Breast reduction in Melbourne

Making breasts easier to live with

For many patients, breast reduction is sought because the breasts are physically difficult to live with. Neck, shoulder or back discomfort, bra-strap pressure, irritation beneath the breast and difficulty exercising can all matter. Appearance and proportion matter too; neither reason needs to be dismissed.

Breast reduction removes breast tissue, fat and skin, then reshapes the remaining breast and repositions the nipple and areola. In this sense it is both a reduction and a lift. I ask what feels burdensome now and what size and shape would fit your body and daily life. Bra cup sizes vary between brands and cannot be guaranteed as a surgical endpoint.

How I choose a technique

I assess breast volume and weight, skin excess, nipple position, asymmetry, chest and shoulder proportions, health and future plans such as pregnancy or breastfeeding. Smaller, selected reductions may allow a vertical scar; larger reductions or marked skin excess often benefit from a Wise-pattern scar around the areola, down the breast and along the breast crease. Liposuction can help in selected circumstances, but does not remove excess skin or replace the tissue reshaping needed in many reductions.

The aim is a breast size that is lighter and proportionate, with a viable nipple and a shape that makes sense for your tissue. Removing the maximum amount possible is not always the best answer. Large reductions involve specific decisions about blood supply and may require a different technique or a different discussion about sensation and breastfeeding.

Recovery and risks

Surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. Recovery involves dressings, a support bra, discomfort, swelling and a period without strenuous exercise or heavy lifting. Time away from work depends on the nature of your work and how healing progresses. Scars are permanent and continue to mature for many months.

Possible complications include bleeding, infection, delayed healing or wound separation, particularly at the junction of scars, fat necrosis, persistent asymmetry, altered nipple or breast sensation, prominent scars and, rarely, problems with blood supply to the nipple. Breastfeeding after reduction may be possible but cannot be promised. Symptoms often motivate the decision to seek surgery, but a specific amount of pain relief cannot be guaranteed; other causes of discomfort may still need care.

Related procedures