If you’re considering breast reduction surgery, sometimes referred to as a mammoplasty, you can find out more about the procedure and what you can expect on this page. Here at Ramsay Health Care all of our breast reduction procedures are carried out by experienced surgeons, across many of our hospitals and we provide the highest quality aftercare to all our patients.
Your breast size is determined by your genes, hormones, body frame and weight. For most women, their breast size is proportionate to their body – but some women may have particularly large breasts, which can cause physical and psychological discomfort.
A breast reduction, often known as a boob job or boob reduction, is a cosmetic operation to make your breasts smaller, lighter and sometimes to improve their shape.
Women may choose to have breast reduction surgery for physical and emotional reasons. It may be that their large breasts cause them pain and discomfort in their back, shoulders or neck, they find it difficult to take part in some sports or, they are tired of never finding clothes and swimwear that fit properly. Other women feel self-conscious of their large breasts and dislike the extra attention they attract.
There are many benefits of breast reduction surgery and these are individual to each patient.
Women can enjoy better-shaped breasts that are more proportional to the rest of their body. Smaller breasts can improve posture, alleviate back, shoulder and neck pain associated with very large breasts and prevent painful rashes that can appear under large breasts as a result of excess sweat and the breasts and chest rubbing together.
Breast reduction surgery can allow women to participate in more sporting and physical activities with less discomfort. It can open up a wider choice of clothing including fitted clothes, strappy tops, bras and swimwear.
Overall a breast reduction can reduce feelings of self-consciousness due to large breasts and the unwanted attention they can bring. This can have a positive impact on self-esteem and may lead to an increase self-confidence.
Breast reduction surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic and usually takes about an hour and a half.
Your surgeon when performing a breast reduction 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, excess fat and skin. Your surgeon will reshape your breast and lift your nipple so it is in a higher position.
Like any major surgery, breast reduction can have complications. These can be general complications such as bleeding and infection or more specific complications to breast reduction surgery including: scarring, a loss of sensation of the breast and nipple, difficulty or inability to breast-feed and differences in the size, shape and symmetry of the breasts.
During your consultation, your cosmetic surgeon will explain in detail all potential risks and complications so that you are fully informed.
The following day after surgery you should be able to go home. During breast reduction recovery your breasts will look discoloured and feel firm and swollen. The results of a breast reduction improve gradually over time. Your breasts should become softer and more natural.
Your cosmetic surgeon will be able to advise you on your breast reduction recovery time including when you can return to work and other activities.
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. Most women return to normal activities within two to three weeks. Regular exercise should help you to return to normal activities as soon as possible. Before you start exercising, you should ask a member of the healthcare team or your GP for advice.
Before and after photos of women who have had breast reduction surgery allow you to visualise the reduction in a breast that can be achieved. They can help to set your expectations. Your cosmetic surgeon will show you before and after photos of past patients to illustrate the results you can expect from your breast reduction.
Your cosmetic surgeon can reduce the size and weight of your breasts during a breast reduction to create the breast appearance you desire. Breast reduction surgery is tailored to your individual preferences and results will differ from person to person.
The cost of a breast reduction with Ramsay Health Care UK can range from £2,995 to £8,330, based on your individual requirements for breast reduction surgery. You’ll be given a written cost quote that is guaranteed for a minimum of three months. This Total Care package includes all of your hospital costs for a breast reduction, the cosmetic surgeon and consultant anaesthetist fees as well as any outpatient care required for 60 days post discharge plus one follow up consultation. The only extra charge is for your initial appointment with your cosmetic surgeon and any required follow up appointments.
We offer affordable finance options to assist with your breast reduction cost if needed.
You may consider choosing Ramsay Health Care UK for your breast reduction surgery as we offer:
You will want to consider, and discuss at your initial consultation with your cosmetic surgeon, the breast size you would ideally like. You should remember that cup size is only a general guide. Your cosmetic surgeon will examine your body and its proportions. This will allow them to give you an indication of how much tissue can be removed by breast reduction surgery to create a naturally proportioned breast and to determine if this realistically meets your expectations.
It’s natural to be concerned about the kind of scarring you’ll have as a result of breast reduction surgery. An experienced and skilled cosmetic surgeon will make every effort to perform a breast reduction that will leave you with minimal scarring. The scars should be invisible when you’re clothed, even when you’re wearing a low cut top.
Most often a breast reduction scar is an anchor shape around your areola, down your breast and along your horizontal breast crease. Scarring will be red immediately after surgery but this will fade in time. It should become light pink within twelve months of your surgery.
Breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery is possible. If you think that you may want to breastfeed in the future, you need to discuss this with your cosmetic surgeon before surgery. Your surgeon will then endeavour to preserve your milk producing tissue and not separate your nipples from your milk ducts when repositioning them.
Mr Andrea Marando
Mr Andrea Marando is a Consultant Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon in Preston.
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