Breast Reduction

Before your surgery you will have a full consultation with one of our Plastic Surgeons. Then you will have a pre-operative assessment with our dedicated nurse in charge of preoperative care.

On the day of the surgery, you will be given your post-operative dressing appointments. These appointments are set in advance, however if you cannot attend, it is recommended that you visit your GP instead. We will also schedule a 2 to 3-week review with your plastic surgeon. For your complete assurance, there is a nurse-on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to answer any questions you may have after your procedure.

Your procedure can be carried out in one of four locations: Avoca Clinic, St Vincent’s Private Hospital, The Hermitage Clinic or The Bon Secours Hospital in Glasnevin. The choice is yours and the surgery requires one overnight stay.

No. Getting a breast reduction procedure in no way increases the risk of contracting breast cancer.

reast reduction surgery would qualify as major surgery, but the positive results will last. This means that you should take the time to prepare for the operation and that you should be in good physical condition. A patients BMI must be 33 or under for this procedure. The operation itself takes place over two to three hours (depending on the patient). It is recommended that patients stay overnight either for one or two nights post operatively.  Like any surgery of its kind, you will be expected not to eat or drink prior to the operation; and you should allow some recovery time.

Firstly, one of Consultant Plastic Surgeons will meet with you to:

• Evaluate health and medical history
• Discuss what you want and hope for this surgery to achieve
• Examine and measure your breasts

Prior to the surgery, you will be asked to:

• Not eat or drink the night beforehand
• Remove makeup, nail varnish and deodorant
• Stop smoking prior to consultation and at least 6 weeks prior to the procedure.

We don’t provide mammograms.  We require that women over 50 are up to date with their Breast Check appointments.

We notify patients that a breast reduction may affect their ability to breastfeed.  So, if that is a concern, they would be advised to wait until they are finished the breastfeeding phase of parenting.

The good news is that techniques have evolved and most women in the hands of our expert surgeons at The Avoca Clinic will just have the periareolar incision or ‘lollipop scar’. The recovery time varies from patient to patient but most women, who diligently follow our discharge instructions will be back at work within 10 days of this procedure.

For your complete assurance, there is a nurse-on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to answer any questions you may have after your procedure. Post surgery you will have all the reassurance that comes with our “Open Door” aftercare policy. It’s simple: once you have been treated at The Avoca Clinic, our door will always be open to you, anytime you need us. So, when we promise to take care of you before, during and after your procedure, we really mean it.

Breast reduction is usually implemented to improve a patient’s general comfort and quality of life. Because it is a surgical process, there is an incision made, and you will be placed under general anaesthesia. Patients typically require pain relief for up to 3- 5 days postoperatively and some experience fatigue during the recovery time.

The recovery time varies from patient to patient: Most women who diligently follow discharge instructions will be back at work within 10 days of this procedure.

Following surgery, you will be wearing a support or post-op bra when you leave our clinic, or one of our referral hospitals depending on where you have your procedure. We operate in three private hospitals in Dublin. You will be asked to follow our discharge instructions so that you will recover as safely and speedily as possible.

As with all our surgeries, you will have all the reassurance that comes with our open-door aftercare policy. Once you have been treated at The Avoca Clinic, our door will always be open to you, anytime you need us. So, when we say we take care of you before, during and after your procedure, we really mean it.

While your breasts won’t grow back to their original size and shape after a breast reduction surgery, other life factors can still affect the size and shape of your breasts. These include weight gain, pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Breast reduction surgery carries some risks – like any surgery does. The most dangerous risks are highly unlikely, however. These include bleeding, infection and adverse reaction to anaesthesia. Breast reduction scars tend to be minimal and fast-healing.

Minor complications include bruising (which tends to be temporary), breastfeeding difficulties or loss of sensitivity.

Avoca Clinic takes every step to reduce the likelihood of adverse effects of surgery. And we have an open-door policy to all former patients, as well as comprehensive post-surgery care: For your complete assurance, there is a nurse-on-call 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year to answer any questions you may have after your procedure.

The effects of breast reduction surgery are long-term. Some events can change the size of a patient’s breasts after surgery, such as breastfeeding, pregnancy and weight gain. However, the effects of these events are more significant for women who have not undergone breast reduction surgery.