Breast reduction

The surgery takes about two hours, and you will need to stay overnight at the clinic where you will have your operation done. Just before your surgery, the plastic surgeon will draw out the treatment plan on your breasts. You will then be given a general anaesthetic.

A wedge-shaped section of the skin and gland tissue is removed from the bottom of the breasts. Afterwards, the nipple is moved up, and the areola may also be reduced in size. In this way, a smaller breast is created. Once your breast reduction has successfully been completed, the wounds are stitched and dressed in support bandages.

A breast reduction involves moving breast tissue up the chest and removing excess skin and breast tissue. Depending on the new position of the breast, a small incision is made in the skin where the nipple is attached. The breast is sutured from the nipple, straight down to the breast-fold. Sometimes the nipple is also reduced in size. Once the excess skin and tissue have been removed, the breast can be re-built. The wounds are covered with gauzes and a support bandage.

Visibility
The scars on both breasts will be in the shape of an anchor. The base of the anchor will be in the natural fold of the breast. From the centre of that fold, the scar will then go straight up towards the nipple ending with a circle around the areola. Once the wounds have completely healed, the scars in the breast fold and around the areola will hardly be visible. The part that runs vertically from the breast fold to the nipple will still be visible.

You must remove everything that is loose, in or on, your body just before the operation — for example, dentures or other removable prosthetics in the mouth, contact lenses or a hearing aid. You should report to the reception on the day of your operation.

NB: Payment for your treatment should be paid in full no later than four weeks in advance.

You will stay in the clinic for one night after you’ve had your breast reduction done. Once your operation has been completed, you will be brought to the recovery room. There, your blood pressure and heartbeat etc. will be monitored. You will be in the recovery room for about half an hour. Then you will be moved to a bed in our outpatient room where you will stay the night. You may not leave until the following morning, and not without supervision.

You may take a shower the day after your operation, but make sure that the wounds stay dry. The bandages are waterproof and can be dabbed dry, and you should leave them on for two weeks. The bandages are placed on top of the sutures. The sutures may also not be removed, as they will dissolve on their own.

Other things you should think about are:
For the first two weeks: do not raise your arms, do not do any sports and avoid direct sunlight.
For the first six weeks: get plenty of rest and avoid physically strenuous activities – such as cleaning the house, vacuuming, cooking or lifting heavy objects. Also, you should not go swimming or visit the sauna.

You should protect the scar from the sun for the first year so that it will not change colour. Should you experience any redness or swelling, or develop a fever or have an open wound, or should you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.