Loss of Sensation

• While a surgeon attempts to avoid as many nerves as possible during breast reduction surgery, a complication associated with breast reduction surgery is the permanent loss of sensation in the nipple or breast. While it is common to lose some sensation in the few weeks following surgery, in some women, the loss of feeling due to nerve damage is permanent.
  
  

Inadequate Healing

• In women who have decreased blood supply to breast tissues, which can be due to prior smoking or radiation to the chest area, areas of skin or nipple tissue may die. This may necessitate a skin graft in order to improve the appearance of the breast. Discuss this risk with your surgeon in advance of the surgery in order to identify if inadequate healing is a possibility given your health history.
  
  

Infection

• Infection can occur in both the surgical site or inside the body when the tissue was exposed during surgery. While you should receive intravenous antibiotics during surgery as well as take antibiotics following surgery to prevent further infection risk, infections can occur in accumulated blood (such as from hematomas/bruising). This can cause serious effects, such as toxic shock syndrome.
  
  

Scarring

• While most surgeries involving incisions will cause some scarring, different women experience different scar effects. As a general rule, how your scarring has appeared in the past can predict how your scarring will be for the surgery. For example, if your scars in the past have been thicker or lumpy in consistency, it is likely that you will experience similar scarring.
  
  

Fat Necrosis

• Fat necrosis occurs when fatty tissue in the breast dies following surgery. This can cause hard, lump-like materials that may feel like breast lumps. However, these lumps can be easily differentiated on a mammogram, according to Dr. S. Sean Younai on his website, beautifulself.com. If the fat necrosis is bothersome, it is possible to remove the lumps in the breast.