Breast Reduction

The goal of your surgery is to reduce your breasts to a size that is in better proportion with your physique and makes you feel more comfortable. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon at Assure Cosmetic Centre is the best person to determine if your expectations are achievable.

Breast reduction surgery offers several techniques, all aimed at removing excess breast tissue, fat, and skin while repositioning the nipples to achieve a balanced breast size that suits your body. Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will carefully assess your physical condition and individual requirements to determine the most suitable technique for you.

Breast reduction surgery is performed at a fully-accredited Perth hospital under general anaesthesia. On average, patients stay in the hospital for one to two nights after the procedure. However, it’s important to have a thorough discussion with your surgeon about the specifics of your individual recovery period.

All plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures come with risks and potential complications. To ensure successful surgery, it is crucial to understand and minimise these risks. Whilst all measures are taken to mitigate risks, some risks are unavoidable.

All information on this page is general in nature – your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will discuss the specific risks and complications pertinent to your individual surgical procedure during your consultation. General risks for surgery are listed here.

Specific risks related to breast reduction surgery include, but are not limited to:

• Fluid accumulation: After the surgery, there is a possibility of fluid accumulating around the breast. This condition, known as seroma, may require additional procedures to drain the fluid. To prevent any fluid or blood accumulation, thin tubes called a drains may be temporarily placed under the skin while you’re in hospital.
• Fat necrosis: This is a rare complication that can occur when fatty tissue dies. It can cause hard lumps under the skin, but it is usually not a serious problem.
• Changes in breast and nipple sensation: Breast reduction surgery may lead to temporary or permanent changes in breast and nipple sensation. Some individuals may experience increased sensitivity, while others may notice reduced sensation.
• Asymmetry (unevenness) of the breasts: This is a rare complication of breast reduction surgery. It can be caused by a number of factors, including differences in the size or shape of the breasts before surgery, or problems with healing.
• Excessive firmness of the breast: This is a rare complication of breast reduction surgery that can be caused by the formation of scar tissue.
• Potential partial or total loss of the nipple and areola: This is a very rare complication of breast reduction surgery. It is usually caused by damage to the blood supply to the nipple and areola.
• Requirement for further surgery to address complications: This is a rare complication of breast reduction surgery. It may be necessary to correct problems such as asymmetry, excessive firmness, or loss of the nipple and areola.

While your surgeon will take great care to minimise their visibility, it’s important to understand that scars are an unavoidable outcome of any surgical procedure. In the case of breast reduction surgery, the scars are typically located around the areolae of the nipple and under the breasts. Fortunately, with time, these scars often fade over a period of 6 to 12 months.

Assure’s Specialist Plastic Surgeon have extensive experience with the latest surgical techniques, including the ‘short scar’ technique.

However, it’s worth noting that some patients may have a tendency to develop keloid or hypertrophic scars. If you are aware of this tendency in yourself, it’s essential to inform your surgeon beforehand so that appropriate measures can be taken to address and manage the scarring effectively.

Unwanted side effects from a breast reduction are uncommon. There may be an alteration in sensation of the nipples but this often improves with time. Most women have one breast smaller than the other, and it is possible that this slight size difference may remain after surgery. Modern surgery techniques can preserve the ability to breastfeed and this should be discussed with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon if it is important to you.

Typically, most patients resume their regular routines within approximately three weeks after the procedure. However, to ensure proper healing, it’s essential to avoid excessive exercise during the initial six weeks. The timeline for returning to work or normal activities varies for each individual, and your surgeon will provide personalised advice based on your specific circumstances.

Post-surgery, wearing compression garments for up to six weeks is necessary to reduce swelling and promote a smoother healing process.

However, it is essential to understand that each patient’s recovery process requires sufficient time, support, and appropriate postoperative care. Recovery duration and the ability to participate in different activities may vary among patients due to individual differences in healing capacity and pain tolerance.

An initial consultation with your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will cost approximately $250, which is payable in full at the time of booking your consultation. Your consultation will take approximately 30-60 minutes. If a Medicare item applies to your potential procedure then you will be entitled to a rebate from Medicare of approximately $80, providing you have a written referral from your GP or specialist. GP referrals are valid for 12 months and specialist referrals for 3 months.

Your Specialist Plastic Surgeon will provide an indication of the likely costs, such as your surgeon’s fee, anaesthetist’s fees and hospital and theatre fees. Your surgeon’s fee includes all post-operative care and nurse dressings. Pricing will vary from case to case, but an indicative range of your surgeon’s fee is $6,500 to $8,000 excluding GST. Anaesthetist, hospital and theatre fees are additional.

There may be Medicare and private health insurance rebates available for breast reduction surgery in Perth depending on strict Medicare eligibility criteria. Your surgeon can provide you with more information, but you would then need to talk to your private health insurer to determine exactly how much cover they will provide and confirm what your final out-of-pocket costs will be.

A good starting point is to book a consultation with one of our experienced Specialist Plastic Surgeons at Assure Cosmetic Centre. You will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns and ask questions. You will be provided with detailed information regarding the treatments or procedures that can help you, the expected outcomes, and the costs involved. Click here to make an appointment.

The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) website is a helpful and reliable source of information online. Their website is an excellent place to research a range of surgical procedures and non-surgical treatments, and view video animations.

Utilising a search engine can also be beneficial in finding relevant information on these topics.

For patients seeking breast augmentation, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) breast implant hub also has several documents regarding breast implants, covering various subjects such as Breast Implant Associated-Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (BIA-ALCL), consumer inquiries, and related matters.