breast reduction scotland

Breast Reduction in Edinburgh

Back pain, shoulder grooves from bra straps, difficulty exercising — most women who ask about breast reduction have lived with the weight of heavy breasts for years. Breast reduction at Quaba Plastic Surgery is performed by consultant plastic surgeons on the GMC Specialist Register at Waterfront Private Hospital, the Edinburgh hospital our surgeons own and run. The consultant who assesses you plans and performs your surgery and reviews your result.

ARRANGE A CONSULTATION

Breast Reduction

I had breast reduction surgery performed by Mr Omar Quaba in March 2024 in Edinburgh on the recommendation of a friend who had the same surgery with Mr Quaba the previous year. The communication from the initial consultation onwards has been exceptional. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him to anyone considering this surgery. I am absolutely delighted with the results and the aftercare I received. The whole experience has exceeded my expectations.

Marie

Trustpilot Sep 2024

READ MORE PATIENT TESTIMONIALS

Contents

Breast reduction overview

TYPE OF ANAESTHETIC

  • General

LENGTH OF SURGERY

  • 3 Hours

HOSPITAL STAY

  • Day case at Waterfront Private Hospital, or overnight at our partner facility in Edinburgh

RECOVERY

  • 1-2 weeks off work, 6 weeks before strenuous exercise

What breast reduction involves

Breast reduction surgery (reduction mammaplasty) removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to make the breasts smaller, lighter, and better proportioned to your body. The breast is reshaped and lifted at the same time, and the nipple is moved to a higher position. Surgery takes place at Waterfront Private Hospital under general anaesthesia, takes around 3 hours, and involves either a day case or a one-night stay.

The pattern of incisions depends on your breast size and shape and on how much tissue is being removed. The two patterns used most often are described below, and the appropriate technique for your case is recommended at consultation. In a small number of patients with mainly fatty breast tissue and a minimal reduction, liposuction alone can be considered.

The consultant who examines you at consultation is the consultant who plans your surgery, performs it, and reviews you afterwards.

Anchor-shaped

An anchor-shaped reduction is the most common. The scars are around the nipple, vertically and along the breast crease. This procedure corrects heavy breasts and droopiness and gives the most consistent results.

Vertical scar

With a vertical scar reduction/ lift, the scar is described as a lollipop scar – around the nipple and vertically down below it towards the breast crease. This technique can be used for women with moderate breast enlargement.

Breast reduction — Quaba Plastic Surgery

Benefits of breast reduction

For most women the change after breast reduction is practical as well as cosmetic: lighter breasts mean less strain on the back, neck, and shoulders from the first weeks after surgery.

  • Relief from physical discomfort: back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by the weight of the breasts is reduced or resolved.
  • Easier exercise: running and other high-impact activity become more comfortable once breast weight is reduced.
  • Improved posture: posture habits that develop to compensate for breast weight can improve.
  • Less skin irritation: reduced skin-to-skin contact beneath the breasts means fewer rashes and less soreness.
  • Better-fitting clothes: a bust in proportion to your frame widens clothing choices.
  • Improved comfort with appearance: patient-reported outcome studies of breast reduction consistently record improvements in body image and day-to-day comfort.

Breasts are initially tight and can look slightly square in shape. By six months they look more rounded, and the shape continues to settle for up to 18 months. The final result depends on your individual anatomy and the amount of tissue removed.

View before and after gallery
Breast — Quaba Plastic Surgery

Who is an ideal candidate for breast reduction?

Breast reduction suits women whose breast size causes physical symptoms — back, neck, or shoulder pain, grooves from bra straps, skin irritation beneath the breasts — or who find their breast size out of proportion and restrictive. Surgery is carried out in women over the age of 18, once breast development is complete.

  • You have physical symptoms caused by breast weight, or longstanding discomfort with breast size.
  • You are at or near a stable weight. Results are better and complications fewer when weight is stable, and significant weight change after surgery alters the result.
  • You are a non-smoker, or willing to stop smoking well before surgery. Smoking increases wound-healing and nipple-related risks.
  • You understand and accept the permanent scars that breast reduction leaves.

Breast reduction may not be right for you if you are planning significant weight loss first, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or want to preserve every chance of breastfeeding in future. Timing and suitability are assessed honestly at consultation, and some women are advised to wait.

Risks and considerations of breast reduction

General anaesthetic

Breast reduction surgery is carried out under general anaesthesia and lasts approximately 3 hours as a day case or with an overnight stay in the hospital. The risks of general anaesthesia include clots to the legs (deep vein thrombosis) and lungs (pulmonary embolus), and we take precautions to minimise the risk of these. Other risks include chest infection, and the risk of a severe life-threatening complication is approximately 1 in 100,000.

Bleeding

Which may require a return to the theatre (less than 1 in 20 patients).

Infection

Is uncommon and usually settles with antibiotics.

Delayed wound healing

Delayed wound healing is not uncommon, especially in small areas at the “T junction” of the scars.

Fat necrosis

Fat necrosis is a rare complication where some breast fat does not survive and can look like an infection. It can take several weeks to resolve and may result in a contour defect.

Changes in nipple sensitivity

This is an expected outcome – nipples can sometimes be more sensitive or less sensitive, and sensitivity will change over time.

Pull on the nipples

Sometimes the nipples can be pulled or inverted when moved to their new position.

Nipple loss

Nipple loss is a rare complication – higher risk in smokers and substantial reductions.

Breastfeeding

There is the possibility of reduced ability to breastfeed, although some studies show women who have had breast reduction are just as likely to breastfeed as those who have not.

Asymmetry

Minor residual asymmetry is not uncommon – breasts are rarely perfectly symmetrical.

Scarring

Scars are permanent and may be unpredictable and red for some time – most women rarely complain about the nature of scars following breast reduction – scars usually stretch over time and fade in colour. You will be shown images at consultation highlighting the full extent of the scarring.

Under or over correction

Under or over correction – removing too much or too little breast tissue – final size can never be guaranteed – patients rarely mention that they feel too much tissue has been removed.

Risk of picking up breast cancer

Risk of picking up breast cancer – there is the theoretical risk of breast cancer being detected in the removed breast tissue that will be sent for analysis – We will advise you on whether preoperative breast screening is required.

Revision

A small number of patients (less than 1 in 20) may require minor revision, usually performed under local anaesthetic. 

Breast reduction is a significant operation performed under general anaesthesia, and most patients recover without complication. The recognised risks are listed below and are discussed in detail at your consultation, where your individual risk is assessed by the consultant who will perform your surgery.

Aftercare and recovery after breast reduction

Recovery from breast reduction is steady rather than dramatic: most women are up and about within two days, back at desk-based work in 1 to 2 weeks, and feel fully recovered by six weeks. Light exercise can usually be resumed at four weeks; strenuous exercise waits until six weeks. A supportive non-wired bra is worn day and night in the early weeks.

A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available — if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.

Discomfort/ Pain

Some discomfort is typical in the first few days after surgery. You may experience some numbness around your nipples and incision areas. You may experience temporary soreness, tightness, swelling and bruising, and discomfort in the incision areas. Your breasts may be sensitive to stimulation for a few weeks.

Bruising/ Swelling

Your breasts may feel tight and swollen for several days, and bruising is not uncommon.

Appearance

Most of the discolouration and swelling will subside in 4-6 weeks.

Scars may be red and angry looking for six months. In time, these usually soften and fade.

You may be up and about in 2 days, but it will be a few weeks before you are entirely up to speed.

Your mood may fluctuate after surgery – this is normal. A small amount of blood staining on the inside of your dressings is typical during the first few days.

Your final breast shape will not become apparent for six months.

Explore Breast reduction aftercare
Nurse reviewing a patient at Waterfront Private Hospital, Edinburgh

What is the cost of breast reduction?

Breast reduction at Quaba starts from £10,000. The price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the hospital and theatre fee at Waterfront Private Hospital, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged.

The full price for your individual case can only be confirmed after a face-to-face consultation with the consultant who will perform your surgery. Our consultation fee with a consultant plastic surgeon is £200. Where a further consultation would help you reach a decision, this is offered without additional charge.

Frequently asked questions about breast reduction

Will the same surgeon plan, perform and review my breast reduction?

Yes. The consultant who assesses you at your first appointment is the consultant who plans your surgery, performs it at Waterfront Private Hospital, and reviews you afterwards. There are no handovers between consultants.

What happens if I have concerns after my surgery?

A nurse reviews you at one week, and more often if needed in the early healing period. Your consultant sees you again at around six months once the result has settled. Between then, your consultant is always available — if anything concerns you, they will respond directly and arrange to see you as soon as needed.

How much does breast reduction cost?

Breast reduction at Quaba starts from £10,000. The price covers the surgeon’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the hospital and theatre fee at Waterfront Private Hospital, and all post-operative reviews until you are fully discharged. The full price for your individual case is confirmed after a face-to-face consultation.

What is the best age to have a breast reduction?

Breast reduction surgery is only carried out in women over the age of 18. Some women choose to have the procedure before they have started a family; others have it after completing their families or much later in life. It is not unusual for older women who have had surgery to say they wished they had the operation years ago.

Will a breast reduction lift my nipples and breasts as well?

All reduction surgery involves a breast uplift and reshaping to raise the height of the nipple and give a better shape to the breast. The operation can also improve breast asymmetry when a size reduction is desired. The technique is tailored to your needs at consultation.

What if I am overweight?

You can expect better cosmetic results and fewer complications if you are at or near your ideal body weight. We can operate on women who are overweight, within reason, if they understand the limitations. For some women, exercise is difficult with large breasts, and they find it easier to exercise and lose weight after the procedure.

Can I breastfeed after breast reduction?

Several studies have indicated that women who have undergone breast reduction surgery have a similar ability to breastfeed as those who have not. However, it is important to be prepared for the possibility that you may not be able to breastfeed after the surgery.

How do you move the nipples up — do you have to detach them?

To move the nipples to a higher position on the breast, a cut is made around them and the areola is reduced in size, as it has usually been stretched. The nipple remains attached to the underlying breast tissue to keep its blood supply, and the tissue is repositioned with the nipple attached so it sits higher on the breast.

What is recovery like after breast reduction?

Your surgery may be carried out as a day procedure at Waterfront Private Hospital, or with an overnight stay at our partner facility in Edinburgh. You are seen in the dressing clinic one week after surgery. Take at least 1 to 2 weeks off work to rest. The wounds should be healed by two weeks, but small areas of delayed healing are common, so full healing can take longer. Light exercise can usually be resumed at four weeks, and you should feel recovered by six weeks.

How long do breast reduction scars take to settle?

Scars can take up to 18 months to mature, and sometimes longer. Before-and-after photographs typically show results at around six months, when the scars are still red; significant fading can be expected beyond six months. The degree and rate of improvement vary considerably between patients.

How long will it take for my breast shape to settle?

Initially your breasts will be tight and can look a little “boxy” in shape. By six months they will look much more rounded, and they continue to improve in form for up to 18 months.

Change in breast shape over the first six months after breast reduction

Breast reduction by Mr Omar Quaba was the best decision I could have made.

From consultation to after care, the team and Mr Quaba himself were great. I felt very supported in my decision to have this procedure and more importantly, it was particularly wonderful to feel understood regarding the way I felt and the reasons I wanted and, more importantly needed the reduction. My life has improved massively since my surgery and I now have the confidence to do things I’d never have done before! This was a truly life changing procedure for myself and I’m so glad I found Mr Quaba. I highly recommend Mr Quaba ☺️

Erin Dowd

Trustpilot Dec 2024

READ MORE PATIENT TESTIMONIALS

Author

Mr Omar Quaba

Mr Omar Quaba, MBBChir, FRCS (Plast), GMC 4586300, is a Consultant Plastic Surgeon on the GMC Specialist Register with over 20 years of experience in plastic surgery. He is among the first surgeons in the UK to achieve Board Certification under the Cosmetic Surgery Board Certification Scheme overseen by the Royal Colleges of Surgeons. Educated at Cambridge University and trained in Aberdeen and Glasgow, with a fellowship in Australia, he transitioned to full-time private practice in 2020. He is Hospital Director of Waterfront Private Hospital and a full member of BAPRAS, BAAPS, and ISAPS.

Try our free AI consultation