October 2026

In summary

• Changes in nipple sensation are common after breast reduction (reduction mammaplasty). Numbness, tingling and heightened sensitivity are all typical in the early weeks, and for most people, feeling settles over the months that follow.
• Some people are left with numbness that does not improve. Southern Aesthetic’s surgeons advise patients that this affects around 5% of people, or roughly one in 20, a figure in line with recent published research.
• The risk of permanent loss is higher when more tissue is removed, and no surgical technique can guarantee that sensation will be preserved. Your surgeon will talk through your individual risk before you decide whether to proceed.

Of the questions patients raise before breast reduction surgery, this is often the most personal. Nipple sensation matters for different reasons. For some people it is part of intimacy and sexual response. For others it is simply part of feeling at home in their own body.

There are three parts to the answer. Most people notice some change in sensation after surgery. Most of that change is temporary. A smaller group are left with a lasting loss.

Why does breast reduction affect nipple sensation?

Feeling in the nipple and areola comes from small nerve branches that travel between the ribs and into the breast, mainly from the third, fourth and fifth intercostal nerves. The branch of the fourth nerve entering the breast from the side is generally regarded as the most important.

During a breast reduction, skin, fat and glandular tissue are removed, and the nipple and areola are moved higher on the chest. In most techniques the nipple stays attached to a section of living tissue called a pedicle, which carries its blood supply and as much of its nerve supply as can be kept intact.

Even nerves left in place are stretched and handled during surgery, and swelling in the healing tissue adds pressure. Nerves tend to respond by going quiet for a while or by sending mixed signals, which is why early changes are so common.

What does it feel like in the first weeks?

Most people notice something. Some describe numbness across the nipple and areola. Others feel tingling, burning, or a sensitivity so heightened that the brush of clothing is uncomfortable. One side often feels different from the other.

These changes usually reflect disturbed nerves that are gradually recovering. Nerves heal slowly, and feeling tends to return in stages, sometimes with a spell of pins and needles.

While sensation is reduced, the skin is less able to warn you about heat. Keep heat packs and hot water bottles away from your breasts until feeling has returned.

How long does it take for sensation to return?

There is no fixed timeline, and the range is wide.

A 2025 study in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal reviewed almost 1,600 breast reductions performed by four surgeons. Around one in ten breasts lost nipple sensation after surgery. About half regained it, taking roughly four months on average, and the slowest recovery took more than two years.

The way your nipples feel at three or six months may therefore differ from where things eventually settle. Your surgeon will check on sensation at your review appointments.

How likely is permanent loss of sensation?

Southern Aesthetic’s surgeons advise patients that around 5% of people are left with numbness that does not improve. That is roughly one person in every 20.

The published research points to a similar figure. In the 2025 study, breasts that did not regain sensation during follow-up made up just under 5% of the total. Other studies report a wider spread, partly because researchers measure nipple sensation in different ways.

A one-in-20 risk is a real one, and it deserves to be weighed carefully against the reasons you are considering surgery.

What affects your individual risk?

The size of the reduction is the clearest factor. In the 2025 study, permanent loss was more likely when more tissue was removed and when the nipple started lower on the chest and so had further to move. Smaller reductions generally carry a lower risk.

Technique plays a part as well, although the evidence is mixed. Southern Aesthetic’s surgeons use both the Wise pattern (anchor scar) and vertical (short scar) techniques, chosen according to how much tissue is being removed and the characteristics of your breasts. No technique can guarantee that sensation will be kept.

For very large reductions, some surgeons use a free nipple graft, in which the nipple and areola are removed and reattached as a skin graft. This carries a much higher likelihood of permanent loss of sensation, and it would be discussed with you in detail if it were an option in your case.

Complications that affect healing around the nipple, such as fat necrosis, have also been linked to sensation loss. Smoking raises the risk of healing problems, and your surgeon will discuss this if it applies.

What should I raise at my consultation?

Ask how large your reduction is likely to be, which technique your surgeon recommends and why, and what that means for your own risk of losing sensation. If nipple sensation matters a great deal to you, say so plainly. It helps your surgeon understand what you want from surgery.

In Australia, cosmetic surgery requires a referral from a GP or another specialist who works independently of the surgeon, and at least two pre-operative consultations. If breast reduction is being considered for physical symptoms, your GP can advise on the referral pathway.

You can read more about the procedure and its risks on our breast reduction page, and about healing in How Long Is Recovery from Breast Reduction Surgery?

Frequently asked questions

Is it normal for my nipples to feel numb after a breast reduction?

Yes. Numbness, tingling and heightened sensitivity are all common in the early weeks as the nerves recover from surgery. For most people, feeling improves over the following months.

Does numbness mean something has gone wrong?

Numbness on its own is expected in the early weeks. Contact the practice promptly if a nipple changes colour, looking dark, purple or very pale, or if you notice increasing pain, spreading redness or discharge from a wound. These signs can point to a problem with blood supply or infection.

Why do my nipples feel oversensitive?

Nerves recovering from surgery can send stronger signals than usual for a time. This heightened sensitivity generally eases as healing progresses. Soft, supportive clothing and your post-operative bra can reduce friction in the meantime.

Can sensation still come back after a year?

It can. Nerves recover slowly, and published research has recorded sensation returning more than two years after surgery. Recovery that late is less common, and your surgeon can give you a realistic view at your reviews.

Is the risk lower with a smaller reduction?

Generally, yes. Permanent loss of sensation is more likely when more tissue is removed and when the nipple needs to move further. A smaller reduction still carries some risk, and your surgeon will explain what it means in your case.

Can lost nipple sensation be treated?

Once a loss of sensation is permanent, there is no established treatment that reliably restores it. This is why the risk is discussed before surgery, when it can still be factored into your decision.

Does nipple sensation affect breastfeeding?

Nerve signals from the nipple play a part in releasing milk, so the two are linked. Breast reduction can affect the ability to breastfeed, and no technique guarantees it. If you may want to breastfeed in future, raise this at your consultation.

Glossary of terms

Areola: The circle of darker skin surrounding the nipple.

Fat necrosis: An area of fatty breast tissue that loses its blood supply and becomes firm. It may settle on its own or need further treatment.

Free nipple graft: A technique sometimes used in very large reductions, in which the nipple and areola are removed and reattached as a skin graft. It carries a much higher likelihood of permanent loss of sensation.

Hypersensitivity: Sensation that is stronger than normal, so that light touch or the brush of clothing feels uncomfortable.

Intercostal nerves: Nerves that run between the ribs. Branches of the third, fourth and fifth intercostal nerves provide feeling to the nipple and areola.

Nipple-areola complex: The nipple and areola considered together as one unit. Surgeons often shorten this to NAC.

Pedicle: The section of living tissue that stays attached to the nipple and areola during a reduction, carrying its blood supply and as much nerve supply as possible.

Reduction mammaplasty: The clinical term for breast reduction surgery.

Vertical scar technique: A reduction that leaves a scar around the areola and running straight down to the breast crease, sometimes called a lollipop or short scar pattern.

Wise pattern: A reduction that leaves a scar around the areola, down to the breast crease and along the crease, sometimes called an anchor or inverted-T pattern.

In summary

• Start with the AHPRA public register. Only doctors with specialist registration in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, or ophthalmology can use the title “surgeon”, and a specialist plastic surgeon is listed as Surgery (Plastic Surgery).
• Breast reduction (reduction mammaplasty) is major surgery under general anaesthetic, so ask which hospital will be used, whether it is accredited, and who will manage your care if a complication arises.
• A thorough consultation includes time with the surgeon, an honest discussion of risks and written information to take away. Discounts, pressure to book and promises about results are all reasons to pause.

In Australia, it is legal for any registered doctor to perform cosmetic surgery, while only doctors with specialist surgical registration can use the title “surgeon”. For anyone considering breast reduction in Sydney, that makes the AHPRA register the first check, followed by questions about the hospital, aftercare and what happens at consultation.

Check the register first

The AHPRA public register is free to search online. Enter a doctor’s name and it shows their registration type, any specialty they are registered in, and any conditions on their practice.

A specialist plastic surgeon’s entry shows specialist registration in Surgery (Plastic Surgery). Under national law, the title “surgeon”, including “cosmetic surgeon”, is restricted to doctors with specialist registration in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, or ophthalmology. The register shows which specialty, if any, a doctor actually holds.

Our guide, How to Check if Your Cosmetic Practitioner is Registered, walks through the search step by step.

Know what the letters mean

FRACS stands for Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. The college is the accredited body for surgical training in Australia, and fellowship is awarded once specialist training and assessment are complete.

According to the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), specialist plastic surgeons complete a minimum of 12 years of medical and surgical education, including at least five years of specialist training. ASPS members hold this qualification, and the society lists its members on its website.

Training tells you what a surgeon has been assessed on. Your own result will still depend on your health, your anatomy and how you heal.

Ask about breast reduction specifically

Specialist plastic surgeons train across a wide range of procedures, so ask about breast reduction itself. Useful questions include how often they perform it, which techniques they use, and why they would recommend a particular approach for you.

Ask, too, how they discuss risks such as changes to nipple sensation, effects on breastfeeding and scarring. Clear, unhurried answers are a good sign. It is also fair to ask what happens if you are unhappy with the result, and whether revision surgery would involve further costs.

Look at the hospital and the aftercare

Breast reduction is performed under general anaesthetic in a hospital. Where it is performed as cosmetic surgery, the Medical Board’s guidelines require an accredited facility, so ask which hospital your surgeon uses and whether it holds that accreditation.

Aftercare deserves the same attention. Ask who you contact after hours, how many review appointments are planned, and who manages a complication if one occurs. In a city the size of Sydney, it also makes sense to choose a surgeon whose rooms and hospital you can reach easily in the weeks after surgery.

What a thorough consultation includes

Your consultation should be with the surgeon who will perform the operation. Expect a review of your medical history, an examination, a discussion of your reasons and expectations, and an explanation of risks and alternatives. You should leave with written information and a written quote covering surgeon, anaesthetist, assistant and hospital fees. Bringing a list of questions, and someone you trust, can help.

Ask whether your surgery may be eligible for a Medicare rebate and health fund cover. Eligibility depends on clinical criteria, so confirm with your fund before you book.

Where breast reduction is performed as cosmetic surgery, the Medical Board requires a referral from an independent GP or specialist, at least two pre-operative consultations, and a cooling-off period of at least seven days after consent before surgery can be booked. Where surgery is for physical symptoms, your GP can advise on the referral pathway.

Warning signs worth noticing

Cosmetic surgery advertising is not permitted to use discounts, bundled deals or other incentives, so an offer like that is a concern in itself. Pressure to book or pay a deposit at your first appointment is another, as is any promise of a particular cup size or result. So is a consultation spent mostly with a coordinator, or not meeting your surgeon until the day of surgery. A surgeon who is reluctant to discuss risks or share registration details has also told you something useful.

Breast reduction at Southern Aesthetic

At Southern Aesthetic, breast reduction consultations are conducted by a specialist plastic surgeon, and each surgeon’s registration number is published on our website so you can check it against the register. Surgery is performed at accredited private hospitals, including St George, Bondi Junction and St Luke’s. For patients who prefer it, an all-female surgical team is available with Dr Sanki on designated operating lists.

Whoever you choose, take your time. All surgery carries risk, and seeking a second opinion is always reasonable. You can read more about the procedure and its risks on our breast reduction page.

FAQs

What is the difference between a plastic surgeon and a cosmetic surgeon? A specialist plastic surgeon holds specialist registration in Surgery (Plastic Surgery). The title “surgeon”, including “cosmetic surgeon”, is restricted to doctors with specialist registration in surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, or ophthalmology. The AHPRA register shows exactly which specialty a doctor is registered in.

Do I need a GP referral? For cosmetic surgery, yes, from a GP or specialist who works independently of the surgeon. A referral is also needed to claim Medicare rebates on specialist consultations, so most people considering breast reduction start with their GP.

What does FRACS mean? It stands for Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Fellowship is awarded to doctors who complete the college’s specialist surgical training and assessment.

Can a surgeon guarantee my cup size? No. Your surgeon can discuss an approximate size suited to your frame, although the final size depends on your tissue and how you heal.

Will Medicare or my health fund contribute? They may, if clinical criteria are met. Your surgeon can tell you whether a Medicare item number applies, and your fund can confirm your level of cover.

Should I get a second opinion? It is always reasonable. Bringing the same questions to each consultation makes it easier to compare what you are told.

Glossary of terms

Accredited facility: A hospital or day surgery assessed against national safety and quality standards set by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

AHPRA: The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, which works with the national boards to register health practitioners and publishes the public register.

ASPS: The Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons, the professional body for specialist plastic surgeons in Australia.

Cooling-off period: A required gap of at least seven days, after consultations and consent, before cosmetic surgery can be booked or a deposit paid.

FRACS: Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the qualification awarded on completion of specialist surgical training.

General registration: Registration that allows a doctor to practise medicine without recognising a specialty.

Reduction mammaplasty: The clinical term for breast reduction surgery.

Specialist registration: Registration in a recognised medical specialty, such as Surgery (Plastic Surgery), shown on the AHPRA register.

In summary

• Breastfeeding after a breast reduction (reduction mammaplasty) is possible for many women. Pooled research puts the overall success rate at around 62%, although studies define success in very different ways.
• In most techniques the nipple stays attached to the breast, which keeps the ducts carrying milk to the nipple connected. Glandular tissue is removed, though, and ducts and nerves can be disturbed, so milk supply can be reduced.
• No surgeon can promise that you will be able to breastfeed. If you are planning a pregnancy, raise it at your consultation and plan for lactation support after the birth.

Patients thinking about children often raise this question at their first consultation, and it deserves a careful answer. Breastfeeding after a breast reduction is possible for many women. It is also less reliable than breastfeeding without surgery, and nobody can predict how it will go for you.

What follows is the current picture: how surgery affects the breast’s ability to make and deliver milk, what the research shows, and what helps after the birth.

Why can a breast reduction affect breastfeeding?

Milk is made in glandular tissue and travels to the nipple through a system of ducts. Feeding also depends on nerve signals. When a baby feeds, signals from the nipple trigger the hormones that produce milk and release it.

A breast reduction removes skin, fat and glandular tissue, and moves the nipple and areola higher on the chest. In most techniques the nipple stays attached to the breast on a section of tissue called a pedicle, so the ducts running to the nipple stay connected. That is the main reason breastfeeding remains possible after surgery.

Even so, some glandular tissue is removed, and ducts and nerves can be divided or disturbed along the way. Less glandular tissue and fewer working ducts can mean less milk.

It helps to keep a baseline in mind as well. Plenty of women who have never had surgery find breastfeeding difficult, for reasons that have nothing to do with the breast itself. Surgery is one factor among several.

What does the research show?

Studies on this question disagree, and the disagreement is partly about definitions. Some researchers count a week of breastfeeding as a success, while others count six months of exclusive breastfeeding.

A 2023 systematic review pooled 33 studies and found an overall breastfeeding success rate of about 62% after reduction mammaplasty. The same review found that women who had the surgery were around 3.5 times more likely to be unable to breastfeed than women who had not.

The pattern inside the research is worth knowing about. Most individual studies have concluded that breast reduction makes no difference to breastfeeding, although a 2017 review of the observational evidence found that the better quality studies, which followed women for longer, reported lower success rates. Short follow-up tends to produce more optimistic numbers.

Read together, those two findings describe the honest position. Many women who try are able to breastfeed to some degree, and the odds are lower than they would have been without surgery.

Does the technique make a difference?

Probably, although the research is far from settled. The 2023 review reported broadly similar results across the common pedicle techniques, with success rates between roughly 55% and 64%. Other studies have found wider differences.

The clearer distinction is between techniques that keep the nipple attached and those that do not. In a free nipple graft, used by some surgeons for very large reductions, the nipple and areola are removed and reattached as a graft, which divides the ducts. Breastfeeding is generally not possible afterwards.

Southern Aesthetic’s surgeons use the Wise pattern and vertical scar techniques, both of which keep the nipple attached to the breast.

Should I wait until after I have children?

Some patients wait and some go ahead. There is no single right answer.

Waiting keeps the question of feeding separate from surgery, although it also means living longer with the symptoms that brought you to a consultation. Going ahead means accepting that feeding may be harder, and that a later pregnancy may change your result, since breast tissue responds to hormones and can grow again.

Your age, how much your symptoms affect you and how firm your plans are all feed into that decision. It is worth discussing openly with your surgeon.

What helps after the birth?

Tell your midwife, child and family health nurse and lactation consultant that you have had a breast reduction, ideally before the birth, so that feeding can be watched closely from the start.

Early skin-to-skin contact, frequent feeding and expressing all support supply. Your baby’s weight gain and wet nappies are the practical measures of how feeding is going, and your health team will monitor both.

If supply turns out to be low, mixed feeding is a reasonable outcome. Any amount of breastmilk is worth having, and combining it with formula is common. The Australian Breastfeeding Association and lactation consultants can help you work out what is realistic in your situation.

What should I ask at my consultation?

Ask which technique your surgeon recommends, whether the nipple will stay attached, and what that means for feeding later. If you are planning a pregnancy, say so plainly so it can be factored into the discussion and recorded in your notes.

All surgery carries risk, and your surgeon will explain the risks most relevant to your circumstances. Any decision about surgery should be made after consultation with a specialist plastic surgeon, and seeking a second opinion is always reasonable. You can read more about the procedure and its risks on our breast reduction page.

FAQs

Will I know during pregnancy whether I can breastfeed? There is no reliable test beforehand. Breast changes during pregnancy, such as fullness or leaking colostrum, are encouraging signs, although they do not confirm what supply will be like. Feeding is properly assessed in the first days after the birth.

Does nipple sensation affect breastfeeding? Nerve signals from the nipple help trigger the release of milk, so reduced sensation can play a part. Our article Will I Lose Nipple Sensation After a Breast Reduction? covers sensation in more detail.

Is it still worth breastfeeding if my supply is low? Yes. Partial breastfeeding is common after a reduction and still provides your baby with breastmilk. Your midwife, child and family health nurse or lactation consultant can help you combine breast and bottle safely.

Does a free nipple graft rule out breastfeeding? Generally, yes, because the technique divides the ducts that carry milk to the nipple. If a free nipple graft is being considered for you, your surgeon will explain why and what it means for feeding.

Will breastfeeding change my surgical result? Pregnancy and breastfeeding change breast size and shape, with or without previous surgery. Breast tissue responds to hormones, so it can grow again, and the breasts may sit differently once feeding finishes.

Can my surgeon tell me my chances of breastfeeding? Your surgeon can explain how the technique affects your ducts and nerves, and what the research shows for that approach. An individual outcome cannot be predicted, and any promise of successful breastfeeding should be treated with caution.

Glossary of terms

Areola: The circle of darker skin surrounding the nipple.

Colostrum: The first milk produced late in pregnancy and in the days after birth. It is rich in antibodies.

Free nipple graft: A technique used by some surgeons for very large reductions, in which the nipple and areola are removed and reattached as a graft. It divides the milk ducts, so breastfeeding is generally not possible afterwards.

Glandular tissue: The part of the breast that produces milk.

Lactation consultant: A health professional who specialises in supporting breastfeeding.

Let-down reflex: The release of milk from the breast, triggered by hormones when a baby feeds.

Milk ducts: The channels that carry milk from the glandular tissue to the nipple.

Mixed feeding: Feeding a baby with both breastmilk and formula.

Pedicle: The section of tissue that stays attached to the nipple and areola during a reduction, carrying its blood supply, nerves and ducts.

Reduction mammaplasty: The clinical term for breast reduction surgery.

In summary

• The first week after breast reduction (reduction mammaplasty) centres on rest, pain relief and protecting your wounds. Most patients stay in hospital for one night, and many can stop stronger pain medication at around 48 hours.
• You will wake up wearing a post-operative bra, which is worn day and night for the first three weeks. Sleeping on your back or side is recommended, and driving usually resumes at around one week, once you are off strong pain relief.
• Breast reduction is major surgery with real risks, including bleeding, infection and delayed wound healing. Recovery varies from person to person, so it helps to know which warning signs need prompt attention.

The first week after breast reduction surgery is when most of the practical questions come up. How much will it hurt? Can I shower? How should I sleep? When can I drive?

This article works through those questions roughly in the order they arise. Your surgeon will give you written instructions for your own recovery, and those take precedence over anything you read here.

What happens when I wake up?

Breast reduction is performed under general anaesthetic in an accredited hospital. Local anaesthetic is also used during the operation to help with comfort when you wake.

You will wake with dressings over the incisions and a post-operative bra already on. Some patients also have thin drain tubes beside the breasts to remove excess fluid, and these are generally removed within a day or two. Most stitches sit beneath the skin and dissolve on their own.

Most patients stay in hospital for one night. Some go home the same day, depending on how much tissue was removed and their own circumstances. Either way, you will need someone to drive you home.

How much pain should I expect?

Most people describe tightness, pressure and aching across the chest, although experiences vary. The first two days are usually the most uncomfortable. Many patients can stop stronger pain medication at around 48 hours and move on to simpler pain relief for the rest of the week.

Take your medication as directed, and try to stay ahead of the discomfort. Stronger pain relief can cause constipation, so drink plenty of water and ask about a gentle laxative if needed. Check with the practice before taking any medication that was not prescribed, including anti-inflammatories.

Let the practice know if pain increases after it has started to settle, or if one side becomes much more painful than the other.

How do I care for my wounds?

You will be given instructions on caring for your dressings and when they will be checked. Many patients can shower within the first few days, depending on the type of dressing, and you can take the bra off to do so. Pat the area dry afterwards, and avoid baths, pools and spas until the wounds have fully closed.

Bruising and swelling are expected, and they are often most noticeable in the first few days. A small amount of oozing onto the dressings can also occur early on. Contact the practice if oozing is heavy, cloudy or smells unpleasant.

How do I wear my post-operative bra?

The bra supports the breasts while they heal and helps to control swelling. Southern Aesthetic’s surgeons suggest wearing it day and night for the first three weeks. You can take it off to shower, and for an hour or two each day to give your skin a break.

Loose, front-opening tops make getting dressed easier, since lifting your arms overhead will be uncomfortable for a while.

How should I sleep?

Most people find their back the most comfortable position in the first week. Propping yourself up slightly with a few pillows can make it easier to settle, and easier to get up again.

Side sleeping is fine, and swapping sides through the night helps. Sleeping on your tummy is not recommended while you heal. When getting out of bed, take it slowly and avoid pushing yourself up with your arms.

How active should I be?

Gentle walking is encouraged from the first day. Moving around regularly helps your circulation and lowers the risk of blood clots in the legs.

Avoid lifting, reaching above shoulder height and anything strenuous. Heavy lifting and strenuous exercise are generally avoided for at least six weeks.

Tiredness after a general anaesthetic is common and often underestimated. It is worth arranging help at home for the first week, particularly if you have young children who are used to being picked up.

When can I drive?

Driving usually resumes at around one week. By then you should be off strong pain relief and comfortable enough to turn and check your blind spot, and to brake suddenly. Check your car insurance policy too, since some have conditions about driving after surgery.

When should I contact the practice?

Contact the practice promptly if you develop a fever, pain that is getting worse, rapid swelling of one breast, spreading redness, or discharge from a wound. A nipple that turns dark, purple or very pale also needs prompt review.

Calf pain or swelling needs urgent medical attention. If you have chest pain or difficulty breathing, call 000.

Raising a concern early is always appropriate, even if it turns out to be minor. For more on the procedure and its risks, see our breast reduction page. For the longer view of healing, see How Long Is Recovery from Breast Reduction Surgery?

Frequently asked questions

How much time will I need off work?

Plan on taking at least the first week off. Many patients return to desk-based work after about two weeks, while physically demanding roles generally need longer. Discuss your job at consultation so leave can be planned realistically.

Is it normal to feel emotional after surgery?

Yes. Feeling flat, teary or low for a few days after surgery is common, and tiredness, disrupted sleep and medication can all contribute. If low mood lasts or worries you, speak to your GP or the practice.

Will my nipples feel different?

Numbness, tingling or heightened sensitivity in the nipples is common in the first week. For most people, feeling settles over the following months. Our article Will I Lose Nipple Sensation After a Breast Reduction? explains this in more detail.

Is it normal for one breast to look more swollen than the other?

Some difference between the two sides is common while swelling settles. Rapid, painful swelling on one side can signal a haematoma, so contact the practice promptly if this happens.

When can I have a bath or go swimming?

Baths, pools and spas should wait until the wounds have fully closed, which is usually well beyond the first week. Your surgeon will confirm when it is appropriate.

When can I go bra shopping?

Wait until swelling and bruising have settled, which usually takes around three months, although it can be sooner for some people. Buying earlier risks choosing a size that no longer fits once healing is complete.

What should I prepare at home before surgery?

A few extra pillows, loose front-opening tops, easy meals and someone to help for the first few days are all worth organising in advance. Keep your prescribed medications and the practice’s contact details somewhere easy to reach.

Glossary of terms

Analgesia: Pain relief. Simple analgesia refers to milder, commonly used pain medication.

Deep vein thrombosis: A blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg. Walking regularly after surgery helps reduce the risk.

Dissolving sutures: Stitches placed beneath the skin that break down on their own, so they do not need to be removed.

Drain: A thin tube placed beside the breast during surgery to remove excess fluid. Where used, drains are generally removed within a day or two.

General anaesthetic: Medication that produces controlled unconsciousness for the duration of surgery, given and monitored by a specialist anaesthetist.

Haematoma: A collection of blood within the surgical site. It can cause rapid swelling of one breast and may need a return to theatre.

Local anaesthetic: Medication that numbs a specific area. It is used during breast reduction to help with comfort on waking.

Post-operative bra: A soft, supportive bra worn after surgery to support the breasts and help control swelling.

Reduction mammaplasty: The clinical term for breast reduction surgery.

Seroma: A collection of clear fluid beneath the skin at a surgical site, which may need to be drained.