What is Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast reduction is a surgical procedure involving the removal of excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to help alleviate the physical and mental strain of oversized breasts. For many women, having excessive breast tissue can be debilitating. Not only can it be difficult to find bras and clothing that fit, but women can also experience significant back, neck, and shoulder pain due to the size of their breasts. This has continual effects on their day-to-day life and livelihood. Women who suffer from excessive breast tissue–and subsequently heavy, oversized breasts–often seek the guidance of a health professional to address these concerns, and will be referred onto a plastic surgeon for breast reduction surgery. 

Breast reduction surgery should always be performed by a fully-qualified plastic, reconstructive and cosmetic surgeon under general anaesthetic, and at a fully-accredited hospital. A number of fully-accredited hospitals in Brisbane include Southbank Day Hospital, Chermside Day Hospital and North Lakes Day Surgery. Dr. Philip Richardson operates from each of these hospitals, performing breast reduction surgery for women residing in the Brisbane region and beyond. Dr. Richardson is a voice of authority on breast reduction surgery, having performed thousands of these procedures over the past decade. He says that it is by far his most rewarding procedure, as the impact breast reduction surgery has on the quality-of-life for patients is unrivalled. You can connect with real patients who have had breast reduction surgery, and hear their stories on our Facebook community – The Dr. Phil Society, or you can hear a real patient story and more information on Episode 6 of our podcast “Baring All” with Dr. Phil Richardson. 

When a patient arrives at the hospital on the day of their surgery, they will be taken to their own bed where they will meet with the anaesthetist, hospital nurses, and Dr. Richardson. They will be comforted and reassured during this time, and any questions they have prior to surgery will be answered. Dr. Richardson will also mark up the patient’s breasts to outline the area of skin and tissue to be excised from each breast. Pre-operative photos will be taken for clinical purposes and the patient is given access to these images post-operatively to track their personal progress. Once the patient has been briefed and is feeling calm and ready, their bed is wheeled into the operating theatre where the anaesthetist chats with them and confirms their details, while placing them under a general anaesthetic. All breast surgery should be performed under general anaesthetic to ensure the utmost safety of the patient during surgery. Dr. Richardson has worked alongside his anaesthetists for over 17 years and places the utmost trust in these health professionals.

Once the patient has been sedated, Dr. Richardson will disinfect the breasts and inject a local anaesthetic to minimise post-operative pain. He will then begin making the necessary incisions in the skin and begin excising the breast tissue and fat to reduce the total size of the breasts. If you would like to see how a real surgery is performed, head to our Instagram @brisbaneplasticsurgery and click on the LIVE story highlights to view our surgical footage. 

Once the excess tissue, skin, and fat has been removed, this will be weighed by the surgical assistant team, and Dr. Richardson will make specific adjustments to achieve the optimal shape and symmetry. This weight will be recorded for the patients’ consideration and for medical records. The breast will then be lifted and Dr. Richardson artfully restores the remaining skin and tissue to shape the ideal breast using specialist techniques tailored to each patient. The majority of breast reduction patients will have drains inserted into both breasts that will minimise the risk of excessive fluid build up. These drains will be monitored over the first week post-operatively and removed by a practice nurse according to Dr. Richardson’s recommendations.

Once Dr. Richardson has reshaped the breasts and sutures and drains are in place, the patient will have the necessary dressings and garments administered. They will then be taken to recovery where the expert hospital staff will monitor them until they are ready to return home. For most patients, this should not be more than a few hours. 

What is Breast Reduction Recovery like? 

Each patient is sent home with a post-operative bag that contains all the necessary post-operative medication, and a post-operative care guide that outlines all aspects of recovery. This booklet will include information about when to take particular medications, what precautions should be taken during the first few weeks, and a helpful timeline outlining the stages of recovery and when it is safe to return to certain activities. The booklet will also have a drainage record table, as the nurse will call post-operatively to monitor drainage levels and determine when the patients is able to have these drains removed. 

When the patient returns home they will have post-operative bandages and dressings, as well as compression stockings. It is important that every patient has somebody home with them for the first 24 hours of recovery, as they will need assistance during this time. Patients should rest at an elevated angle, while ensuring they are up every hour to walk around and get blood-flowing to prevent the development of DVT or blood-clots. Precautions should be taken during this time with respect to upper-body movements and exertion. Patients will receive a call from the nurse the following day to monitor their progress and check drainage levels. The nurse will also confirm the patient’s post-op appointment in this phone call. 

There are many symptoms that are normal to breast reduction recovery including, swelling, bruising, itching, dryness, and the list goes on. It is important to always refer to the post-operative booklet to check if these symptoms are normal, and if severe or in doubt, the booklet includes all necessary contact information to get in touch with the nurse or Dr. Richardson outside of office hours. 

Most patients are able to return to work and light activities such as walking, driving, and household duties at one to two weeks post-operatively. They should avoid any strenuous activities, excessive physical exertion, heavy lifting, and avoid excessive upper-body movement until six weeks post-op. This will ensure optimal healing and results. 

What does a Breast Reduction Cost?

Breast reduction costs vary depending on the hospital, and the surgeon. According to RealSelf, the average breast reduction cost for a patient who does not have private health insurance as at 2019 is around $10,700 AUD.  Breast reduction is considered a medical procedure, and the price will vary depending on whether you have private health insurance. Most patients are eligible for additional Medicare rebates that will provide further financial assistance.

To learn more about the cost of a breast reduction with a fully qualified, plastic, reconstructive, and cosmetic surgeon, contact us today.

Book a Breast Reduction Consultation

Breast reduction is one of Dr. Richardson’s most popular procedures, and one that is extremely rewarding for both patient and surgeon. If you would like to learn more about your recommended treatment plan and find out whether this procedure is right for you, contact us today to book your initial consultation.  

Breast Reduction Before & After Photos 

You can view Dr. Richardson’s before and after gallery of breast reduction photos here.