Breast Reduction Surgery Sydney

Our Sydney plastic surgeons will listen to your concerns regarding your breast size and shape, and ask what your goals are. Most women see a plastic surgeon for breast reduction surgery after suffering many years and after considering the surgery for a long time. While breast reduction surgery is a safe and commonly performed operation, the consultation will be performed with sensitivity to your opinions and thoughtfulness to your concerns. Any additional health problems that might affect your treatment will be identified.

Following this, your breasts will be examined. It is important to decide with your surgeon the type of breast reduction operation that would most suit your body shape, breast size and skin type.

We will then discuss the best course of action to address your concerns. Written information will be provided to you, so that you can consider your options. A breast reduction is a major operation, so a second consultation will be made for you once you have booked your surgical date.

Women having breast surgery should bring their most recent mammogram or ultrasound with them to the consultation.

Breast reduction surgery deals with a long-existing problem, and should therefore be done when you are best motivated and physically fit for the procedure. The cosmetic result and your health for an anaesthetic are adversely affected if you smoke or are obese.

Our plastic surgeons perform breast reduction surgery in Sydney based hospitals. The operation is a three to four hour procedure performed under a general anaesthetic in an operating theatre. Local anaesthetic is also used so that your breasts feel comfortable when you wake up from surgery. Breast reduction surgery involves removing excess skin, breast fat and glandular tissue. The remaining breast tissue and nipple are repositioned to suit your body frame, and the skin is redraped. Dr Ilias Kotronakis and Dr Amira Sanki both have much experience in traditional breast reduction (anchor scar, Wise pattern) and short scar (vertical pattern) techniques. A vertical pattern (short scar) technique is generally recommended in patients requiring a small breast reduction while a Wise pattern (anchor scar) is used in patients requiring a large amount of breast tissue and skin removal. The exact position of the scars will be determined by the amount of lift necessary, but every effort is made to minimise your scars and to hide them within the line of your bra.

The goal of breast reduction surgery in Sydney is to maximise your body’s comfort and appearance and to get you back to your active lifestyle. Most patients prefer to stay in hospital for 1 to 3 nights. Despite the duration of the operation, most women describe that their recovery was much better than they expected. On waking, you will find that you have dressings over your incision wounds and in some cases, thin, plastic drain tubes attached to the skin adjacent to your breasts.

The skin incisions are closed with dissolving stitches that lie under the skin. Initially the wounds will be pink. Over time the scars usually fade to white lines. Having a fully qualified plastic surgeon open and close your incisions means you will have the finest technique in your surgery. However, the quality of your scars is also a function of your skin type and genetics.

Most women are able to return to drive after one week desk job style work after 2 weeks. It is best not to perform any strong exercise for 6 weeks, to allow your wounds to mature so that you get the best possible cosmetic result. The aim of breast reduction surgery in Sydney is to make women physically more capable to carry out their usual physical activities.

Breast reduction surgery reduces the relative risk of breast cancer by a ratio of 2.2. This is because the breast tissue that is removed from your body can no longer deteriorate into a cancer. The surgery rearranges and removes some of your breast tissue, a new “baseline” mammogram will need to be performed one year after the surgery.

You can usually use your private health insurance for breast reduction surgery in Sydney. It usually pays for all your operating theatre and hospital costs, including the post operative stay. Medicare and your private insurance may also contribute to the doctors’ bills. You can call your health fund and see if you are covered.

Dr Sanki and Dr Kotronakis are breast reduction Sydney specialists, and perform their surgery at major hospital facilities including St George, Hurstville, Bondi Junction and St Luke’s private hospitals. We select our hospitals based on their high standards of peri-operative care and their outstanding surgical equipment.

Dr Sanki has an all female surgical team available weekly. Surgery can be a vulnerable time for women, and having the security of an all female surgical team can be comforting and reassuring. Dr Sanki’s team are not picked upon their gender, but are picked for their experience, dedication and skill.

Breast reduction surgery in Sydney should be performed with sophisticated surgical technique for the safest and best results. It carries real risks, and as such should be considered carefully.

We recommend that the procedure is only ever performed in a hospital. We also recommend that you carefully consider your choice of breast reduction surgery in Sydney. Unfortunately doctors without surgical qualifications beyond their medical degree are allowed to perform surgery. Your surgeon should be appropriately qualified with at least a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FRACS), which means that they have specialist surgical training. FRACS is the standard qualification required in Sydney to perform breast reduction surgery in private and public hospitals.

Members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons have a FRACS and specialised training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, including breast reduction.

Our surgeons, Dr Amira Sanki and Dr Ilias Kotronakis are fully qualified Plastic Surgeons. They have both received Honours degree in their Sydney medical schools. They both have FRACS qualifications as Specialist Surgeons in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and are members of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. They both have extensive experience and training in breast reduction, including the most advanced and up to date techniques. They are committed to giving their patients the safest and best treatment available.

A consultation with a qualified Plastic Surgeon is the best place to get more advice. More information is available online at the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons website.

1. Infection: Any surgical procedure has the risk of infection. Surgeons take precautions to minimise this risk, such as sterile operating environments and proper wound care, but infections can still occur.

2. Scarring: Scarring is an inherent risk of plastic surgery. While surgeons strive to minimise visible scarring, some procedures may result in more noticeable or keloid scars.

3. Pain and discomfort: Plastic surgery involves incisions and tissue manipulation, which can lead to post-operative pain and discomfort. The level of pain varies depending on the procedure and the individual’s pain tolerance.

4. Hematoma and seroma: Hematomas are collections of blood that can form under the skin after surgery, while seromas are collections of fluid. These fluid collections may require drainage.

5. Nerve damage: Nerves can be damaged during surgery, leading to temporary or permanent numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation in the affected area. Nerve damage can also cause muscle weakness or paralysis.

6. Blood clots: Surgical procedures carry a risk of blood clot formation, particularly in the legs. Blood clots can be serious if they travel to other parts of the body, causing complications like pulmonary embolism.

7. Anesthesia risks: Plastic surgery usually requires the use of anesthesia, which carries its own set of risks. These include adverse reactions to anesthesia, breathing difficulties, and, in rare cases, life-threatening complications.

8. Unsatisfactory results: Plastic surgery outcomes may not meet the patient’s expectations or desires. It’s important for individuals to have realistic expectations and to communicate clearly with their surgeon about their goals and desired outcomes.

9. Revision surgery: In some cases, additional surgery may be required to achieve the desired results or to correct any complications or unsatisfactory outcomes. This can increase the financial and emotional burden on the patient.

10. Psychological and emotional effects: Plastic surgery can have psychological and emotional impacts, both positive and negative. While many people experience improved self-esteem and body image after surgery, others may struggle with unrealistic expectations, body dysmorphia, or dissatisfaction with the results.

11. Loss of nipple sensation: most people become either hypersensitive or numb after surgery. This improves after a few weeks. Some people will experience numbness that does not improve (approx. 5%).

12. Asymmetry of the breasts: No two breasts are the same. The goal of surgery is to improve symmetry but absolute symmetry cannot be achieved.

13. Cup size cannot be guaranteed: breast reduction surgery lifts and reduces the size of the breasts. Your surgeon will speak to you about the approximate size you would like to achieve to suit your frame and body.

14. Recurrent breast growth or sag: your breasts will continue to change shape and size if you fall pregnant, breast feed, gain or lose weight.

It’s crucial for individuals considering plastic surgery to consult with a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon who can thoroughly explain the risks and benefits specific to their desired procedure. Understanding and carefully weighing these risks against the potential benefits can help individuals make informed decisions about whether to proceed with plastic surgery.