Breast Reduction
Breast Reduction Overview
Length of Surgery
3 – 3.5 hours
Anaesthesia
General anesthetic. Can be a day case or overnight, but the procedure is always performed in a hospital operating theatre.
Types of Scars to expect:
Vertical or T-shaped scar.
What to expect immediately after the operation
Drains, pain and discomfort, supportive bra.
Risks / Complications:
Hematoma < 1%, bruising and swelling, altered/loss of sensation in nipples, partial or complete loss of nipple circulation, wound breakdown at T-junction.
More about Breast Reduction
The operation is performed under a general anesthetic and usually takes about 2 to 3 hours. Your surgeon will make a cut on the line of the areola (the dark area around the nipple) and a vertical cut underneath your areola. They will remove some of the breast tissue, and the excess fat and skin. Your surgeon will reshape your breast and lift your nipple so it is in a higher position.
Possible complications
Any operation carries certain risks of pain, bleeding, hematoma, infection to surgical wounds and blood clots. More specific to breast reduction surgery, however, are the following:
- Nipple Circulation and Sensation: loss may be partial or complete.
- Fat Necrosis 3 %
- Scars: Unsightly scarring
- Asymmetry: it is impossible to obtain a perfect match of the shape, volume and position of the breasts and areolas.
- Breast Feeding: usually affects the ability to breastfeed.
Recovery from Breast Reduction
After a breast reduction, London based surgeon Mohammad Jawad of the Surgery says that you should be able to go home the next day. Most women return to normal activities within two to three weeks after breast reduction. London clinic Surgery advises that you should be able to return to work after the first week, depending on your type of job. You should be able to do a limited amount of activity, such as lifting young children, after about two weeks.
Regular exercise should help you to resume normal activities as soon as possible after breast reduction. We recommend that you ask a member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice before you start exercising. The results of a breast reduction improve gradually over time. Your breasts should become softer and more natural.
Successful Treatments
Recovery
- 2 weeks off work.
- Exercise/walk/ lower torso 4-6 weeks with support.
- Avoid travelling long distances.
- Massage /Scar Management as soon as the wound healed 10-14 days.
- Wound check and change of dressing after 1 week.
- After 2 weeks, no dressing required in most of cases – just covers with Micropore tape.
- Support shaped bra without underwiring for 3 months.
- Scars will be raised, lumpy, itchy, painful and red to begin with. Full recovery after 3 months.
Post Surgery Advice
- Use recommended painkillers as required.
- After a few days any gauze dressings can be removed and you may need to wear a surgical bra. It should be worn as directed by the surgeon.
- Physical contact should be avoided for the first week or so as your breasts will be feeling very sensitive.
- Your surgeon will advise when to begin exercising and normal activities.
- Contact your surgeon immediately if you notice any signs of infection or if you experience bleeding or a sudden increase in pain.
- To improve the healing of scars, patients should consider: Massage; moisturizing cream such as E45/Nivea; micropore tape across healed area; silicon gel or sheet (we recommend Kelocote Gel); supportive bra; no underwire bra for 3 months and healed area must be taped if underwire bra is to be worn for further 2 months.
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