Breast Reduction Surgery Specialist in Sydney
Dr Caitlin Lim is able to perform your breast reduction surgery with confidence.
What is breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery is an operation to remove excess tissue (fat, glandular tissue and skin) from the breast. This surgery is done for women with large breasts, to help them obtain a better proportioned breast size.
Very large breasts can cause symptoms such as neck or back pain, or a recurrent skin rash under the breasts. Large breasts may also restrict a woman’s physical activity. Some women opt to have breast reduction surgery done for medical reasons. In these cases, surgical costs may be covered by private health insurance.
Some women feel self-conscious due to overly large breasts and find that their self-confidence is greatly improved after having this operation.
What are the benefits of a breast reduction?
- Improvement in neck and back pain
- Improved self-confidence
- Reduced risk of breast cancer
- Fewer side-effects during radiotherapy (for patients with breast cancer)
- Elimination of recurrent skin rash under the breasts
What should I expect at my consultation?
During your consultation, Dr Lim will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical examination to assess your suitability for surgery. Please bring a list of your current medications, as well as results of any breast imaging, to your consultation.
Is breast reduction surgery right for me?
Not all patients with large breasts are good candidates for breast reduction surgery.
The procedure should not be done if the breasts are not yet fully developed. It is also important to realise that breast reduction surgery may affect your ability to breastfeed in future.
Certain medical conditions may affect your suitability for this operation. Smokers have a higher risk of surgical complications, so it would be a good idea to quit smoking before having breast reduction surgery.
Your suitability for surgery, and individual risks, will be discussed with you in detail during your consultation.
What are the risks of breast reduction surgery?
Any surgical procedure (or anaesthetic) has some risks. Complications can occur with anaesthesia, and bleeding, infection or blood clots could develop after surgery. Some women may experience poor wound healing.
As with any cosmetic procedure, it is possible that you may not be fully satisfied with the appearance of your breasts after surgery. The breasts may not be perfectly symmetrical. Some women develop hypertrophic (keloid) scars. Fat necrosis may occur, which is when some of the fat tissue dies off, leaving hard scar tissue in the breast. There could also be changes in nipple or breast sensation after surgery. Very rarely, there could be a loss of the nipple-areolar complex. This would require further reconstructive surgery to rebuild a nipple.
What are the long-term results of breast reduction surgery?
The results of breast reduction surgery are usually permanent. However, your breasts may continue to change with future pregnancies and with fluctuations in your weight. The shape of your breasts is also likely to change over time, due to ageing and the effects of gravity.
Surgical scars usually fade by around 18 months after breast reduction surgery.
If you are considering breast reduction surgery, a consultation with Dr Lim at Sydney Surgical Clinic will help you make an informed decision about this procedure.
