Breast Reduction Surgery - the procedure
Before your breast reduction surgery
You will need to purchase a sports bra to take with you to the hospital. The size of the bra will be determined at your consultation with your Cosmetic Surgeon. Make sure you remember to take your new bra with you to the hospital.
If you are a smoker, or take aspirin or any other medication, your Cosmetic Surgeon will wish to discuss this with you at your consultation. Your Cosmetic Surgeon will advise you when you are to discontinue and/or resume these activities.
The day of your breast reduction surgery
The Cosmetic Surgeon will visit you in your room and mark your breasts in preparation for surgery. Your Cosmetic Surgeon will also be there to answer any last minute questions you may have.
When you wake up from the anaesthetic you will have dressings and your supportive bra in place. You will be offered pain relief should you require it, and there may be drainage tubes in place in each breast. These drains will be removed before your discharge from hospital. You can expect to be in hospital for one or two days. This will be agreed with your Surgeon prior to your admission.
Going home after breast reduction surgery
Your Cosmetic Surgeon will advise how much time you will require off work (this will be approximately between two to four weeks depending on your occupation), how long you will need to wear your post surgery bra for and when you will be able commence normal activities.
You will need someone to look after you to relieve you of your general chores, such as shopping, household duties and childcare. Please be aware that you will feel tired for the first few weeks following your breast reduction surgery.
It is important to keep the incisions and breasts dry during the early days and leave all the dressings intact until you return to the clinic at approximately seven days. Please do not wear an underwired bra until you have discussed this with your Surgeon.
It is very important that you attend the follow up post surgery appointment which has been made for you, to care for your wound and see your Cosmetic Surgeon post-operatively to make sure that you are healing well.
You will have your own personal Nurse Counsellor both before and after your procedure to support you and answer any questions you may have.
