Breast Reduction Surgery to Help You Lighten the Load
“I have been suffering from back pain for years now, and the pain sometimes extends around the front and to my ribs as well. I’ve tried physio, but that doesn’t help. I’ve even had tests to see if the pain I was experiencing was related to something else, but nothing has turned up. It’s always the same answer — it’s my boobs. They’re just too big and they cause me nothing but problems.”
This exchange we had recently is typical of the conversations we have had with many Australian women who come to us to discuss breast reduction surgery. In fact, a boob reduction is one of the most common cosmetic surgery procedures we are asked to arrange, and our medical travel packages to Thailand for breast reduction and lift procedures are in great demand from women all over Australia.
The Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery
Breast reduction surgery is technically known as mammoplasty, with the aim being to reduce breast size, volume, and weight through the removal of fat, tissue, and skin. The breasts will also be lifted as part of the reduction procedure, and in some cases, the nipples may also be relocated.
As a consequence of undergoing a breast reduction procedure, our patients experience a number of benefits to both their health and emotional well-being.
Importantly, there are a number of physical benefits that result from breast plastic surgery. Many women find that it becomes significantly easier and more comfortable to perform a variety of physical activities, including work, recreation, and sport. In some cases, patients are able to sleep better with a reduced breast size.
Most women who undergo a breast reduction also find that the procedure eliminates much of the neck, back and shoulder pain that they experience as a result of having breasts that are too large for their body frame or shape. Likewise, the procedure can reduce the discomfort many women experience as a result of bra straps that constantly dig into their shoulders due to the overwhelming weight their bra is required to support.
Similarly, large and pendulous breasts can lead to the skin beneath the breast crease constantly being irritated, or it becoming uncomfortably stretched. These problems too can be eliminated when breast size is reduced.
As well as alleviating physical pain, some women opt to have breast reduction surgery in order to feel more comfortable with their physical appearance, through having a more balanced and well-proportioned figure.
Another common reason for the procedure is to make breasts more evenly sized if one is significantly larger than the other. For some women, overly large or heavy breasts can mean that the nipples droop or point downwards, which can lead to being very self-conscious in certain clothing and outfits. Breast reduction surgery has the very positive effect of making it easier to buy bras and other clothing and produces an overall better-balanced figure.
How is Breast Plastic Surgery Performed?
While no two breast reduction surgeries are precisely the same, the procedure will generally involve the following steps.
The surgeon will make a horizontal incision in the crease of the breast, which will then be continued upwards and around the nipple. This then enables tissue, excess skin and fat to be removed.
An alternative way of undertaking breast surgery is to make two incisions around the nipple, one slightly larger than the other, with tissue, skin, and fat then removed through the gap between the two incisions.
During a breast reduction surgery, large areolae can also be decreased in size if desired. In the case of extremely heavy breasts, the procedure may require the nipple to be removed and then reattached elsewhere on the breast once the reduction surgery has been completed.
Once the procedure has been completed, the skin is re-draped, the incisions closed and stitches inserted. It may be the case that drains need to be inserted for the first few days after the surgery, and a surgical bra or bandaging to be worn.
Breast Reduction Surgery Recovery
For many women who speak to us, the breast reduction recovery time required is an important factor in their decision as to whether they undergo the procedure.
Although everyone will be different, it is generally the case that most patients can expect to be back at work within two to four weeks, and capable of undertaking more demanding physical activity after about six weeks.
In the period immediately after the surgery, there will likely be some discomfort and pain, although painkilling medication is generally sufficient to manage this. There is also likely to be bruising around the breast area, and perhaps some numbness as well. Patients are required to wear an elastic dressing or a surgical bra to provide support for around a week (sometimes followed by wearing a sports bra for a short period of time), and for a few days after the procedure drains may be required so as to prevent excessive fluid build up.
As is the case with all invasive surgery, there will be breast reduction scars, although cosmetic surgeons will always endeavour to ensure that incisions are located so as to minimise how visible they are. However, breast reduction scars will eventually fade with time, generally over a period of between six to twelve months.
How Much Does a Breast Reduction Cost?
The cost of breast reduction surgery in Australia can vary significantly, depending on where you live, the hospital and surgeon you choose, and whether you are able to claim a proportion of the procedure on Medicare (it is possible for a small proportion of the breast reduction cost to be covered by Medicare if it is deemed necessary for medical rather than cosmetic reasons).
However, no matter which options you choose, in Australia the breast reduction surgery cost can be significant — anywhere between $5,000 to $12,000. The total amount you are required to pay will encompass the surgeon’s fees, hospital costs, the anaesthetist’s fees, plus any prescriptions and post-surgery clothing or garments (e.g., surgical bra).
At Australian Medical Travel, we facilitate medical travel packages to Thailand that can significantly reduce how much a breast reduction costs. We partner with leading international hospitals to provide first-rate medical tourism packages that offer a wide range of cost-effective cosmetic surgery procedures that mean you pay less for boob reduction surgery than you would for the comparable procedure in Australia.
