Procedure in brief

Detailed pre-operative markings and measurements are made on your breasts in the upright position just before surgery as part of the surgical planning. In the Operation Theatre, general anesthesia is administered, the pre-planned incisions (cuts) are made on the breasts and excess fat, glandular tissue & skin removed to give you the desired size, shape and contour.

Your doctor will choose the type of incision that is best suited for you, aiming to reduce the scar burden and minimize healing time. Most often, the incision is made around your areola and then vertically down from the areola towards the fold under your breast (typically known as a lollipop scar). Sometimes the scar may also have an additional horizontal component to tighten the skin better (typically known as an anchor scar) Following removal of the excess tissues, the breasts are reshaped and stitches are placed in layers starting from deep within the breast tissue to the skin to create and support the newly shaped reduced breasts. The skin sutures are self-absorbing and do not need to be removed. Scars are permanent, but usually will fade and significantly improve over time. A padded supportive dressing is given at the end of surgery.

Sometimes at the end of surgery, your surgeon may need to leave a temporary tube drain in your breasts for 24-48 hours, to drain blood and serous fluid into a container to prevent it from collecting inside.

Breast reduction can sometimes also be done by liposuction alone, if the breasts are predominantly fatty and have little glandular tissue. Liposuction incisions are typically 4-5mm only and leave tiny minimally visible scars. You should ask your surgeons whether this alternative is possible in your case and allow him to point out the pros and cons.

Post-Surgery Care

You may need to be in the hospital for 24 - 48 hours post-surgery. If a drain has been kept inside your breasts, your surgeon will want to remove it once the drained fluid has reduced to a minimum. This usually takes 48 hours after which you will be discharged from the hospital. Wearing a supportive sports bra is a must for 4 to 6 weeks.

Dressings are done on out-patient basis on the 4th/5th day, then 8th/9th day and finally on the 12th/13th day, by which time the stitches are fully healed. Every patient’s post op recovery is different as it depends on their healing ability.

You will need a minimum of one week for recovery and so anticipate at least a week off from work. Your doctor may recommend more time off depending on how you are healing and the type of profession you are in.

If you work from home or your profession involves a desk job, you can even start working on the fourth or fifth day. You can get back to regular household chores in a week to ten days. While you are recovering you will need to stop strenuous physical activity for at least one month after your surgery. It is crucial that the surgical incisions are not subjected to any excessive force or motion during the time of healing. You will not be able to carry out any strenuous physical activity for 4 to 6 weeks.

The results of breast reduction surgery are typically long-lasting. However, over a period of years, the shape and contours of your breasts may change due to aging, weight fluctuations, hormonal factors and of course gravity.

After reduction, the breasts usually settle to normal size, shape and softness by the end of 2 to 3 months. Scars on your breast will keep re-modelling for a period of one year. Each patient has a different tendency to scar and so regular follow up with your doctor will help you reduce the visibility of your scars. There is a possibility of scars stretching or thickening. There are ways to prevent any stretching or thickening of those scars and your doctor will advise you accordingly.