Breast Reduction Surgery – Sydney & Canberra

Breast Reduction Surgery – The Procedure

Breast Reduction procedures and carried out under a general anaesthetic in most cases a 1 -2 night stay in hospital is generally required. The Breast Reduction surgical time is typically 2-3 hours in most cases.

The first step in the procedure is to remove the excess skin from the breasts. Having already marked the incision sites before the procedure the surgeon will then relocate the nipple into its new “Lifted” position on the breast. Once this has been done, a stitch (suture) will then be used to to secure the lift and the new nipple position. The scar will commonly be in the shape of an Anchor, following the outline of the nipple and then vertically down to the bottom of the breast and then extending from the bottom and then out toward the underarms a few centimetres. See the diagrams below.

In some procedures it is possible to only create a vertical scan however, this will often depends on how much breast tissue during the reduction procedure needs to be removed. Dissolvable stitches are commonly used and don’t require removal after the Breast Reduction surgery. Draining tubes and dressing will also be used at the end of the surgery to catch any fluid or post op bleeding that may occur. Drain and dressing will normally be removed once the fluid has stopped which is typically 1 day after your Breast Reduction surgery. You will be given new dressing to use before going home.

As blood clotting is sometimes a problem with this procedure, you may be asked to wear anti-embolism stockings (TEDs) on your legs as a precautionary measure. These should not be removed until advised. You will also get out of bed and move around as soon as possible after surgery.

Breast Reduction Surgery – After Your Procedure

After your surgery your breasts will usually feel uncomfortable and painful. However, this will be kept under control by the effective use of pain medication as you need them. Please be aware that using pain medication following your Breast Reduction surgery such as Asprin and Nurofen should be avoided as these can thin your blood and increase bruising/swelling and general healing time.

Swelling after your procedure can often make the breasts appear larger than they are, do not panic, once the swelling has gone away your breasts will go down in size quite quickly after approx 1 month. However, 3-4 months following your Breast Reduction surgery should be allowed for total healing.

Although all care is taken to stop bleeding during the procedure sometimes, blood vessels can leak after the Breast Reduction has taken please. This blood can collect in the treatment areas and are known as Haematomas. Sometimes these may need manual drainage, although often the body will absorb the fluid on it’s own.

The chances of contracted an infection following Breast Reduction surgery is rare and should be treated with antibiotics as directed by your Plastic Surgeon. It is advisable to cease smoking and excessive drinking following surgery as this can delay how quickly you heal.

Following surgery your breasts will be significantly smaller but the final shape and size may not take place until 6 months after treatment. All dressings should be kept clean and dry for at least 1 – 2 weeks after Breast Reduction surgery to assist with optimal healing.

Wearing a comfortable bra is also advisable for the first 6 or so weeks post treatment. Sometimes numbness can occur on the actual nipple and the surrounding breast area. In most cases this is only temporary and should return to normal within a few months. In rare cases, the “stalk” of the nipple may die due to insufficient blood supply which can cause a permanent loss in sensation. Secondary procedures to fix this problem can be performed if needed. Please be aware this complication is extremely rare.

Shortly after your procedure the scars may become hard , red or even raised and can take as long as 18 months to fade and flatten out. This will vary on a patient by patient basis as everyone’s healing process is a little different. Using a well fitted bra will help reduce this problem.

After your Breast Reduction procedure you may feel tired for 1-2 weeks, this is normal. You may begin driving after approx 1 week however; avoid heavy duty exercise for about 6 week. Light exercise such as walking will help with recovering from your Breast Reduction procedure. Avoid making any major travel plans for at least 1 month after your surgery.

In Summary…

Breast Reduction Surgery can provide some excellent benefits in terms of your physical health and self-worth as well as your emotional wellbeing. You should ensure that you fully understand the procedure and ask lots of questions whilst you are deciding whether this is the right solution for you. It is a significant medical procedure performed by expert Plastic Surgeons under general anaesthetic in a surgical environment. Recovery can take some time and you should plan for this. There are some risks to consider and you should also understand that results can very from patient to patient based on a range of factors. Finally, the decision should be yours and yours only however, having made the right decision for you, you will be on the path to joining the hundreds of women who undergo Breast Reduction Surgery every year and who are delighted with the results.

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