Axillary breast gland removal
An axillary breast or accessory breast is an excess amount of breast tissue which produces a bulge in the armpit. This can be associated with excess skin which appears as a prominent bulge or large fold of skin visible in the armpit. Visible axillary breast tissue is surprisingly common and studies show that it can be present in approximately 2 to 6 % of women to a variable degree.
The visibility of this excess tissue causes concern to patients especially when wearing clothing which exposes the shoulder and armpit. Occasionally this breast tissue can cause some tenderness or discomfort.
Why does axillary breast tissue occur ?
The breast originally develops in the armpit and migrates to the front of the chest. Occasionally a small amount of breast tissue remains behind in the axilla. With further breast development this can enlarge producing a visible bulge at the armpit and very often an associated fold of skin.
Breast tissue or fat tissue ?
It is important to differentiate between actual breast tissue and excess fat in the armpit. This distinction can only be made during an examination but in general breast tissue is more firm in consistency. It is important to distinguish between the two since the treatment is different. If there is just excess fat in the armpit this is usually treated with liposuction alone. However, if breast tissue is present a surgical removal is needed.
How is Surgery performed ?
Surgery is usually performed under general anaesthetic or under local anaesthetic with sedation as a day case procedure.
The accessory breast tissue is removed using an incision which is within the armpit so it tends to be well concealed. Often there is excess skin associated with the excess breast tissue which is removed at the same time.
Of course if there is no glandular breast tissue and the bulge is purely due to excess fat then liposuction alone is performed via a very small scar.
Can axillary breast tissue be removed at the same time as a breast reduction?
Yes, if you are undergoing a breast reduction then this accessory breast tissue can be removed at the same time but of course involves an extra scar in the armpit.
What is the recovery ?
The recovery is approximately a week off work. However, it is best to refrain from upper body exercise for approximately 6 weeks
What are the risks of surgery ?
Scars cannot be avoided with this procedure but usually heal well since they are hidden in the region of the armpit. Occasionally, adverse scarring may occur . Under these circumstances additional measures are recommended such as silicone scar creams, steroid injections or microneedling treatments.
Infections are a risk of any surgery. In order to reduce this risk antibiotics are provided.
Bleeding risk is present with all surgery but this is quite rare. In the unlikely event there is a haematoma which is a localized collection of beeding under the skin this may require a return to surgery to stop any bleeding points. However, the risk of this is extremely low.
Some sensory disturbance including loss of sensatopn or hypersensitivity is a possibility but usually returns to normal after a few months.
There is a risk of seroma formation which is a fluid collection which can occur at the site of surgery. This may require aspiration to treat which is easily performed in the clinic.
Some slow wound healing may occur simply because the armpit is an area of sweat glands and difficult to keep completely clean during the healing phase. This can manifest itself as small openings in the wound that require regular dressings but this is easily managed by the specialist nursing care available.
Are there alternative treatments ?
Unfortunately there are no effective non-surgical treatments if the axillary bulge is due to glandular breast tissue. Treatments such as Coolsculpting ( fat freezing ) or Kybella injections( fat dissolving injections) have been tried but these cannot remove actual breast gland tissue and may only be partially effective if there is a large fat component to the bulge. Also, such treatments often require multiple sessions and ultimately may not provide a satisfactory. Usually the best treatment is surgery.
