Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a medical procedure to remove excess breast tissue to alleviate the symptoms associated with excessively large breasts (macromastia). Although it is a medical procedure, the aesthetic look of your breasts will also be improved.

There are many techniques available to reduce the size of your breasts and improve their shape. The different techniques use different scar patterns to excise the excess tissue. There are vertical scar techniques, anchor pattern techniques and horizontal scar techniques. Liposuction may also be used to enhance your result. Your plastic surgeon will discuss the various options available to you based on your particular anatomy.

Women with large breasts may suffer from shoulder pain, rashes under the breasts, neck and back pain. These symptoms can have a devastating effect on their personal health and self esteem by causing social embarrassment and interfering with physical exercise. If you have large breasts and suffer from these symptoms, you may benefit from breast reduction surgery.

Breast reduction surgery is done under general anaesthesia, it will take between 3 to 6 hours to complete.

You will feel some pain after the surgery but you should be able to carry out normal daily activities very soon after the surgery. The wounds will take about 2 weeks to heal. Bruising will take 2 weeks to resolve. Swelling will resolve over the following months.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to reduce large breasts without any scars at all. Your plastic surgeon can show you where the scars will be and approximately how long they will be. 

A computer simulation of the surgery can be done for you to give you an idea of the possible result after surgery.

Breast reduction is done for medical reasons and therefore it can be done at any age. If it is done when your breasts are not fully developed, another surgery may be needed in the future if your breasts continue to enlarge. A good age to have your breasts reduced is when you are mentally ready and are mature enough to understand the risks of the procedure.

Breast reduction surgery can damage nerves and ducts to your nipple leading to difficulties in breastfeeding later on. The chances of successfully breastfeeding increase substantially if breast tissue is left attached to the nipple. Your plastic surgeon will discuss the options available to you.

Breast reduction is a medical procedure, as such, Medisave can be used to offset the costs of the procedure as long as certain criteria are met. Your insurance policy may cover your treatment as well, but this will need to be confirmed by your insurance company.