Anyone considering breast reduction by liposuction must first realise that this is not the standard approach to reduce breast volume.  The usual way to reduce breast volume is breast reduction surgery. Breast reduction surgery involves making a long incision under the breast, then another vertical incision from the inframammary fold up to the nipple, and another around the nipple as generally the nipple position is alterred. The resultant scar looks like an anchor.

For further information on formal surgical breast reduction, try this link to the US National Institutes of Health website on breast reduction surgery. Have a look at the incision lines and the resultant scars involved, and if you want this sort of surgery, we can refer you. 

Here at Peach we do liposuction and this includes breast liposuction to reduce breast volume. For a general review of breast reduction by liposuction try this link to the prestigious and authoritave emedicine website page on this topic.

Liposuction to the breast is a local-anaesthetic procedure. As with regular liposuction, we give you some IV sedation to keep you pleasantly comfortable but always able to talk to us. This way, your procedure is safer than having a general anaesthetic, and you are more in control.

Once you are nicely relaxed we start spreading local anaesthetic throughout your breasts. We use a specially-prepared, extremely dilute formula of local anaesthetic, and we use plenty of it to thoroughly numb your entire breasts.

Then, once the breasts are entirely numb and you are nicely relaxed, we can start the suctioning process. To do this we need make ony two (2) tiny incisions in the fold under each breast, each incision being just 4-5mm long: less than the width of a pencil. Being placed in the inframammary fold, they heal up extremely well and are each similar to an individual acne scar at worst. Then, through each incision, a 3mm-wide suction cannula is passed, and through this cannula the fat is methodically and systematically suctioned from each and every portion of the breast, from the two angles afforded by the two incisions each breast.

Once we have removed as much fat as we practically can from each breast, we assess the breast for symmetry, smoothness and regularity and when all is well you can shower, dressings are applied and a compressive garment to reduce swelling and bruising, and you can go home! (someone else has to drive).

You will be on oral antibiotics as a further safeguad against infection, and we'll give you a script for pain tablets (although most patients need only a few of these tablets, and some need none at all).

We'll review you the next day, change your dressings and take more photos. Most patients are very happy with the results even at this early stage.

Advantages of Breast Reduction by Liposuction:

• Two tiny scars, (as opposed to the extensive anchor-shaped scarring of formal breast reducion surgery)
• No nipple scars
• Normal nipple sensation presrved
• Preserved breast shape
• Can still breast-feed
• Local anaesthetic
• Faster recovery
• Much less expensive.

Disadvantages of Breast Reduction by Lposuction

• Cannot guarantee volume of reduction achievable (although most patients are happy)
• Cannot guarantee lift, or alter nipple height
• Less potential to reduce volume of very glandular breasts. Less suitable for young, otherwise slim patients with very glandular breasts
• Not suitable for patients with aged, pendulous, flattened breasts.
• Not suitable in those with a personal or family history of breast cancer.  

Expected benefits

• 20-65% volume reduction achieved in well-selected patients. Average is 40%.
• Breasts keep their natural shape, but are lighter
• Pre-operative back and shoulder pain either disappears or is substantially reduced.
• Contraction/elevation. Liposuction involves a measured and controlled degree of trauma to the breast, and its natural response to this is to lay down collagen. As this new collagen contracts, the breast will contract up and firmen. The extent to which this may occur cannot be predicted and no guarantee of any particular amount of breast elevation following the procedure can be given, but most patients see a welcome amount of elevation and firming with time.

As always, we suggest you book an appointment consultation with Dr Mahony to discuss further. Ph 02 9368 0100