Breast Reduction

Breast Reduction surgery is performed under general anaesthetic as a day case procedure, meaning you are able to go home on the day of your surgery.

There are several Breast Reduction techniques and your surgeon will be able to advise on which is the best option for you. They all involve the reduction of the size and weight of the breasts, while enhancing the shape and the lift to leave you with a desirable and aesthetic appearance. The blood supply will be maintained, to ensure you have fully functioning breasts which are more comfortable and in proportion to your body.

You will need to wear a surgical bra both day and night, for up to 6 weeks after your procedure. Your garment will support your breasts and protect your wounds to ensure you have the best recovery and results. As you recover, your surgical bra will be especially important as you begin to undertake more physical activities, which may put slightly more strain on your breasts.

Although loss of sensation is a risk after Breast Reduction, it is rare and does not occur very often.

Many women with naturally larger breasts find they do not have much sensation in their nipples pre-surgery and although this cannot be heightened with surgery, it is unlikely to be lost completely.

General advice is to take two weeks off work following breast reduction surgery, since swelling is greatest during this time and it is advisable to give wounds time to heal.  During this period it is advisable to keep physical activity to a minimum or drive. It is, however, advisable to mobilise as soon as possible after breast reduction surgery.

If stitches need to be removed, this is generally carried out at about two weeks after the operation.  At this stage dressings are removed and women are encouraged to wear comfortable crop tops or sports bras for support until any swelling and discomfort has resolved, after which they can start wearing normal bras in their new size – this may take a few weeks longer.

Massage and moisturizing are a vital process of breast reduction aftercare and expert advice will be given on the best techniques from our dedicated team.

Following Breast Reduction surgery, you will most likely have some scarring. There are different techniques that can be used for Breast Reduction and the scarring for each varies, depending on the incisions that need to be made.

One of the most common scarring patterns for Breast Reduction is an anchor pattern, resulting in scarring around the nipple with a vertical line down the breasts, and a horizontal line under the breast. An increasingly popular approach results in only a vertical line down the lower half of the breasts, however this approach is not always suitable for patients with extremely large breasts.

In some cases, your surgeon may be able to carry out your procedure using only liposuction, which results in minimal scarring. You will discuss the benefits of each option with your surgeon, and they will be able to advise on the best plan for you. They will also provide you with aftercare advice to look after your scars and to reduce their appearance as much as possible.

Breast reduction surgery necessarily requires an incision that will result in a breast reduction scar that will likely be red and slightly raised in the weeks and months after your procedure, before it fades completely.

Breast reduction scar visibility can, however, be greatly impacted by the quality of the surgeon you choose, as well as the level of aftercare you receive.

In the hands of a skilled surgeon the breast reduction scar can be positioned very discreetly during your breast reduction surgery, whilst an expert scar minimization team can provide you with the tools and techniques to enhance the healing process. For example, the appearance of your breast reduction scars can be reduced by regular moisturisation and massage techniques, all of which our dedicated team will advise our patients in the days following your procedure.

Due to our specialism in liposuction, it is possible in some cases to perform breast reduction surgery using liposuction techniques only. This technique is often known as ‘scarless breast reduction’ since the incisions required can be made in less prominent positions, such as under the arms, where they can not been seen.

Breast reduction recovery time varies from case to case but you should be able to return to your normal day-to-day activities after about two weeks. However, we recommend our patients be sensitive to their body and try not to do too much too soon, ceasing activities after or during which any pain is experienced.

We recommend temporary suspension of activities such as going to the gym, and practicing aerobics and sports that involve using your arms. Any activity that requires lifting your elbows above your shoulders should also be carefully monitored.

All breast reduction techniques require an incision that will result in a scar that will likely be red and slightly raised in the weeks and months after your procedure, before fading completely.

Scar visibility can, however, be greatly impacted by the quality of the surgeon you choose, as well as the level of aftercare you receive. In the hands of a skilled surgeon the scar can be positioned very discreetly, whilst an expert scar minimization team can provide you with the tools and techniques to enhance the healing process. For example, scar the appearance can be reduced by regular moisturisation and massage techniques, all of which our dedicated team will advise our patients in the days following your procedure.

Due to our specialism in liposuction, it is possible in some cases to perform breast reduction using liposuction techniques only. This technique is often known as ‘scarless breast reduction’ since the incisions required can be made in less prominent positions, such as under the arms, where they can not been seen.

Breast reduction surgery is a highly effective technique to help lose breast weight and reduce the impact of large, heavy breasts.

Heavy breasts are uncomfortable and can cause both physical discomfort and pain, and psychological distress.

Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast tissue from naturally large and  heavy breasts and relieves the associated discomfort.

You can have a full body shower one week after your breast reduction surgery. This is usually when any bandages and drains are removed.

It is important that you use non-perfumed soap and gently pat yourself dry with a clean towel afterwards. Do not scrub yourself in the shower or rub yourself dry with the towel as this may irritate or dislodge the stitches.

You must not take a bath or soak the affected area in hot water until at least four weeks after your breast reduction.

You must avoid strenuous exercise, such as running, jogging or exercise classes, for six weeks after your breast reduction surgery.

During this six week period you must also limit your day-to-day physical activity, which means no lifting, pushing, or pulling objects heavier than 5kg. This means being careful when carrying shopping bags, lifting children and doing household chores like laundry and vacuuming. We recommend asking friends or family members to help you with these activities during the recovery period.

We recommend wearing a sports bra for eight weeks after your breast reduction to give you support. However, wearing a sports bra does not mean that you can safely take part in the activities mentioned above.

There are a number of reasons why a woman may choose to undergo breast reduction surgery. These vary from person to person, but these may include to alleviate back, shoulder and neck pain caused by large breasts, to stop skin irritation and rashes developing underneath the breasts and to improve low self-esteem.

In short, if your large breasts are affecting your physical, mental or emotional wellbeing, or interfering with your day-to-day life, then you may want to consider speaking to a consultant about breast reduction surgery.

Breast Reduction surgery is not a weight loss procedure. However, it will help with making exercise more comfortable and easier, meaning for many patients it opens up their options in terms of being able to lose weight.

As Breast Reduction will help to improve your body’s proportions and your posture, you may find the way clothes fit you changes after surgery, and your clothes size may reduce. However, this is dependent on how your breasts impacted your body and appearance, before your surgery and cannot be guaranteed. The results will vary from person to person.

If large breasts are causing you physical pain or discomfort, then breast reduction surgery can help to alleviate this pain or prevent it from getting worse. If your breasts are causing you to have low self-esteem or poor body image, surgery may help with this. If the size of your breasts are having an adverse impact on your social life, work or romantic relationships, then reduction surgery may help. 

For many women with larger breasts, back pain is a problem which affects their everyday life. Breast Reduction surgery has been shown to improve upper back pain and shoulder pain caused by the weight of larger breasts and the strain this puts on the surrounding muscles and ligaments.