Breast Reduction

What breast reduction is

The surgeon removes tissue and skin through incisions around the areola, vertically below it and often in the breast fold, reshapes what remains and moves the nipple up to its new position. The aim is not just size: the operation rebalances the body, so clothes fit, the back and shoulders unload, and physical activity stops being a chore.

The tissue removed during the operation is examined by histology as standard practice; the surgeon explains this at the consultation.

Who it helps

Typical candidates are women with large breasts that cause physical discomfort: constant tension in the neck and shoulders, grooves from bra straps, skin irritation under the fold, and difficulty with sport. Some come mainly for proportions rather than pain, and that is a valid reason too.

Before the operation the weight should be stable and feeding plans settled, since pregnancy after a reduction would change the result. There are contraindications, and the doctor decides whether surgery suits you at the free consultation, which includes a breast examination and, where needed, imaging.

How the operation goes

Reduction is performed under general anaesthesia and takes about 1.5 to 3 hours depending on the volume removed. You stay in the clinic for 1 to 2 days after surgery, in an inpatient ward with round-the-clock nursing care. The plan, the incision pattern and the price are fixed in the contract before the operation; the first consultation is free.

Preparation runs by the surgeon's written list: which medicines to pause, when to set aside alcohol and cigarettes, and what the last day before the clinic looks like. Breast ultrasound is part of the work-up, and its results should arrive before the date, because the incision pattern is planned on current images rather than old ones.

Recovery after the operation

• Days 1–3. The heaviest days: you move carefully and wear the support garment.
• Days 7–14. Return to work without physical exertion.
• 3 weeks. Swelling subsides and scars form; nothing heavier than 3 kg, no arms above shoulder level.
• 4–6 weeks. Most daily activities, sport and swimming return; compression garments come off.
• Months 3–6. The shape settles completely, and scars continue to fade over the year.

Check-ups usually take place after about 7 days, 3 months and 6 months, and you can consult the surgeon about your recovery for a full year after the operation.

The first days at home are about pace: sleep on your back, wear the support garment day and night, and plan short walks instead of household tasks. The relief across the neck and shoulders often arrives early, while the breasts are still swollen; the lightness and the final shape settle on different schedules.

Reduction or lift: which one you need

The two operations share techniques but answer different requests. A reduction takes volume away and suits women bothered by weight and size; a lift keeps the volume and raises the breast. Some patients with very large breasts get a lifted shape as a by-product of the reduction. The surgeon names the right operation at the examination, and the answer depends on your tissue, not on a menu.

Useful questions to prepare: how much tissue will be removed in your case and how the new size is chosen, where the scars will sit on your proportions, and how weight changes or a future pregnancy would affect the shape. The surgeon answers each point after your examination, and the plan goes into the contract as agreed.

Breast reduction price

Breast reduction costs a fixed $4,700 at our medical centre ($5,900 without the discount). The quote includes the operation, the 1–2 day inpatient stay, and follow-up care for a year, and it is fixed in the contract with no hidden charges. Coordinators answer in Telegram and WhatsApp around the clock: send your questions and photos and they will arrange the free consultation with the surgeon.

Breast reduction: from consultation to the settled shape

1. Step 1. Free consultationBreast examination, discussion of complaints and plans, the incision pattern and the fixed price written into the contract.
2. Step 2. TestsPre-operative work-up, including breast ultrasound, and booking of the date.
3. SurgeryGeneral anaesthesia; tissue, fat and surplus skin removed, the breast reshaped and the nipple repositioned.
4. Days 1–2Inpatient ward with round-the-clock nursing care, then discharge.
5. Days 7–14Back to work without physical exertion.
6. Weeks 3–6Swelling subsides; compression garments off; sport returns.
7. Months 3–6The shape settles; check-ups at 7 days, 3 and 6 months and follow-up for a year.

Frequently asked questions

How much does breast reduction cost?

A fixed $4,700 at our centre ($5,900 without the discount), including the operation, 1–2 days in the clinic and a year of follow-up. The price is fixed in the contract.

Will reduction get rid of my back and shoulder pain?

Most patients feel relief from neck and shoulder strain soon after the operation, because the load on the upper body drops. Your specific case is assessed at the consultation.

How long is the hospital stay?

1 to 2 days after the surgery, in the inpatient ward with round-the-clock nursing care, then discharge home with aftercare instructions.

When can I return to work and sport?

Work without physical exertion after 7–14 days; nothing heavier than 3 kg for three weeks; most daily activities, swimming and sport return within 4–6 weeks.

Where are the scars and do they fade?

Around the areola, vertically below it and often in the fold. They form over the first weeks and continue to fade over the year; the surgeon shows the planned pattern before the operation.

What is removed during the operation?

Glandular tissue, fat and surplus skin; the removed tissue is examined by histology as standard, which the surgeon explains at the consultation.

Related procedures

• Breast lift (mastopexy)
• Breast augmentation with implants
• Breast surgery: methods and prices