BREAST REDUCTIONS

Breast reduction until now, has been performed with surgical intervention called mammoplasty. The procedure involves cutting out sections of the breast and usually cutting around the nipple and elevating the nipple and loose skin. Liposuction underwent a dramatic change in 1987 when American Dermatologist discovered the tumescent technique. This involves filling the fat with a very dilute form of local anaesthetic, which numbs, softens and prepares the fat. Over the last two years, dermatologists and surgeons have been investigating the possibility of suing this technique on the breast. Using extremely small and thin micro-cannulae, the fat can be removed smoothly and evenly through tiny 1mm incisions from around the breast.

PROCEDURE

Pre-operative patients require mammograms as well as ultra sounds of the breast to see where the fat lies within the breast and also to assist in long-term follow-up of the breast. Breast size is measured through a dip test by seeing how much fluid is displaced from a container. Routine pre-operative blood tests and antibiotics are arranged and a full history to exclude breast cancer including an awareness of high risk patients who would need closer monitoring in the future are identified.

Patients with a direct family history of breast cancer such as mothers and sisters, will require an examination by a specialist breast surgeon, which will be arranged by our doctors.

The procedure time is approximately 3 hours and a compression garment is applied afterwards and worn for the ensuing 2-4 weeks. Post operatively there may be some tenderness and bruising and may be weeping of fluid through the small nicks during the next 24 hours. Most patients can return to ordinary duties after 24 hours, however there may be variation between patients.