The Operation

Breast reduction is usually carried out under general anaesthetic. It generally involves moving the nipple to a new position — usually while still attached to its blood supply — removing excess fat, glandular tissue and skin from the breasts, and reshaping the remaining tissue. The operation takes 2 to 3 hours depending on the extent of reduction needed, and most people stay in hospital for 1 or 2 nights.

When you wake, you'll have dressings on your breasts, and plastic tubes may be attached to drain away blood — these are usually removed after 1 to 2 days, at which point you can typically go home. Some pain is common for a few days, manageable with painkillers, and your breasts are likely to feel swollen, tender, and lumpy for around 3 months, so it can take a while before you see the final result.

What to Expect

Full recovery generally takes 2 to 6 weeks, and you'll likely need 2 to 3 weeks off work. It's best to avoid stretching, strenuous exercise, and heavy lifting for up to 6 weeks, and avoid driving until it's no longer painful to wear a seatbelt, which can take several weeks. Some surgeons recommend wearing a sports bra continuously for up to 3 months — your surgeon can advise on what's right for you. Stitches are usually dissolvable, so don't need removing.

Scarring

You'll likely have scars around your nipples, and depending on the specific surgery, either a vertical scar down the breast with a horizontal scar along the crease beneath it (anchor-shaped), or just a vertical scar. Scars may look red or different from your usual skin tone for the first 6 weeks, but most fade over time and become barely visible under normal clothing.

If You're Planning to Have Children

If you're considering breast reduction before having children, it's worth knowing that breasts can enlarge again during pregnancy, potentially affecting your results, and there's also a chance you won't be able to breastfeed afterwards.

Possible Complications

Breast reduction can occasionally lead to thick, obvious scarring, unevenly shaped breasts or nipples, wound healing problems, loss of nipple sensation, permanent inability to breastfeed, loss of blood supply to part of the skin, fat, or nipple (which can cause tissue death), excess skin around scars needing further surgery, or bleeding inside the breast tissue, usually within the first 24 hours. As with any operation, there's also a small general risk of excessive bleeding, infection, an allergic reaction to anaesthetic, or a blood clot.

Choosing a Surgeon

In England, check the clinic or hospital is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and be cautious of clinics that pay to appear high in search results. Your surgeon should be registered as a specialist with the General Medical Council (GMC), with a current licence to practise, and is likely to belong to a professional body such as BAPRAS or BAAPS — most keep online registers you can check. Always meet your surgeon in person before the procedure, and ask about their qualifications, experience, how many similar operations they've performed, how many led to complications, expected follow-up if something goes wrong, and their patient satisfaction rates.

If Something Goes Wrong

Contact your clinic promptly if you have severe pain or unexpected symptoms, such as burning, unusual swelling, or changes in skin colour. If you're unhappy with your results, speak to your surgeon first, and contact the CQC with any concerns about your care, or raise a concern with the GMC if necessary.