Weighing it up: is breast reduction surgery for me?

Large breasts can often be uncomfortable, causing back, neck, and/ or shoulder pain. A possible solution is breast reduction surgery. But who is the ideal candidate for breast reduction surgery? Are there any side effects or risks associated with the surgery? Leading London-based consultant plastic surgeon Mr Kelvin Ramsey explains who breast reduction surgery is suitable for and weighs up the pros and the cons.  

Who should consider having breast reduction surgery? 

Breast reduction surgery is an operation that can help ladies who are struggling with the size, weight, and position of their breasts. Like all operations, there are risks and benefits that have to be considered with the help of a clinician prior to the procedure, but a breast reduction can have many benefits for women with large breasts.

Is breast reduction surgery for anyone who would like to reduce their bust size? 

Breast reduction surgery is an option for women who are worried about the size of their breasts, or perhaps if their breasts are out of proportion with their frame. There is always an element of choice with such procedures, and the surgeon will advise patients of their individual benefits. A lot of women find it difficult to find well-fitting clothes and underwear, many complain about bra-indentation on their shoulders, and experience neck and back pain. These symptoms may often be improved with breast reduction surgery. 

What are the advantages of the procedure?

Following a breast reduction procedure, the breasts are reduced in size, reshaped, and lifted, resulting in less of a load around your chest. This can have benefits for neck, back, and shoulder pains and discomfort. Whether these pains are being caused entirely by the breast size or not will influence if the pain is resolved completely or improved. Additionally, the procedure has well established psychological benefits, as the patient may no longer feel burdened by large breast size. 

 Are there any disadvantages or side effects? 

All surgery needs to be approached with an understanding of and consideration given to potential risks and side effects, not just the benefits. Breast reduction surgery will always leave scars on the breast. There is usually a scar going around the nipple, but there may also be a scar going down from the nipple to the fold underneath and then transversely or horizontally in the fold underneath the breast. These scars will fade as months and years pass, eventually leaving thin, pale lines in the majority of cases. Another thing to consider is that performing breast reduction surgery, particularly on larger breasts, can result in some loss of sensation, especially around the nipple. About 20% of women who undergo a breast reduction experience this so prior to the operation the surgeon should make you aware of the risk of this happening. Finally, it is also important to realise that this operation removes tissue from the breast to decrease the size. As a result, there is a risk that a woman’s ability to breastfeed may be affected, although this is difficult to predict or quantify. 

Is it a painful procedure? 

We, as surgeons, always take great care to make sure our patients are not in pain. Local anaesthetic is used to ensure the wounds are numb and the breasts feel as normal as possible at the end of the procedure. As that local anaesthetic wears off, the anaesthetists, who work closely with the surgeon, will ensure that the appropriate pain relief is being administrated to make sure that the patient is not in pain. The vast majority of patients need to take pain medication for up to a couple of weeks after surgery. However, it is not a particularly painful operation and the discomfort can be easily managed with pain tablets.

What does the recovery process look like?

The operation usually lasts two or three hours. In my hands, you are in hospital for one night. For the first week after the operation, you should take it easy, walking around, going out as normal, but you should not be doing any exercise or strenuous lifting. After the first week, you will come back and see the nursing team, who will remove the dressings and make sure everything is healing correctly. Generally, I recommend waiting six weeks before returning to a full level of sport, physical activity, and gym work. With regards to driving, there is no set timeframe as to when the patient can return behind the wheel. We advise you should not be driving for the first couple of weeks until you feel fully comfortable behind the wheel. In the vast majority of cases the patient has made a full recovery by six weeks. 

If you are considering breast reduction surgery and would like to know more about the procedure, you can book a consultation with Mr Kelvin Ramsey directly by visiting his Top Doctor’s profile.