A breast reduction, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to decrease the size and reshape the breasts to achieve a more proportionate and balanced appearance. This procedure is typically recommended for individuals who experience physical discomfort, such as chronic back, neck, or shoulder pain, as well as skin irritation and posture issues, due to overly large breasts.
Breast reduction surgery is a highly individualised procedure and may not be suitable for everyone. Always talk to your Specialist Plastic Surgeon before making a decision. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will assess your condition and general health, and plan the treatment that is best suited to you.
Before you decide on breast reduction surgery, there are some important issues to keep in mind:
Breast reduction surgery can significantly change the size of your breasts. For breast enhancement or to round out certain parts of the breast it would be better to consider augmentation with fat grafting performed by Dr Brooks.
Surgeons generally recommend waiting until breast development, child birth and breastfeeding have stopped before undertaking breast reduction surgery as breast tissue can change following these life events.
Although breasts of any size can be reduced, the results may not be as long-lasting in women with heavier breasts as skin stretches can lead to bottoming out. (See What is Galaflex Mesh below)
A breast reduction may be a good option for you if:
You are physically healthy
You have realistic expectations
Your breasts are fully developed
Your breasts are heavy and may have lost their shape and firmness
Your breasts have a flatter, elongated shape or are pendulous
When unsupported, your nipples fall below the breast crease
Your nipples and areolas point downward
You have stretched skin and enlarged areolas
One breast is lower than the other
Remember that the shape and size of your breasts before surgery will influence the surgical procedure and the outcome.
In most breast lift or breast reduction procedures, the nipples and areolas remain attached to the blood and nerve supply while they are repositioned. However, if breasts are extremely large, where the nipples are near the level of the waist, the nipples and areolas may have to be removed and repositioned at a higher level. This will result in the permanent loss of sensation in the nipple and areola, and the inability to breastfeed.
The location of incisions will depend on the size and shape of your breasts, the amount of skin and tissue to be removed, your surgeons’ recommendations and your preferences. Your surgeon will use a skin pen to mark your breasts immediately before surgery to map out the incision lines.
Three methods may be used to lift breasts or reduce breast size: Robbins method, Vertical method, or the Benelli method.
The method used will be determined on the patient goals and discussed with the surgeon in the clinic.
Dr Brooks may recommend the use of mesh such as Galaflex in some cases.
Galaflex mesh is an man supportive mesh structure made of the same material as sutures. It is inserted at the time of surgery and acts as an “internal bra”. It is hidden under the skin and superficial fat and dissolves over time. As it dissolves, scar tissue forms and this provides the breast with an increased level of support and minimised the chance of bottoming out. (see ‘Will I need revisional surgery’ below)
Each case is assessed on a case by case base and use of Galaflex does lead to additional cost. Dr Brooks will discuss this at the time of consultation.
Every procedure is individualised to the patient. We will always provide honest and comparable results to give an idea of outcomes however results can not be guaranteed and will vary.
Scars are an inevitable part of any invasive surgery. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will endeavour to minimise scarring and to keep your scars as inconspicuous as possible by locating the incisions in easily hidden sites. That way, scars will be along natural skin lines and creases. Scars may fade with time and become barely noticeable. If you are prone to scarring, you should advise your surgeon.
As time passes, gravity will sometimes cause the breast tissue to “bottom out”. This occurs when the patient’s skin has previously been stretched by larger breasts and leads to an appearance where the nipple stays in place but the breast tissue sinks down. If this occurs patients may wish to have a revision surgery or consider a procedure using a mesh support. Dr Brooks will discuss this in detail at the time of consultation. For issues with scarring or contour issues these can be reviewed in post operative appointments in our clinic.
Cost is always a consideration in elective surgery. Prices for individual procedures can vary widely between Specialist Plastic Surgeons. Some factors that may influence the cost include the surgeon’s experience, the type of procedure used and the hospital allocated.
Costs associated with the procedure may include:
Surgeon’s fee
Hospital or surgical facility costs
Anaesthesia fees
Prescriptions for medication
Post-surgery garments
Medical tests
We welcome any questions you may have regarding fees.
Every procedure has risks and these are individualised to the patient. We will discuss risks in detail at the time of consultation however we welcome questions and queries at any time.
Call our friendly team to get more information about your plastic or reconstructive goals
