01 · LOCATION
Where It Appears
The most common site is the front of the armpit. It can also appear along the side of the breast and, rarely, below it, and it often develops symmetrically on both sides.
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Your Concerns
Are you facing any of these concerns?
01
I have a bulge by the side of my armpit that concerns me.
02
When I wear a bra or a tank top, the side of my chest looks like it protrudes.
03
When I lower my arm, the front of the armpit stands out.
04
Before my period or after pregnancy, that area becomes larger and tender.
05
I have heard it can come back if only liposuction is done, and it worries me.
If any of these concerns resonate,
now is the time to speak with a specialist.
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About Surgery
Why Liposuction Alone May Not Be Enough for Accessory Breast
Accessory (axillary) breast is residual glandular tissue that remains in the armpit or by the side of the chest. It is not made of fat alone — in many cases glandular tissue is mixed in as well. For this reason, liposuction alone can leave the gland behind, resulting in an uneven texture or a bulge that becomes prominent again over time.
At Umnagumo, we first assess the ratio of fat to glandular tissue during diagnosis, then determine whether liposuction alone is sufficient or whether glandular excision should be combined. Addressing both volume and texture together is what helps to reduce the risk of recurrence.
The incision uses the natural crease of the armpit to reduce the scar burden, and the suture tension and extent of dissection are controlled precisely. Because the armpit is an area through which nerves and lymphatics pass, a careful approach grounded in anatomical understanding is important.
Enlargement and tenderness that accompany the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or breastfeeding are common, so consultation addresses not only cosmetic goals but also the improvement of everyday discomfort. In men, accessory breast in the armpit is a distinct condition from gynecomastia, differing in both location and cause.
At Umnagumo, all procedures are performed personally by a breast-surgery specialist with 25+ years of experience, in collaboration with anesthesiology specialists and under a comprehensive safety-management system. Accessory breast, too, is approached with an individualized plan matched to the tissue composition rather than a uniform method (individual results may vary).
Why Choose Us
What Makes Umnagumo Accessory Breast Removal Different
We diagnose the fat and glandular composition together and design liposuction with glandular excision to match the tissue type, aiming to reduce the risk of recurrence.
01
Tissue-Specific Planning
Method decided after assessing the fat-to-gland ratio
02
Surgical Time
Approximately 30 – 60 minutes (varies by extent)
03
Procedure Focus
Minimal axillary incision · liposuction + glandular excision · recurrence care
WHAT IS ACCESSORY BREAST
Accessory Breast — an Extra Piece of Breast Tissue by the Armpit
Accessory breast is surplus mammary tissue that persists outside the normal breast, most often in the armpit or along the side of the chest. It arises when the embryonic milk line fails to regress completely, and because fat and glandular tissue are mixed within it, it stands out as a bulge when the arm is lowered or a bra is worn. Beyond the cosmetic concern, it frequently swells and aches with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
02 · CAUSE
Why It Develops
A remnant of the embryonic milk line is the root cause, and a hereditary tendency exists. Under the influence of female hormones it tends to enlarge or become more defined during puberty, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
03 · SYMPTOM
What It Causes
The visible bulge is the most typical complaint, and premenstrual or pregnancy swelling and aching, along with pressure from bras and clothing, may accompany it. Symptom patterns vary widely between individuals.
TREATMENT OPTIONS
How Accessory Breast Is Removed — Matched to the Tissue Composition
The proportion of fat to glandular tissue differs from person to person, so relying on liposuction alone can leave an uneven texture or allow the bulge to return. Confirming the composition with ultrasound at diagnosis, before choosing the method, is what governs both the result and the recurrence rate.
Liposuction-Centered
Suited to accessory breasts in which fat predominates. A cannula is introduced through a small incision to suction the fat, keeping the scar burden low and the recovery comparatively brief.
Limitation — where a meaningful amount of glandular tissue is present, suction alone can leave texture or fullness behind, with a possibility of recurrence.
RECOMMENDED FOR MOST
Liposuction + Glandular Excision
The fat is suctioned and the remaining gland is excised directly, so volume and texture are handled in the same operation — an approach that favors keeping the risk of recurrence low.
The scar is determined by incision placement and closure technique; the natural crease of the armpit is used to lighten that burden.
Injection (Non-Surgical)
A non-surgical option using fat-dissolving injections is sometimes discussed. It avoids an incision, but the indications are narrow and little effect can be expected on glandular tissue.
Suitability depends on the tissue composition and is judged after diagnosis; it is not a method to be recommended for every accessory breast.
Scars and Recovery
The incision is kept to a minimum along the crease of the armpit, and the scar tends to blend into the folds and lighten with time. How recovery unfolds varies with skin type and the extent of the incision.
A return to everyday life is possible relatively early. Early measures — compression garments and limits on arm use — have a real bearing on the result, and demanding shoulder and arm exercise is resumed in stages as healing allows.
If a pregnancy is planned in the near future, hormonal change can enlarge the tissue again, so timing after childbirth and breastfeeding is weighed together during consultation.
Accessory Breast in Men
Men, too, can develop accessory breast at the armpit. It is a separate condition from gynecomastia — the enlargement of glandular tissue at the front of the chest — differing in both location and cause, and it calls for clearing the surplus tissue at the armpit itself.
In men as well, the method follows the ratio of fat to gland, so the suitable approach is advised after examination and imaging.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS
Accessory Breast, or a Different Kind of Lump? Differentiation Comes First
Not every fullness felt at the armpit is accessory breast. Enlarged lymph nodes and lipomas can present in much the same way — so before weighing how to remove it, the first step is to establish what it is.
01 · ACCESSORY BREAST
What Suggests Accessory Breast
A fullness that grows and settles with the menstrual cycle or with pregnancy and breastfeeding, appears symmetrically on both sides, and is felt as a relatively soft volume.
02 · OTHER LUMPS
Lymph Nodes and Other Masses
A lump that feels firm, sits on one side only, or grows over a short period may instead be lymph-node enlargement, a lipoma, or another cause.
03 · WHEN TO CHECK
Signs That Call for Review
A new lump that enlarges quickly, changes in the overlying skin, or pain that does not subside are safest confirmed by testing to identify the cause.
What suggests accessory breast — because accessory breast is glandular tissue, it answers to hormones. A cyclical pattern — swelling and tenderness before a period that settles once it ends — or a history of becoming distinctly more prominent during pregnancy and breastfeeding is read as a finding that points toward accessory breast. It commonly appears in both armpits symmetrically, and on palpation it is usually felt as a relatively soft volume rather than a sharply bounded mass.
Lymph-node enlargement and other masses — the armpit is where lymph nodes cluster, so after a cold or an infection a node can enlarge for a time and be felt as a lump. A lump that is firm to the touch, grows rapidly over a short period, appears on one side only, or is accompanied by pain that will not settle should be examined with lymph-node enlargement, lipoma, epidermal cyst, and other non-accessory-breast causes in mind.
Signs that call for review — a newly appeared, fast-growing lump, any change in the overlying skin, or persistent pain is safest clarified with tests such as ultrasound. Rather than settling the question by touch alone, we encourage you to have it confirmed through an examination.
In practice, some patients who attend convinced they have an accessory breast are found on testing to have a different finding. The ultrasound needed for this differentiation can be performed on the day of your visit, and the treatment direction is then advised according to the result.
DIAGNOSIS PROCESS
The Diagnostic Process — Ultrasound Confirms the Tissue Composition
Diagnosing an accessory breast does not stop at history-taking and palpation. Only when ultrasound has confirmed the ratio of gland to fat, and whether any mass accompanies it, can the removal be designed properly.
History, Palpation, Ultrasound
We establish when it was first noticed and whether its size follows the cycle, map its position and character by palpation, and then confirm the gland-to-fat ratio with ultrasound.
Diagnosis Determines the Design
A high glandular proportion calls for combined excision; a fat-dominant composition is planned around suction. Never fixing the method before the diagnosis is the rule.
History — we begin by asking when the fullness was first noticed, whether it has varied with the menstrual cycle or with pregnancy and breastfeeding, and whether pain or aching accompanies it. Listening to this course alone already tells us a great deal about how likely an accessory breast is.
Palpation and ultrasound — palpation then maps the site, the extent, and the character of what is felt, and ultrasound establishes the proportion of gland to fat and whether a discrete mass is present, with further imaging arranged if judged necessary. Because the surgical approach differs with the composition even between two accessory breasts of the same size, this step is never skipped.
Diagnosis determines the design — where the glandular proportion is high, excision of the gland is combined; where fat dominates, the plan centers on suction. Refusing to fix the method before the diagnosis is a principle we keep.
And because accessory breast is glandular tissue, there are cases in which watching it over time is appropriate, quite apart from any decision about surgery. If its size or texture changes, the care plan is revisited and advised accordingly.
How the Cost of Accessory Breast Surgery Is Determined
The cost follows the size and location of the accessory breast, its tissue composition (the fat-to-gland ratio), the extent of excision, the anesthesia method, and whether one or both sides are treated. Rather than publishing a set comparison or event price, our principle is to provide an individual estimate, matched to the diagnostic findings, through consultation.
FAQ
Accessory Breast Removal FAQ
It depends on the tissue composition. Where the fat proportion is high, liposuction alone may be sufficient; where there is a significant amount of glandular tissue, combining glandular excision helps to avoid a residual bulge or recurrence. The method is decided after diagnosis of the fat-to-gland ratio.
If the glandular tissue is not adequately addressed, recurrence is possible. Designing liposuction together with glandular excision according to the tissue composition helps to reduce the risk of recurrence. Hormonal changes (pregnancy and breastfeeding) may also have an influence. Results vary by individual.
The incision is minimized along the natural crease of the armpit, and the scar tends to fade between the folds over time. The extent of the scar varies with skin type and the extent of excision, so individual variation applies.
Return to daily life is generally possible relatively early. In the early phase, compression management and limiting arm and shoulder use are recommended. Strenuous exercise is resumed in stages according to progress, and recovery varies by individual.
During pregnancy and breastfeeding, hormonal changes can cause the tissue to enlarge again. If you are planning a pregnancy in the near future, we discuss timing after childbirth and breastfeeding together during consultation.
Fat-dissolving injections are sometimes mentioned, but the indications are limited and little effect can be expected on glandular tissue. They are not recommended for every case of accessory breast, and suitability is judged after diagnosis of the tissue composition.
Men can also develop accessory breast in the armpit. This is a separate condition from gynecomastia — in which the glandular tissue at the front of the chest enlarges — differing in both location and cause. A suitable method is advised after examination.
The cost varies with the size and location of the accessory breast, the tissue composition, the extent of excision, the anesthesia method, and whether one or both sides are treated. Rather than a fixed comparison or event price, we advise an individualized estimate based on the diagnostic findings, provided through consultation.
Palpation alone is not conclusive. A lump that swells and settles with the menstrual cycle points toward accessory breast, but distinguishing it from lymph-node enlargement and other causes relies on tests such as ultrasound, and the definitive judgment is made through medical examination.
Accessory breast is glandular tissue, so it can enlarge or become tender with hormonal changes. If it causes no discomfort, surgery is not obligatory — but if its size or texture changes, having it reviewed and kept under observation through medical examination is recommended.
Consultation
Talk to a Specialist
Our specialists, with 25+ years of experience, consult with you personally.
Receive a tailored diagnosis and optimal surgical plan, made for you.