Breast reduction is a popular surgery at plastic surgery clinics around the world. In 2022, more than 70,000 people had breast reduction surgery in the U.S. If you’ve had a breast reduction or are considering getting one, you may wonder how this surgery could affect your risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Current research suggests that getting a breast reduction may decrease your risk of breast cancer in the future. Continue reading to learn more about how breast reduction surgery may influence your risk of cancer.

What Is a Breast Reduction?

A breast reduction is a surgical procedure to reduce the size of the breasts. Another name for a breast reduction is a reduction mammoplasty. During this procedure, a plastic surgeon removes breast tissue and skin to change the size and shape of the breasts.

People with large breasts don’t have an increased risk of breast cancer. Breast reduction surgery isn't done to reduce breast cancer risk.

People may choose to have a breast reduction to reduce discomfort or change their appearance — for instance, to make their breasts look more symmetrical. Large, heavy breasts can cause health problems such as skin irritation or back, neck, and shoulder pain. Additionally, large breasts can make it difficult to be physically active. Some women choose a breast reduction to improve their quality of life.

People with large breasts don’t have an increased risk of breast cancer. The main goal of breast reduction surgery is not to reduce breast cancer risk.

What Factors Influence Breast Cancer Risk?

Before we learn more about how breast reduction can impact the risk of breast cancer, it’s important to understand what factors can influence the risk of developing breast cancer.

Breast cancer can happen when genetic mutations (changes in the DNA) occur that make cells in the breast tissue grow uncontrollably. A person’s risk of breast cancer is influenced by a combination of inherited and environmental risk factors.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, risk factors that increase your chances of developing breast cancer include:

• Being over 55 years old
• Being a woman
• Being white (although Black women have a higher risk of death from breast cancer)
• Having a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer
• Starting your period at an early age or entering menopause later in life
• Inheriting gene mutations that increase cancer risk, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
• Having dense breast tissue
• Having a body mass index (BMI) score in the overweight or obese range

Environmental risk factors include your lifestyle habits and other factors you encounter throughout life, such as:

• Getting little or no physical activity
• Eating a diet high in saturated fat and low in fruits and vegetables
• Drinking alcohol frequently
• Having a history of radiation therapy in the chest before age 30
• Taking certain forms of hormone therapy for birth control or menopause symptoms

Does Breast Reduction Reduce Breast Cancer Risk?

With the increasing popularity of breast reduction surgery, researchers are studying the effect of the surgery on breast cancer risk. While having a larger breast size isn’t a risk factor for breast cancer, several studies have found a lower risk of developing breast cancer in people who have undergone breast reduction surgery.

Several studies have found a lower risk of developing breast cancer in people who have undergone breast reduction surgery.

According to the National Cancer Institute, on average, women in the U.S. have a 12.9 percent risk of developing breast cancer at some point in their lives. Several studies have shown lower breast cancer incidence (fewer new cases) in people who have had a breast reduction compared to the general population. Researchers are still learning how much this procedure impacts the risk. Estimates of risk reduction in various studies range from 28 percent to 82 percent fewer cases of breast cancer in women who’ve had a breast reduction.

How Does Breast Reduction Lower Breast Cancer Risk?

Researchers don’t fully understand why breast reduction can lower the risk of breast cancer in some women. Several factors may play a role.

Lower Volume of Breast Tissue

Breast cancer develops in breast tissue. It may be the case that by removing breast tissue, there’s less tissue available to develop into cancer. A 2001 study in Sweden found removing more breast tissue in a breast reduction was associated with an even lower risk of breast cancer in the future. It’s also possible that the breast tissue removed during surgery may already have had undetected cancer cells.

Some researchers suspect that breast cancer risk reduction may also be influenced by which surgical techniques are used. However, further research is needed to prove this theory.

Healthy Lifestyle Habits

Maintaining healthy lifestyle habits is an important part of cancer prevention. Having a breast reduction may make it easier for some women to get regular exercise, as having smaller breasts may make physical activity less uncomfortable and more enjoyable. Additionally, many women feel like they have more energy and less back pain after a breast reduction.

If you’re concerned about your risk for breast cancer, talk to your healthcare provider about ways to reduce your risk and how often you need follow-up tests.

With more energy and less pain, it may be easier to focus on healthy lifestyle habits, such as exercising or cooking nutritious meals. Healthier behaviors can help prevent breast cancer, as well as many other types of cancer.

Increased Breast Cancer Screening

Breast cancer screening involves tests to check for breast cancer before symptoms begin. Screening for breast cancer can help detect cancer while it’s in an early stage and easier to treat. A mammogram is the most common type of breast cancer screening test. This test checks for breast cancer by creating an image of the inside of the breast to detect tumors.

A 2023 study found that people who have had a breast reduction had more frequent breast cancer screening compared to the general population. This may be because breast surgery can cause abnormal results on a mammogram that requires further testing.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all women between the ages of 40 and 74 have a mammogram every two years. If you have a high risk of breast cancer, talk to your healthcare provider about the best screening schedule for you.

Lowering the Risk of Breast Cancer

It’s important to keep in mind that having a risk factor for breast cancer doesn’t mean you will get cancer. Similarly, you can’t always prevent breast cancer by changing your risk factors. Up to 70 percent of people who develop breast cancer don’t have any clear risk factors. With that in mind, there are some things you can do that may lower your risk of breast cancer.

People with specific genetic mutations associated with a very high risk of breast cancer may opt for surgery to reduce their risk. Surgery to lower breast cancer risk is known as a bilateral (meaning both sides) risk-reducing mastectomy or bilateral prophylactic mastectomy. This surgery involves removing all breast tissue and, in some cases, the nipples. A risk-reducing mastectomy has been shown to decrease the risk of breast cancer by up to 95 percent in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation. Breast reduction surgery can’t be as effective as a risk-reducing mastectomy because not all breast tissue is removed.

If you’re concerned about your risk for breast cancer, talk to your healthcare provider about ways to reduce your risk and how often you need follow-up tests. You may be able to lower your breast cancer risk by modifying lifestyle habits, such as:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Eating a balanced diet
• Getting regular physical activity
• Limiting alcohol

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyBCTeam is the social network for people with breast cancer and their loved ones. On MyBCTeam, more than 77,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with breast cancer.

Have you had a breast reduction? Share your thoughts in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities ​​page.