What Is The Recovery Protocol for Clavicle Reduction Surgery?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Hi, I’m interested clavicle reduction surgery! I’m twenty eight years old, and I transitioned ten years ago to good results. However my comparatively broad shoulders continue to give me a remaining sense of gender dysphoria. I would be interested to learn your assessment of the risks associated with the procedure.

A: The risks of clavicle reduction surgery, and the only ones I have seen in  over 100 cases (200 clavicles) are: 1) fixation failure (2) , 2) non-union (1) and 3) prominent hardware that the patient wanted removed secondarily. (2)

Recovery is a progression of limited arm motion to full range of motion over a 6 week postoperative recovery. This is done at 2 weeks intervals after surgery with elbows by one side for the first 2 weeks, arms at 45 degree from week 2 to 4 and arms at 90 degrees from week 4 to 6. At 6 weeks after surgery full range of arm motion can resume. Weight bearing and more athletic activities can resume at 8 weeks after surgery.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon