Breast Reduction Sydney

The cost of breast reduction in Sydney can be influenced by various factors including the extent of the procedure, anaesthesia fees, and hospital charges. During your consultation with Dr. Rhys van der Rijt, a comprehensive cost estimate will be provided based on your individual needs and the complexity of the surgery.

Breast reduction surgery in Sydney is ideal for individuals who experience physical discomfort or self-consciousness due to large breasts. Dr. Rhys van der Rijt will assess your health, medical history, and goals during a consultation to determine if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure.

Combining breast reduction with other procedures can enhance the overall results. Options include a breast lift in Sydney to improve breast shape and positioning, or a breast fat transfer in Sydney to add volume and contour. Dr. Rhys van der Rijt will discuss the benefits and suitability of combining these procedures during your consultation.

During your initial appointment, Dr van der Rijt will comprehensively ask your medical and surgical history as well as performing a physical examination to determine your suitability for breast reduction surgery.  Your height and weight will also be recorded by one of our expert staff.  Once this is completed, Dr van der Rijt will discuss the benefits and risks of breast reduction surgery with the aid of before and after photos.  He will also discuss the types of breast reduction surgery that will provide you with your best result.  This includes “anchor” scar, “lollipop” scar and “horizontal” scar. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have about your surgery, and the costs of the surgery will be discussed in detail with you by one of our expert team.

If you choose to proceed with your operation with Dr van der Rijt, a second appointment will be made to discuss any further questions you may have.  At this appointment clinical photographs will be taken. You will be given the time and care to feel perfectly comfortable with Dr van der Rijt and his clinical team before you proceed with your surgery.  

If you are over the age of 40, you will need to have a breast mammogram and ultrasound before embarking on your breast reduction journey.  

Breast reduction surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic and usually takes approximately 2-3 hours.  

Depending on the size of the reduction, most of Dr van der Rijt’s patients will go home after surgery, some patients will stay overnight.  All dressings used will be waterproof, and you will be able to shower normally after the operation.  Usually no drains are used in this procedure.

Post-surgery, you should refrain from heavy lifting for 4 weeks.  You are able to drive when you can move freely and not taking any opiate medications, this is usually at 2-3 weeks after surgery.  You will also be required to wear your post-operative support bra for 6 weeks.

Dr van der Rijt will discuss risks with you during your consultation, however, some of the common risks are listed below.

• Risks of anaesthetic – there are general risks of going under an anaesthetic such as a mild stress on the heart and lungs, risk of reaction to anaesthetic drugs and risk of blotting in the legs. These risks are generally low in patients who are otherwise fit and healthy.

• Bleeding (1-2%) – any bleeding is controlled during surgery however unexpected bleeding can occur in the immediate postoperative period. If this occurs it will necessitate a return to theatre to control the bleeding.

• Seroma (2%) – after any injury to the body the area swells. Part of the fluid that enters the area sends cells to the area that help the area heal. However excess fluid can create a fluid collection called a seroma, which can then create the risk of infection. Insertion of a drain during surgery can help reduce incidence of a seroma. Wearing compressive garments and reducing activity post-surgery also helps mitigate this risk.

• Infection (<1%) – this is very rare. However, you are given antibiotics during induction (when you are going to sleep), as well as a course of oral antibiotics after your surgery to keep this risk to a minimum.

• Poor Wound Healing (5%) – Occasionally absorbable sutures used under the skin can be rejected by the body forming a small pustule where the suture spits out. These issues usually resolve with removing the suture and dressings.

Specific risks of breast reduction surgery

• Nipple compromise – this is a rare but most significant complication in a breast reduction procedure. When the breast is reshaped the aim is to keep a block of breast tissue behind the nipple intact. This block of breast tissue contains the blood supply that keeps the nipple alive as well as the nerves that supply sensation to the nipple.

  • There can be problems with the blood supply of the nipple, and if there has been previous surgery to the breast.

  • Arterial problem – this is when there is a problem with the blood coming to the nipple and it therefore turns white. This may require the nipple to be removed and placed back as a nipple graft.

  • Venous problem – this is where there is a problem with the blood returning to the body from the nipple. It gets to the nipple, and pools there therefore turning the nipple blue. This may require manoeuvres to reduce the tension on the nipple, and sometimes other adjunctive techniques to increase the blood draining from the nipple.

  • The risk of these complications are much higher in patients who smoke or who are diabetic.

• Change in nipple sensation – a third of women preoperatively have reduced sensation to their nipples, a third have normal sensation and a third have more than normal sensation (hypersensitivity). Literature indicates that these ratios are unchanged following breast lift/reduction surgery.

  • In most cases this should be transient and returns to normal, a process that takes up to 12 months.

• Change in the ability to lactate or breast feed: a third of normal women (who have not had surgery) have normal ability to breast feed, a third have reduced capacity (i.e. will need to supplement their feeds with formula to their infant), and a third have no capacity to breast feed. Literature indicates that these ratios are unchanged following breast lift/reduction surgery.

  • If this is of great significance to you, you should either not have breast lift/reduction surgery or postpone it to when you have completed having your family.

• Widening of the nipple-areola complex – this can be a problem with a periareolar mastopexy. The most effective way of preventing this complication is to place a vertical scar in addition to the scar around the nipple (lollipop) which takes the tension off the nipple and areola.

• Asymmetrical scars – There can be a difference in how each breast behaves to the underlying implant, and can produce an asymmetry to the scars, albeit the aim is to get them as symmetrical as possible.

• Hypertrophic or poor scars – How one’s body behaves to scarring is individual and largely genetic. Some types of skin are more prone to hypertrophic or keloid scarring, and some individuals and families are more prone to this. We will routinely advise you on how to improve the quality of scars over time. You should also discuss any history of abnormal scarring with Dr van der Rijt preoperatively.

• Asymmetrical nipple position and shape – due to scars on the breast, and native asymmetry of every woman’s breasts there can be a difference in how each breast behaves to the surgery, and this can produce an asymmetry to the nipple size and shape, albeit the aim is to get them as symmetrical as possible.

• Nipples too high or too low – in general at the end of a breast reduction procedure the aim will always be to have the nipples sit a little low. This is because as the breast settles, and scars relax the nipples will move up. The aim is to avoid the nipples looking too high as this can be an extremely difficult problem to correct. If long term nipples are too low this can be easily addressed though a crescenteric skin excision of skin just above the nipples, which can be performed under local in rooms.

• Unusual breast shape – it is common for the initial shape of the breast to be unusual as lower part of the breast gland and skin is tightened making the upper part look fuller and the lower part look tight. This settles as the scars relax and the breast settles. This can take approximately 3 to 6 months.

• Asymmetry

  • Most women’s breasts are asymmetrical

  • The aim during breast reduction is to get them more symmetrical – if required this may involve removing more tissue from one side than the other

  • However, there can be small asymmetries in the final breast shape.

Currently breast reduction surgery is covered by private health insurance if medically necessary.  Dr van der Rijt will assess this at the time of your initial assessment.  The Medicare item number to check with your health fund is 45523.  Not all policies cover this item number, so it is important to check with your health fund before your consultation.