Breast Reduction Surgery
Assessment
Is surgery right for you?
Breast Assessment
Surgical Plan
Surgery
Aftercare
Breast Reduction
Reduction Mammaplasty
Breast reduction surgery entails the removal of skin and tissue from the breast, followed by reshaping and elevating to create a smaller, more proportionate bust size.
What is Breast Reduction Surgery
Breast reduction surgery entails the removal of skin and tissue from the breast, followed by reshaping and elevating to create a smaller, more proportionate bust size.
Breast Reduction Surgery
What Breast Reduction surgery can do
Improved confidence and self-expression
- Make it easier to shop for suitable clothing
Back feels better
Bras don't hurt
- Exercise with ease
Easier to breathe
Ciara McGoldrick
CONSULTANT PLASTIC SURGEON
Chris Hoo
CONSULTANT PLASTIC SURGEON
Who is a good candidate for breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction is a highly individualized procedure. You should do it for yourself, not to fulfill someone else’s desires or to try to fit any sort of ideal image.
Overly large breasts can cause health and emotional problems. In addition to self-image issues, you may also experience physical pain and discomfort. The weight of excess breast tissue can impair your ability to lead an active life. The emotional discomfort and self-consciousness often associated with having large pendulous breasts can be as important an issue as the physical discomfort and pain.
Ideal candidates for breast reduction are:
- Bothered by the feeling that their breasts are too large
- Struggling with physical activity due to the size of their breasts
- Experiencing back, neck and shoulder pain caused by the weight of their breasts
- Suffering from shoulder indentations caused by bra straps and/or have skin irritation beneath the breast crease
- Healthy individuals who do not have a life-threatening illness or medical conditions that can impair healing
- Nonsmokers/non-vapers
- Individuals with a positive outlook and specific goals in mind for breast reduction
What costs are involved in Breast Reduction Surgery?
The average cost of breast reduction (aesthetic patients only) is depending on individual circumstances, which is why we always advise initial consultations.Â
Prices for breast reduction can vary. Breast reduction costs may include:
- Anesthesia fees
- Hospital or surgical facility costs
- Medical tests
- Post-surgery garments
- Prescriptions for medication
- Surgeon’s fee
What should I expect during a consultation for breast reduction surgery?
The success and safety of your breast reduction procedure depends very much on your complete candidness during your consultation. You’ll be asked a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle.
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During your consultation be prepared to discuss:
- Your surgical goals
- Your reasons for wanting to have surgery, your expectations and your desired outcome
- Your medical condition and medical treatments (bring documentation if you have it)
- Your current medications and drug allergies, any vitamins or herbal supplements you take and any alcohol, tobacco, vaping or drug use
- Breast cancer in the family, as well as the results of any mammograms or previous biopsies
- Any questions or concerns you have about breast reduction from your own research
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Your plastic surgeon will also:
- Evaluate your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors
- Examine and evaluate the appearance of your breasts, including the position of the nipples and areolas, the condition of the skin and the shape of the breasts
- Take photographs
- Discuss your options and recommend a course of treatment
- Discuss the likely outcomes of breast reduction and any risks or potential complications
Step 1 – Anesthesia
Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. The choices include intravenous sedation and general anesthesia. Your doctor will recommend the best choice for you.
Step 2 – The incision
Incisions are made in inconspicuous areas to minimize visible scarring. You and your plastic surgeon will discuss which incision options are appropriate for your desired outcome. Incision options include: along the areolar edge (peri-areolar incision), the fold under the breast (inframammary fold) and in the armpit (axillary incision). A belly-button approach is associated with a higher complication rate.
Step 3 – Removing tissue and repositioning
After the incision is made, the nipple – which remains tethered to its original blood and nerve supply – is then repositioned. If necessary the areola diameter is reduced by removing skin around the perimeter. Underlying breast tissue is reduced and the remaining breast tissue is lifted and shaped.
With extremely large breasts, the nipple and areola may need to be removed completely and then repositioned to a higher position on the breast (this is called a free nipple graft). In this case, the nipple and areola will not have sensation after the operation and it will take longer to heal.
Step 4 – Closing the incisions
The incisions are brought together to reshape the now smaller breast. Sutures are layered deep within the breast tissue to create and support the newly shaped breasts.
Sutures, skin adhesives and/or surgical tape close the skin. Incision lines are permanent, but in most cases they will fade over time.
Over time the incision lines will fade. The quality of scar depends on many things, including your genetics, exposure of your body to nicotine and infection.
What should I expect during my breast reduction recovery?
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Following your surgery, gauze or bandages will be applied to your incisions. An elastic bandage or support bra will minimize swelling and support the reconstructed breast. A small, thin tube may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid. A pain pump may also be used to reduce the need for narcotics.
You will be given specific instructions that may include how to care for your surgical site(s) following surgery, medications to apply or take orally to aid healing and reduce the risk of infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your general health and when to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
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| Weeks 2-3 |
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| Weeks 4-5 |
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Book a Consultation
Book a consultation with our Consultant Plastic Surgeons and discuss your options
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