Breast Reduction

Procedure Spotlight

Removes excess fat, glandular tissue and skin from breasts
Result is smaller, higher (youthful), lighter and better shaped breasts
For less scarring, the wounds are sutured carefully and meticulously
For a more lasting results Dr Safvat uses the newer supero-medial pedicle breast reduction
Improves quality of life and self-esteem
Can help improve neck and back pain as well as posture

Breast reduction surgery is performed to reshape and resize the breast by removing excess fat, glandular tissue and skin from breasts. The result of Breast Reduction surgery is smaller, higher, lighter and better shaped breasts that are more proportionate with the rest of the body. Breast Reduction surgery may also include a reduction in the size and shape of your areola. During the Breast Reduction surgery Dr Safvat, in addition to removing the excess breast tissue and fat, raises the remaining tissue and areola (a Breast Lift) to provide a more aesthetically pleasing look.

Excessively large breasts can be a source of discomfort and affect your quality of life. Large breasts tend to result in shoulder and neck pain as well as skin irritation under the breast fold. Because larger breasts are also more likely to be pendulous and sag, it can cause women feel more self-conscious about their appearance. This can also lead to poor posture over time. In addition, excessively large breasts can make it difficult for women to engage in physical activities, sports and exercise because of the size of their breasts. Breast reduction surgery maybe life-changing for many women and can alleviate discomfort and improves posture and self-esteem.

This procedure has a very high and almost immediate, satisfaction rate amongst our patients and many say they wished they had done this procedure sooner. Not only does breast reduction surgery improve the shape and size of the breasts, it also relieves the physical symptoms caused by the weight, enhancing posture and self-esteem.

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Technique

During breast reduction surgery, not only the size of the breast and areola are reduced but the shape of the breast can be enhanced (breast lift) as well. The goal is to make the breasts and areola more proportionate with the rest of the body and to reshape them into a more youthful and aesthetic shape.

Dr Safvat uses the more modern Supero-Medial Pedicle Technique to reshape the breast tissue which gives a long lasting results rather than the traditional inferior pedicle that relied on the skin to shape the breast and would stretch after 6 months or a year. The skin is also reduced and Dr Safvat uses either the more traditional Ancher technique (Inverted T-Scar) or the Short Scar Technique (Lolly pop scar) which places the scar around the areola and vertically under it and avoids the bigger scar under the breasts of the inverted T-scar. Dr Safvat decides which technique to use based on how much skin needs to be removed on each individual case. During your consultation, Dr Safvat discusses your options and will advise which technique is best for you to ensure the best result.

The length of the surgery is dependent on each patients’ individual case. But in every case the procedure is carried out meticulously, carefully and without rushing any part of the procedure. It can also be performed in association with other procedures such as liposuction to reduce fat in the underarm area to ensure best results.

Dr Safvat’s breast reduction surgery is done under a general anaesthetic by one of Dr Safvat’s highly trained and skilled anaesthetists in one of our chosen fully accredited hospitals in Sydney or Southern Highlands, NSW.

Procedure Snapshot

Anaesthetic Type:

General Anaesthetic

Length of Surgery:

4-5 hours approximately

Stay in Hospital:

1-2 nights

Downtime:

1-2 weeks depending on type of work you do

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Recovery After Breast Reduction

Initially, after the breast reduction surgery, some pain, bruising and swelling is normal and expected. Pain can be easily managed with medication. A drain will be placed in each breast to get rid of excess fluid build-up after the surgery. Drains have important roles in recovery and healing after breast reduction surgery. This will be monitored during your overnight hospital stay. The incision site initially will be raised, red and lumpy. This will settle over the next few months and Dr Safvat will guide you through his scar management protocol after your operation.

After breast reduction surgery, you are required to wear a medical compression garment for up to six weeks (supplied to you by us). Swelling will take a couple of months to subside.

It will also be necessary, depending on your work type, to take 1-2 weeks off work to rest at home. Walking is actively encouraged after surgery but exertion and heavy lifting is discouraged for 4-6 weeks. After around 6 weeks all activities can usually be resumed.

In general, it will take some months before the breasts settle into their final reduced shape. The incision will fade over time and form a fine white line that is much less noticeable.

Preparation

Smoking and being overweight have been shown to cause significant complications after breast reduction surgery. Dr Safvat will insist that you stop smoking a minimum of 3 weeks before your surgery and lose as much excess weight as possible. Ideally you should be in the normal BMI range before your surgery. As a general rule, the results of the breast reduction are much better if your weight is stable. This is because your breasts increase and decrease in size along with your weight.

If you have not had children and are planning to, then you may want to consider the best timing for breast reduction surgery. Your breast size and shape can change after pregnancy and this can affect the results you had from your breast reduction surgery.

Are There Scars After Breast Reduction Surgery?

There is no way to prevent scars completely after surgery and everyone can scar differently. However, the techniques Dr Safvat uses to suture his wounds are designed to minimise scarring. Scars are strategically placed so they can be hidden in the natural folds of the skin or at the junction of the areola and the skin. What’s more, any scarring will fade over time, especially if they are cared for correctly. Dr Safvat will provide you with his specific protocol for scar management that will help you protect and care for your incisions in a way that will minimise scarring. Patients who have followed Dr Safvat’s protocol for scar management diligently have been very pleased with their progress in reducing and fading of scars.

Dr Safvat will also include some LED Light Therapy sessions (available in Miranda only) which will assist with wound healing, scarring and recovery.

Frequently asked questions

Breast reduction surgery can easily be tailored to your specific needs. Unfortunately, it’s not the right procedure for everyone. It’s always best to speak to a fully qualified plastic surgeon, such as Dr Safvat in Sydney and Bowral, about your needs in order to determine which type of surgery you can benefit from. Your concerns as well as your medical history will also be taken into account by Dr Safvat. You may be a good candidate for this procedure in some or all of the following circumstances:

You are in good physical health and your breasts are fully developed
You have realistic expectations about what can be achieved with a breast reduction surgery
Overly large breasts are causing you physical and emotional distress
You aren’t able to engage in the physical activities you want to due to large breasts
Neck, back and shoulder pain is something you experience on a regular, if not a daily, basis
Your bra straps leave indentations due to the weight of your breasts
Rashes and skin irritations occur quite regularly underneath your breasts
The weight of your breasts has caused the skin to stretch and your breasts to sag
Your nipples are pointing downwards and rest below the crease of the breast
Your areolas are bigger than they should be because of the stretched skin
Loss of confidence in the appearance of breasts

Breast reduction surgery should ideally be undertaken when breasts are fully developed.
Childbirth and breastfeeding can affect the breast reduction results.
If you decide to have a child after surgery, keep in mind that a breast reduction may affect your ability to breastfeed. Unfortunately, there’s no way to determine whether this will be the case.
You will need to maintain a stable weight and healthy lifestyle after your breast reduction in order to retain your results.
Smokers have an increased risk of complications and could experience delays during the healing process. It’s always best to quit smoking to have a more positive surgical experience

Swelling takes months to subside after surgery, so you need to be patient before you see the results, even though your breasts will look and feel significantly better right away.

Scarring will also only start to fade quite significantly after 6-12 months. Your new breast size will give you a lot more freedom in terms of physical movement and clothing choices. Your body will be more proportionate; back, neck and shoulder pain which were associated with larger breasts should no longer be an issue.

The results of breast reduction surgery are permanent. However, any weight fluctuations, pregnancy and the natural ageing process can affect your results over time.

It’s very common for the nipples to feel numb initially after breast reduction surgery. However, in most instances, feeling gradually returns. Dr Safvat will take you through the techniques that he uses to salvage as much nipple sensation as possible during your consultation.

There are a few ways that you might be able to overcome large breasts, including weight loss or wearing the correct bra. Generally, these options will only provide mild relief, if any. Liposuction and breast reduction surgery are usually the best options if you want permanent results, and Ethique Plastic Surgery provides both and you can discuss this during consultation with Dr Safvat in one of our three locations in Bowral, Concord, and Miranda.

Dr Safvat does the Breast Reduction procedure in the Sydney region (Sutherland Shire and Inner West) as well as in the Southern Highlands, NSW. He only operates in fully accredited Private Hospitals, these being Kareena Private Hospital (Caringbah), Strathfield Private Hospital and Southern Highlands Private Hospital (Bowral).

While all care and diligence is taken by Dr Safvat to minimise or avoid complications, any surgical procedure can be associated with some general complications and/or specific complications related to the surgery you are having. Choosing a Specialist Plastic Surgeon such as Dr Safvat and having your procedure done in an accredited hospital minimises risks, as does using an accredited Anaesthetist.

Some general surgical potential complications are:

• Infection that may require antibiotics (Dr Safvat prescribes all patients antibiotics after surgery to minimise this risk).

• Fluid build-up under the skin (seroma).

• Allergic reaction to dressings and other items used during the procedure.

• The formation of blood collection (haematoma) which could require additional surgery.

• Scars heal differently in different people. Some people are genetically prone to develop keloid scars. Hypertrophic scars develop when there is a complication in the healing process. Whilst not ideal, there is no threat to your health if you develop these.

Some potential complications related to Breast Reduction surgery specifically are:

• Asymmetry

• Loss of sensation in nipple and areola – this is usually temporary however in some rare cases it may be permanent.

• Loss of nipple and areola tissue – in rare cases the nipple and areola can lose its blood supply and die.

• Breast reduction may affect a women’s ability to breastfeed in the future.

Breast reduction surgery has a Medicare item number and patients should get a rebate from Medicare and their health fund (where applicable). The hospital costs are usually covered by private health funds depending on the patient’s level and type of coverage. Alternatively, you can have the procedure done in a Private Hospital as a Self-Funded patient.

Detailed information regarding costs will be provided to you after your initial consultation.

Before and Afters

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Dr Safvat is a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon. Every patient is unique and results may vary. Any surgical procedure carries risks which need to be discussed with your doctor to ensure you are fully informed and realistic outcomes have been explained. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

These photos are of actual patients of Dr Safvat. Each has given consent for the photos to be used by Dr Safvat only.
DR ANDRE SAFVAT (MED1155201) Registered Medical Practitioner, Specialist Plastic Surgeon (specialist registration in Surgery – Plastic surgery).

Dr André Safvat - Specialist Plastic Surgeon

Renowned for his dedication to his patients, his attention to detail and impeccable outcomes, Dr Safvat's unparalleled expertise is reflected in the quality, professionalism and dedication of every member of our team.

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