A bilateral breast reduction is performed under a general anaesthetic and takes approximately 3 hours. It will involve the removal of excess skin and breast tissue, and the placement of dissolvable sutures to bring the new, smaller breast together. Every effort is made to make the incisions and final shape/size of your breasts as symmetrical as possible, however it must be remembered that no two breasts are perfectly symmetrical. Drains may be placed during surgery, and this is a decision made intra-operatively, however typically they are not required. The incision lines around the areola and underside of the breast are covered with steri-strips, and a splash-proof dressing. You will then stay in hospital overnight to recover and be seen on a ward round the following morning. If a drain is used, it is often removed at this stage prior to going home.

I would advise you to take at least one to two weeks off work following breast reduction procedure and to avoid any strenuous physical exertion for 6 weeks. This includes gym classes and any upper limb-based exercise. Lower limb exercise such as walking and treadmill is encouraged after the first week.

You will be placed in a supportive post operative bra, and I ask that you wear this day and night for 8-12 weeks as it reduces swelling and allows the breast tissue to heal. You may need to take simple painkillers such as paracetamol regularly for the first week as you recover. It is not advised to drive for two weeks after a breast reduction procedure and to check with your insurer for any specific advice.

As with any surgical procedure there are complications that may occur, and Mr Kenny will discuss these at length with you during your second consultation, prior to surgery. An electronic consent form will also be required to be signed by you listing both common and rare complications.

A relatively common complication following breast reduction surgery to be aware of is breakdown at what is known as the ‘T-junctions’. These are the points of the scar where the direction changes, found at the 6 o’clock position on the areola, and in the mid-point of the crease of the breast. These are areas of natural weakness and tension within the wound. If they do give way, typically it is very superficial, and they heal adequately with a scab. They require dressings for a longer period to protect the delicate skin underneath, and the final scar heals slightly thicker than it would do otherwise, but the shape remains largely unaffected.

More in-depth cross sectional imaging such as MRI or CT, where indicated, can be organised from the one-stop clinic however these are more involved scans and so will require an additional appointment with a dedicated time slot. Mr Kenny will then organise prompt follow up in clinic to discuss the results.

If over 40, an up-to-date mammogram within the last 12 months is advised to screen the underlying breast tissue for any issues that need resolving prior to embarking on breast reduction surgery. It is also important to remember that the breast tissue excised is sent for histological examination, and in a small percentage of women, disease is found within the breast that was too small or not visible on a mammogram. In this circumstance Mr Kenny will explain everything clearly and guide you through any further treatment that may be required.

The total price for the procedure includes the surgical fee, anaesthetic fee and hospital fee and start from £9,520 for bilateral breast reduction. Please contact Mr Kenny and the team for further information and to get booked in for an initial consultation.