Get rid of accessory breast tissue! Understand the causes and surgical methods for accessory breast tissue, reshape your figure, and regain your confidence in wearing clothes.

"Accessory breast" refers to small fleshy growths located between the armpit and the breast.Some people deliberately exercise or diet to try and eliminate excess fat in this area, but the results are not satisfactory. Why is that? Specializing in breast augmentation surgery...Dr. Hsin-Yu ChenThat is to say,The formation of accessory breasts is unrelated to body weight.Therefore, the effect of exercise is naturally limited. To effectively eliminate accessory breast tissue, cosmetic procedures are recommended.Accessory breast surgery involves liposuction or removal.It is the way to see the most direct results.

 

It's worth noting that because there are different types of accessory breasts, such as true and false accessory breasts, and their causes also differ, choosing the appropriate surgical method based on the type of accessory breast is crucial for achieving the best results in terms of naturalness, scarlessness, and effectiveness. Referring to the simplified table of accessory breast types below, accessory breasts can be divided into four categories based on whether they contain a nipple or mammary glands—

False accessory breasts are mainly fatty tissue, while the other three types are true accessory breasts by definition: those with mammary gland tissue but no nipple, those without mammary gland tissue but with a nipple, and those with both mammary gland tissue and a nipple. True accessory breasts are non-regressed mammary gland tissue, which are extra breasts growing outside the normal breast. This condition of having multiple breasts due to genetics or other reasons is also known as polydactyly, polymastia, extra breast tissue, etc., and is a problem that can occur in both men and women, but it is more common in women than men. Before choosing the most suitable surgical procedure for accessory breasts, let's understand the reasons for the development of accessory breasts—

Causes of prominent accessory breasts: obesity, poor posture, and well-developed mammary glands.

1. Full-figured or obese (pseudo-accessory breasts)

Pseudo-accessory breasts are small, fleshy fat deposits caused by obesity, often feeling soft and loose to the touch. Excess fat is a common factor contributing to body shape changes. While intentional weight loss and exercise can help firm muscles, if the excess fat is located in areas difficult to exercise, the chances of eliminating it through natural weight loss are often unsatisfactory. For example, accessory breasts, armpit fat, and the inner and outer thighs are areas that are generally difficult to exercise. It's possible that even if the breasts shrink, the accessory breasts may still be there. In such cases, liposuction to remove the fat can be considered.

▲VASER Liposuction可針對局部頑固脂肪做改善，局部雕塑的效果也極佳，相較於其他傳統抽脂手術出血量少，也相對安全，恢復快速。

▲Office women exercise infrequently each week, making it easy for fat to accumulate, resulting in noticeable thick arms, flabby upper arms, and underarm fat.

2. Posture problems and incorrect underwear can lead to body shape deviation (pseudo-accessory breasts).

Accessory breasts, also known as "bra fat," are caused by improper bra selection, especially ill-fitting bras. Because the cups cannot fully cover and support the breasts, fat can easily shift. So even if you have large breasts, they won't look big because the breasts spread out or shift and are not concentrated, causing the fat to go to the armpits or back, making you look like a "thick-skinned person" (broad-shouldered and thick-waisted).

This type of fatty accessory breast can easily lead to an unattractive breast shape and a less three-dimensional and delicate figure. Many brides-to-be only discover that they have a serious accessory breast problem when they try on dresses with a flat neckline and tight chest. In this case, liposuction can be used to improve the accessory breast. Simply using shapewear and shaping clothes can only temporarily bind the accessory breast and may also cause poor blood circulation, and the comfort level is also limited.

3. Mammary gland type accessory breast (true accessory breast)

During human development, some mammary gland tissue that should have regressed does not completely regress and remains under the armpit, which is called accessory breast. The non-regressed tissue in the ectopic location may still retain mammary gland and nipple structures. It is usually harder and will grow larger during menstruation. Therefore, it is a true accessory breast and cannot be moved or merged into the normal breast by pushing.

Improvement methods: For mild cases, liposuction can be performed; for severe cases, accessory breast surgery can be used to remove breast tissue to achieve a better appearance.

Common locations of accessory breasts

Accessory breasts are most commonly found at the anterior edge of the armpit and in the armpit, but traces of accessory breasts can actually be found from the chest wall to the abdominal wall.

Choice of accessory breast surgery

Eliminating accessory breast tissue can enhance the overall refinement of your figure. In the hot summer, you don't have to worry about a lump of flesh squeezing out of other places when wearing sleeveless clothes. It also helps improve the shape of your breasts, making them look bigger, reducing friction, and keeping your underarms cooler.

 

[Liposuction → Pseudo-accessory breast]

脂肪型副乳約有70%由脂肪組成，觸感鬆軟且合併有腋下皮膚鬆弛等情形，VASER Liposuction2.2，是運用專利探針進入組織，釋放36,000赫茲音波引起共振，將脂肪乳糜化、溶於水中，再以引流管抽出脂肪，完成身形的修飾，由於過程溫和，還可以保留結締組織，使抽脂後的皮膚維持彈性緊緻，是術後滿意度極高的抽脂方式之一。透過抽脂手術迅速抽取脂肪，可解決脂肪型的副乳困擾，VASER Liposuction抽出的良性脂肪亦可回填臉部或胸部，但是進行副乳抽脂時需注意避開腋下神經，因為此位置皮膚較薄，若抽脂操作不當，有可能造成術後皮膚凹凸不平的外觀。

Learn more about accessory breast liposuction surgery

2. Accessory breast removal surgery → Breast-type accessory breast

For accessory breasts of the mammary gland type, excess mammary gland tissue can be removed through accessory breast excision surgery. The incision will be hidden under the armpit, and the length of the incision depends on the size of the accessory breast. Its advantages are high efficiency, inconspicuous scars, and fast recovery! In addition to removing the mammary gland, the surgery will also remove excess skin tissue depending on the individual's situation to prevent the skin from becoming loose and sagging in the future. If the accessory breast is thick and has a lot of fat, liposuction can also be combined to present a better postoperative appearance.

Learn more about accessory breast surgery

Comparison of surgical methods for accessory breast

	Accessory breast removal surgery	【VASER Liposuction】	Laser fat reduction
Accessory breast type	True accessory breast (Mammary gland type accessory breast)	pseudo-accessory breast (Fatty accessory breast)	pseudo-accessory breast (Fatty accessory breast)
principle	Removal of breast tissue	armpit area	Laser beam irradiation destroys fat
anaesthetization	sedation anesthesia	sedation anesthesia	Local anesthesia
Recovery period	14 days	7 days	1 day
wounds/scars	Approximately 4 cm No sutures required	Less than 1 cm	pinhole size No sutures required
Advantages	Effective, leaves no visible scars, and heals quickly. And the skin can be removed at the same time to avoid postoperative skin sagging.	Post-operative skin recovers quickly and becomes firm, and the fat can be reused for body sculpting or fat grafting.	Facilitates liposuction in small areas
Postoperative precautions	Accessory breasts may recur due to factors such as breastfeeding, menstruation, or breast lesions.	Poor wound care after surgery can lead to bacterial infection.	Poor wound care after surgery can lead to bacterial infection.

Attending Physician Dr. Hsin-Yu Chen