Breast Reduction Surgery in Melbourne – Plastic Surgeon

• You are unhappy with the size, position or weight of your breasts (they are large, heavy in weight, saggy – or all three).
• Clothing, swimsuits, gym gear and well-fitted bras are nearly impossible to find due to the size of your upper body/breast area.
• Your breasts cause physical discomfort, neck or back pain and chronic skin irritations as well as bra strap indentations.
• Breasts aren’t symmetric in size.
• Your breasts cause you self-consciousness or make you look heavier than you really are (they disguise your rib cage and waist due to where they sit).
• As well as being unhappy with the size, position or weight of your breasts, you are concerned about the positioning of your nipples and would like them to sit at a more central location on your chest.

Like all surgical procedures, Breast Reduction surgery has risks and complications. Your Surgeon will make you aware of potential complications during your consultation, including:

• Skin or wound infection
• Changes to nipple sensation including loss of feeling/sensation changes to the breasts
• Potential disruption of nipple functions that may impede breastfeeding
• Breast asymmetry or uneven nipples
• Scars or skin markings, dimples or inverted nipples
• Other risks of surgery in general such as having anaesthesia, circulatory risks and bleeding
• Unfavourable scarring
• Blood clots
• Poor wound healing
• Breast contour and shape irregularities

The length of your recovery period will depend on your procedure and other health and lifestyle factors. Recovery times can vary from person to person.

The general rule, however, is that you should allow 10-14 days for initial recovery following your Breast Reduction surgery. Scar maturation often takes longer, up to a year or more. You will be required to wear a firmly-fitted support garment after surgery for the period of time a surgeon advises.

Longer periods are often required before resuming certain lifting or exercising activities – ask your Surgeon how long before you can start exercising, lifting children or grandchildren, and other heavy lifting or strenuous activities.

Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery will provide you with after garments. Good results depend on a collaborative approach and a healthy lifestyle. Follow instructions given to you by your Surgeon, and attend all post-operative appointments. Remember to follow post-op instructions precisely for a faster recovery.

Light office duties or other tasks may be resumed in about 2 weeks for most patients, however, this can vary. No heavy lifting for several weeks to a few months.

In general, gentle walking is typically able to be resumed in a few days after surgery. Your Surgeon will advise you, depending on which type of exercise you’re wanting to perform. Running, high impact or strenuous exercises need to be avoided until the time your surgeon says it’s okay.

Not all Surgeons have the same experience or intensive training and testing qualifications. Be sure you learn the differences between a Plastic Surgeon, a General Surgeon, Cosmetic Surgeon or other types of Surgeon. Recommendations from other patients is also a good place to start.

Choosing a Specialist Plastic Surgeon means you are choosing an accredited recognised plastic surgeon that performs surgery in an accredited hospital. Look for members of FRACS, ASPS, ASAPS or ISAPS as some of the Qualifications of your Plastic Surgeon.

It is important to research a Surgeon’s qualifications and experience before deciding on the Surgeon. You can check your surgeons’ credentials at AHRPA. Our Breast Reduction Surgeons, Dr Craig Rubinstein, Dr Rebecca Wyten, Dr Geoff Barnett and Dr Patrick Briggs are all highly experienced, fully qualified specialist plastic surgeons with current FRACS memberships.