Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is a procedure that reduces the volume of tissue and skin and also addresses the position of the nipple.

As a result of these factors, the vast majority of women see an improvement in their self-confidence following breast reduction surgery.

At A Glance

Operation time

2-3 hours

Anaesthetic

General

Hospital stay

Day case - 1 night

Washing

Shower after 2 days and bath 2 weeks

Driving

1-2 weeks

Exercise

4-6 weeks

Back to work

2 weeks

Full recovery

4 - 6 weeks

Frequenty Asked Questions

Is breast reduction suitable for me?

You are most likely to benefit from a breast reduction if one or more of the following conditions apply to you.

  • You are self-conscious about the size of your breasts.
  • Your back and neck ache because of the weight of your breasts.
  • You have rashes under your breasts.
  • You are getting grooves in your shoulders from your bra straps.
  • You are finding it difficult to stand or sit up in a good position (bad posture).

Mr Sawyer will carry out a detailed assessment before deciding if surgery is suitable for you. This will include taking photos for your medical records. He will examine your breasts and ask you questions about your medical history.  If you are planning to lose a lot of weight. It may be better to lose weight first before having surgery.  Let Mr Sawyer know if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the future.  Pregnancy can change the size and shape of your breasts and may affect the long-term results of surgery.

What are the benefits of surgery?

Your breasts should be smaller and have a better shape.  Most women who have a successful breast reduction are more comfortable with their appearance, can wear more revealing clothing and their personal and sexual relationships improve.

What new breast size should I be?

It is usually difficult to reduce a large breast to less than a C cup. Any smaller and there is a risk of getting less well-shaped breasts or noticeable differences between your breasts.

Most women who need a breast reduction are used to large breast size and look more natural with at least a C cup. It is important to let your surgeon know the breast size you want to aim to achieve. It is important to discuss this carefully with your surgeon.

What does the procedure involve?

Breast reduction is a procedure performed under a general anaesthetic and usually lasts around 2.5 to 3 hours.  During the procedure, the excess breast tissue and skin is removed and the nipple and areola are repositioned.  Dissolvable stitches are then used to close the incision areas.  The average stay is 1-2 nights.

What sort of bra should I use after surgery?

Patients are advised to put themselves into a support or sports bra as soon as possible following surgery.  A bra that gives firm all-round support should be worn as much as possible day and night for six weeks following surgery.  After this period normal bras including underwired varieties can be worn.

It is probably sensible, however, to wait for a total of three months before assessing the new bra size and getting a new wardrobe.

If undertaking vigorous sporting activities, a sports bra is advised.

We can give you advice on which bras are recommended.

What is the after-care?

Usually, there is pain and swelling for the first few days following the procedure but this is usually controlled with mild painkillers only.

It is important to wear a good supporting sports bra for the first six weeks following the operation.

After you have been discharged home Mr Sawyer will arrange for one of his nurses to review you seven days following the procedure.  A further review will be performed at day 14.  During this nurse review, the dressings may be changed.

Mr Sawyer will routinely review you around six weeks following the procedure.

What is the downtime?

It is completely normal to experience some swelling and post operative soreness in the first few days following this procedure.  You can usually return to light social activities after 7 days. These symptoms can be controlled by using regular paracetamol and ibuprofen.  It is important to rest during the first week or so.  Driving should be avoided for the first 10 to 14 days.

You can return to work depending on your occupation around 14 days following the procedure.

After two weeks you can begin to exercise, for example static cycling.  This activity can be increased so that by eight weeks following the surgery you can resume to all normal physical activity.

Can I breast feed after breast reduction surgery?

The ability to breastfeed can be affected by breast reduction surgery and you should consider this before deciding on the operation.

Price Range

From £9032

I instantly liked Mr Sawyer and he made me feel completely at ease, he explained everything about the procedure what to expect before, during and after. Although Mr Sawyer would not let me give him an answer there and then before I left the room I was 100% sure I would have the operation. Now I am so happy I had the operation I feel like a new person I can wear clothes that I would not have even considered wearing before and solved a lot of back pain which I had endured for a long time

When I saw Mr Sawyer in March this year for the first time, I wasn’t really sure if anyone could help me. I knew my breasts were tuberous and that correcting them can be very tricky and involve multiple surgeries. I’d spent the best part of 15 years hating my boobs, constantly trying to shrink my body in the hope it would make my flat, narrow breasts look a little more feminine. Mr Sawyer was friendly, down to earth and was completely realistic with me about what may or may not be achieved and set my expectations fairly. I felt at ease. I saw him again in August and we came to the conclusion that adding volume was going to give me the best result, along with an areola reduction on the right side. I am so glad I did. It was always about getting a shape more proportional to the rest of my body, rather than having big boobs. Mr Sawyer ended up putting an anatomical implant in the left side at 525cc and a round implant in the right breast at 395cc and the outcome has been two natural looking breasts that look almost the same! Especially as the nipple reduction was a success. I’m so excited to see what they are like as they heal and soften. But in the meantime- I’m over the moon to finally have the womanly shape I’ve always wanted! Can’t recommend him enough. Such a charming, lovely doctor. Thank you.

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