Breast Reduction in Sydney
Breast reduction surgery is one of the more popular procedures performed by plastic surgeons. Women with heavy breasts (a condition known as macromastia) may suffer from related neck and back pain, shoulder indentations from the bra strap, difficulty exercising and finding clothes that fit and a rash in the fold underneath the breast during warmer months.
Here, Sydney breast reduction surgeon A/Prof Damian Marucci answers the top seven questions posed by candidates considering a breast reduction.
Is a breast lift the same as a breast reduction?
Breast lift and breast reduction are similar procedures.
A breast lift (or “mastopexy”) is designed for patients who are satisfied with their breast volume, but unhappy with their breast shape. This is usually because the breast tissue has “sagged” so the nipple sits below the level of the fold underneath the breast.
Patients who are unhappy with their large breasts also tend to have sagging breast tissue (with the nipple being below the level of the fold). In addition to needing the breast volume reduced, breast reduction patients also require the remaining breast tissue to be lifted up onto the chest wall to put the nipple back into the correct position.
As the two operations are similar, often the same incisions are used and the resulting scarring is similar. There is always a scar around the nipple and a vertical scar on the front of the breast. There may also be a scar in the fold underneath the breast; this third scar is more likely in patients having a breast reduction but may also be required for some patients requesting a breast lift procedure.
Are there exercises that will reduce the size of my bust and make my breasts sit higher?
Unfortunately, doing chest/pec exercises won’t decreases the size of your breasts. The breast gland sits on top of the muscle and isn’t affected by how strong or weak the underlying muscle is. If breasts are too large and saggy, the best treatment is breast reduction surgery. The goals of breast reduction surgery are to decrease the volume of the breasts and to improve the shape of the breasts. The shape is improved by moving the nipple and breast tissue back up onto the chest where they belong.
What is the ideal cup size for my frame?
Although this is an excellent question, unfortunately there is no definitive answer.
It is important that you have a detailed discussion with your Sydney breast reduction surgeon about your goals of surgery. Your surgeon must leave enough breast tissue behind to preserve the blood supply and nerve supply to the nipple. For this reason, there is a limit to how small a breast can be made on the day of surgery.
On the other hand, if you do not desire breasts that are as small as possible after surgery, it is important that your surgeon understands this. All patients say they want to be “in proportion,” but what that actually means is different for everyone. A detailed conversation with your plastic surgeon is essential to make sure everyone is on the same page.
Can breasts increase in size after breast reduction surgery?
Breasts change in size and shape throughout life. Breasts increase in size during puberty, pregnancy and breastfeeding. Breast volume also changes with a patient’s overall weight. Most women experience a decrease in breast volume after they have finished having a family, whereas a minority find that their breasts continue to increase in volume.
A small proportion of women may experience an increase in breast volume following breast reduction surgery. This doesn’t mean that the original surgery was performed incorrectly. A breast reduction doesn’t affect the future potential growth of breast tissue. Revision breast reduction surgery carries with it a slightly increased risk of damaging the nerve supply and blood supply to the nipple. Your plastic surgeon will be able to guide you in terms of risks and outcomes.
What is the recovery like after breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery is relatively low risk and effective. Many patients go home the same day, although most opt to stay in the hospital overnight. All the sutures Dr. Marucci uses are dissolving and most patients are able to gently shower over their dressings the following day. He asks his patients to wear a bra with no underwire day and night for the first two weeks. Most patients return to work after 2 to 3 weeks. Dr. Marucci asks patients not to exercise for 3 to 4 weeks. Most patients feel well enough to drive after 1 to 2 weeks.
All surgery involves some risks — for example, wound healing problems, bleeding or pain. Thankfully, the complication rate of breast reduction surgery is low. To reduce your risk of complications, make sure your plastic surgeon is a registered member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons or the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. This is your way of ensuring your surgery is performed by a specialist who knows what they are doing. If complications occur, it is important that you are under the care of someone who knows how to treat them.
It is important that you feel comfortable with and have confidence in your surgeon. Dr. Marucci often meets with patients a few times before their procedure to go over everything and make sure that they’re all on the same page. Breast reduction surgery is a popular procedure which patients recover well from. For the most part, his Sydney breast reduction patients are overwhelmingly glad they went through with their surgery.
What are the scars like after breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery usually involves scars around the nipple, a vertical scar below the nipple on the breast, and a scar in the crease underneath the breast, especially when the position of the nipple needs to be elevated. This last scar underneath the breast may not be required if only a breast lift or a small reduction is needed.
That said: the scars on the breast tend to heal well. The scar around the nipple is at a natural anatomical junction between the breast and areolar skin and blends into the pigmented skin. The vertical scar, which is the most visible, tends to fade into a fine line over a period of months. The scar underneath the breast is not usually visible when you are looking in the mirror front-on.
Scars can be improved with massage, silicone sheeting and laser, if necessary. You need to give scars anywhere between 6 to 12 months to settle down into fine white lines.
How much does a breast reduction cost?
There are two basic costs in breast reduction surgery: the cost of the hospital stay/operating theatre and the cost of the specialists involved in your procedure (e.g., the surgeon and the anesthetist).
Part of the fees charged by your specialists will be covered by Medicare. If you are in a health fund, your fund may cover even more of these fees (the difference between what Medicare and your fund will cover and what the surgeon/anesthetist charges is called the “gap”). Your fund may also cover your hospital stay/surgery.
To get an accurate quote for surgery, you need to find out which item numbers are relevant to your planned procedure (your plastic surgeon will advise you of this following a consultation). Your plastic surgeon will also give you a quote for their “gap” and the anaesthetist’s “gap.”
Dr. Marucci’s fees are intermittently updated. Please call his rooms on 9588 6374 for an over-the-phone quote.
Contact A/Prof Damian Marucci
To speak with our Sydney breast reduction surgeon about your treatment options, call or email our practice today. We have offices serving Miranda, Kogarah, and all surrounding locations.