor. We are proud to serve patients in Denver, Cherry Creek, Cherry Hills Village, Highlands Ranch, and Castle Rock.
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