What we expect of you

Breast reduction surgery is surgery undertaken on healthy breasts. We aim to keep all risks and complications to an absolute minimum.

We ask you to fully appraise yourself of the information that we provide, and to understand that our primary objective is to get the maximum therapeutic benefit for you from the procedure.

Where your objective is principally cosmetic, we will reserve the right to refer you on to a recognised cosmetic plastic surgeon rather than a therapeutic specialist breast surgeon.

General Health Issues

We ask for full disclosure on all health matters and current medication to ensure that our anaesthetists can give you the best and safest anaesthetic.

Smoking

We would prefer you to stop smoking at least six weeks prior to surgery to improve the safety of the anaesthetic, and to reduce your chances of wound healing complications.

Chronic Health Conditions

There is a range of conditions that can affect the safety of surgery and anaesthesia, including diabetes and high blood pressure. Please work with your family doctor to ensure that your control of any problems is optimised.

Weight Loss

Obesity is a common partner to overly large breasts. For many ladies,  one of our key objectives in offering breast reduction surgery is as an aid to significant weight loss and restoration of normal health and exercise.

Being overweight carries many extra risks in a major operation. You can help us by starting immediately on a serious programme of weight reduction if you need to do so. Sarum Road Hospital can help if you need professional advice.

Your Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a measure of body fat based on height and weight should preferably be below 30 for the safety of the anaesthetic, and to reduce your chance of wound healing complications, but is negotiable depending on circumstances. Your BMI is calculated by taking your weight in kilograms divided by your height in metres squared.

Time for a general MOT?

The prospect of major surgery gives you an excuse and an opportunity to look carefully at all aspects of your health and lifestyle, and to get yourself back in tip top condition.