Please Note this page contains Clinical photos of the breast. An age restriction of 18+ applies
Breast Reduction Surgery
What is a Breast Reduction
A Breast reduction is called a Reduction Mammoplasty. A breast reduction involves removal of xecess breast tissue reducing the overall weight, and size of the breast. A beast reduction also results in a lifting of the nipple back towards the middle of the breast (Breast apex). Lifting of the nipple is called a Mastopexy (Breast Lift) which occures as a result of the Breast reduction
What type of breast is suitable for a breast reduction?
A Breast reduction is suitable for breast that are excessively large.
As the breast enlarges they usually drop and develop Ptosis. Ptosis is the technical name for drooping of the breast. The degree of Ptosis is measured on how far the breast sits below the Infra-mammary Fold (IMF). The IMF is the the line at the bottom of the breast where the breast lifts off the chest wall. Once the breast has fallen below this line you have Ptosis. TO obtain a Medicare rebate over 60% of the breast must be below this line.
Typically a lady considering a Breast reduction has a large breast volume referred to as Macromastia. Cup size above a D-cup are usually considered for a breast reduction. Please note that Cup size is not uniform and no one cup size is a minimum for a breast reduction. If you feel your breast are excessively large and causing back and neck pain a breast reduction may be of benefit.
Who is suitable for a breast reduction?
A Breast reduction is suitbale for any patient who has a large breast volume that results in impairment to your quality of life. Large breasts can be very debilitating. The excess breast weight can result in significant back and neck pain. The larger breast volume can also impact on a lady’s ability to exercise resulting in weight gain and a general decline in fitness.
A breast redcution is not a cosmetic procedure if being performed for the reasons above. There are strict criteria that need to be met for a a Medicare refundable breast reduction. These criteria for a breast reduction are listed below.
Is a Breast Reduction covered by Medicare and Health funds?
A Breast reduction may be partially covered by Medicare and your Health fund if particular criteria are met.
The Criteria for a medicare and Health Fund Rebate are listed below - MBS Item No 45523
You must have a referral form your General Practitioner.
You must have had documented issues with back and neck pain or skin infections under the breast. THese must be stated in the GP referral
More than 60% of the breast volume must lay below the Infra-mammary fold
The nipple must be at the most dependant (lowest) aspect of the breast
What scars are involved in a breast reduction?
A breast reduction requires both removal of excess breast tissue and the surrounding breast skin. The usual pattern of a breast reduction is called a Wise Pattern or often referred to as an ‘Anchor’ pattern. Whilst this does result in more scars it allows control of the shape.
Many patients with enlarged breast have also developed enalrged/widened nipple areolar complexes. As part of the reduction the nipple is raised (mastopexy) into a higher more natural position and reduced to a size that matches the smaller volume.
The important thing to remember when it comes to scars is they will fade. Wide or raised scarring can always be corrected. Unfortunately, a poor shpae is much more difficult to correct. With that in mind a breast reduction will usually favour larger scars for an improved appearance of the breast.
What is involved in breast reducution recovery
Following a breast reduction you will usually spend one night in hospital. You will be placed into a surgical bra at the end of you surgery. Surgical compression Bras provide compression, reducing the degree of swelling and holds the breast tissue in place whilst healing.
A post surgical compression bra needs to be worn 24/7 (except when showering) for the first 2 weeks. After your post operative review you can usually move into a lower compression bra that can be taken off whilst sleeping.
Once the surgical dressings are removed at 2 weeks Breast reduction scars are managed with a combination of Taping and different creams. Please see the link below in regards to post op wound care.
Generally you will require a minimum of 2 weeks off work. There will be no Gym or swimming for a 6 week period whilst the breast recovers
What size will i be after a breast reduction?
Most breast reduction result in over 500gm of breast tissue removed from each breast. The specific amount will vary form person to person and breast to breast depending on your size.
The finally size of your breast will vary on a number of factors including your wight, chest size, height. No specific cup size can be guaranteed. A breast reduction removes a significant proportion of the breast and then the remaining breast tissue needs to be refolded back into the new breast shape.
Dr Ben Green will advise you alf the approximate volume that will be excised and likely approximate cup size. It isa not possible to accurately pre-determine to be a particular cup size. Most breast reductions reduce the volume to a cup size around a full B cup or small C-Cup but this is highly variable and the final shape may be larger depending on your initial starting size.