Axillary accessory breast tissue removal — does it differ case by case?

We all have our own concerns. They differ from person to person and come in all shapes and sizes, so even something very small can become a huge worry, while something that seems like a big issue may be brushed off without much thought. That is probably why there is the saying, “You may know the depth of the water, but you can never fully know what is in a person’s heart.”

Just as people are described as animals that think, once we are born as human beings, we end up living life while piling one worry on top of another. And among those worries, there are cases where people become concerned about their own bodies. For some, this concern can become very serious and deep. Sometimes they notice phenomena such as a bulge in the armpit area or a dull, stabbing pain, and while looking into it, they may come to the point of considering accessory breast tissue removal.

The armpit is usually a slightly hollow area between the arm and the chest, with a smooth and firm appearance.

People consider this the typical shape. In these days, when people want body shape and silhouette to meet aesthetic standards more strictly, both men and women often hope for armpits that also look smooth and firm.

But sometimes this area sticks out unusually.

This is generally something that appears more often in women. At first, people often think it is armpit fat that has become noticeable as fat builds up in the upper body and the area becomes fleshy, so they try exercising hard. If you search, you can find plenty of tips such as armpit slimming or ways to lose armpit fat. However, if it is not just fleshy tissue but a lump has formed inside, it may need to be approached from a different angle.

That is because there may be something inside the armpit, almost like breast tissue.

Everyone starts in their mother’s womb.

What begins as a single small cell grows over the course of 10 months, gradually forming various organs of the body. Once the body takes shape and growth is more or less complete, the baby is finally born into the world. That is why, during the fetal stage, everyone goes through a period in which each body part is not yet properly formed. And while growing in the womb, various traits emerge and structures and shapes can also change. In the case of the breasts, 3 to 4 pairs of mammary glands are first formed along the so-called milk lines that run horizontally across the torso, and as the structure gradually takes shape, all but one pair in the chest area disappear.

However, sometimes a person is born with some of these so-called preliminary mammary glands still remaining in the body. This is what is called accessory breast tissue. In many cases, it remains near the armpit close to the chest. Although the shape and location are different, it has the same structure as the breast and develops together with the breasts during puberty, when secondary sex characteristics appear. That is why in some people it can become quite large and bulging. Not only does it protrude outward, but even when the shape is not very noticeable, the tissue inside can cause various discomforts. For that reason, people often try to improve it through accessory breast tissue removal.

However, if you look into the topic further, you will find that there is not just one possible action to take in this situation. It is not always necessary to make an incision and remove the mass inside; in some cases, simple liposuction alone can also improve the condition. In situations like this, we may unconsciously assume that one of these must be the correct answer, but in fact, there is no single fixed solution.

That is because each person needs something different.

So, one should not overlook the fact that people with this second small breast are not all the same. Simply put, just as some breasts are smaller and some are larger, the same can be said here. That is why a diagnosis must be made before deciding. After checking what structure this hidden little breast in the armpit has and how much of it is fat versus mammary gland tissue, the appropriate method should be chosen. Such a diagnosis can be carried out by taking an X-ray image to examine the internal shape.

So how exactly are they different? Let’s take a look.

Broadly speaking, there are two types: the fat type and the glandular type. Earlier, it was said that this phenomenon occurs because it was formed during fetal development and, even after birth, what remained did not disappear.

The amount left behind differs from person to person. In some cases, almost all of the mammary gland tissue has regressed and is no longer present, and most of it is made up of fat, so only the bulging shape stands out. This is called the fat type. If the structure is made up almost entirely of fat, wouldn’t it be a bit excessive to insist on removing the glandular tissue inside?

So in cases like this, it is better to remove it by only performing liposuction on the fat. On the other hand, there are also cases where there is not much fat, so it is not very noticeable from the outside, but the tissue inside is densely packed. In such cases, it is necessary to properly remove and organize the tightly packed tissue, and if needed, perform liposuction as well. Because these characteristics appear randomly from person to person, it is said that the type must first be diagnosed through an X-ray examination.

In any case, if accessory breast tissue removal is performed, it is true that there will likely be a little more scarring than with liposuction alone, and it may feel a bit more unsettling and burdensome. That is why some people try to proceed with suction first without considering the type.

People naturally tend to gravitate toward the option that seems simpler. But if you try to address dense tissue inside the armpit using suction alone, you will not be able to deal with the glandular tissue, which can be considered the root cause. Even if it seems to improve at first because the size has decreased, over time it may recur and lead to repeated problems, so this is something you must keep in mind.

Of course, on the other hand, in a type where fat makes up a large proportion, if you perform excision to remove the tissue as well, saying that leaving the glandular tissue behind will cause recurrence, the actual amount removed may be very small and you may end up making the wound larger for no real benefit.

This shows once again how important it is to identify the type, doesn’t it?

No one really wants to deliberately make a wound on their body. If you are healthy and do not have any particular problems, it is best to live as much as possible without pain or scars. That is why people tend to prefer liposuction when improving the bulging area seen in the armpit. A very small 0.5 mm incision is hardly visible and is likely to heal neatly, so it would naturally be less burdensome for both body and mind. However, for suction alone to produce sufficient results, the core of the problem in my armpit must first be fat. If that is not the case, then even if it feels a little unfair and disappointing because it was not intentional, it would be better to accept it and look for the method that suits me.

If an X-ray shows tissue packed inside, accessory breast tissue removal must be performed.

If the procedure focuses on that area, the incision will likely be longer than with liposuction alone. Even so, it is still only about 1.5 cm in length. In fact, once it heals cleanly, it will be barely visible, so hopefully you will not worry too much about the scar.

If only glandular tissue is present without an obvious bulge or sagging on the outside, then that tissue alone can simply be removed. But if the skin is sagging, that area also needs to be addressed.

If there is a mix of fat and some sagging, suction can be combined to improve the shape neatly as well. However, if a long time has passed and the skin has lost elasticity and is severely sagging, the excess skin must also be excised and cleaned up along with the sagging part. In that case, the wound can become larger, so caution is needed.

The armpit is a body area that requires far more caution than many people think.

Because accessory breast tissue removal involves working inside the armpit, it is quite delicate. Lymph nodes, major blood vessels, and bundles of nerves are gathered there, so care must be taken to avoid damaging them. For that reason, it is important to remember one last thing: sufficient experience is needed to carry out the procedure safely and without problems.