Led by Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Qadir Khan (FRACS)
Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce breast size and weight while reshaping the breasts to achieve improved proportions. The focus of the procedure is to address physical discomfort associated with overly large breasts while addressing the shape and ptosis at the same time.
The breast reduction procedure involves removing excess breast tissue, fat, and skin. By reducing overall volume and weight, breast reduction surgery can help ease strain on the neck, shoulders, and back, support better posture, and allow greater comfort during everyday activities and exercise.
If you are considering breast reduction surgery in Perth, patients are encouraged to consult a qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon. At West Coast Plastic Surgery, Dr Qadir Khan provides comprehensive consultations to assess your situation, discuss breast reduction techniques, explain potential outcomes and risks, and help you decide whether surgery aligns with your needs.
This content has been medically reviewed by Dr Khan, MBBS, MRCS (Edin), FRACS (Plast)
Breast reduction surgery may offer meaningful physical benefits for people whose breast size contributes to ongoing discomfort or functional limitations.
The images are used with consent of the patient. Results may vary from one person to the other and this is a representation of the results for this particular patient.
One of the most commonly reported benefits is a reduction in back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by the weight of the breasts. By decreasing breast volume, the procedure can reduce strain on the upper body and support improved posture, which may also lessen pressure on the spine over time.
Many patients find that daily movement and physical activity become more comfortable following surgery. Activities such as walking, exercising, or maintaining an active lifestyle may feel easier once excess breast weight is reduced. Breast reduction surgery can also help relieve bra strap grooving and skin irritation beneath the breasts, which are often caused by constant pressure and friction.
Another practical benefit is improved clothing fit. A more proportionate breast size can make it easier to find supportive bras and well-fitting clothing, reducing the need for specialised garments. While the results of breast reduction surgery are generally long lasting, natural ageing, weight changes, and pregnancy can influence breast size and shape over time, which is discussed during consultation.
Large breasts can contribute to poor posture, as individuals may hunch forward to compensate for the additional weight. Breast reduction surgery can help restore a more balanced posture, leading to improved overall body alignment and reduced strain on the spine.
An ideal candidate for breast reduction surgery often experiences ongoing back, neck, or shoulder pain related to breast size, along with bra strap grooving, skin irritation, or reduced physical activity. Difficulties with posture or finding supportive clothing are also common.
Suitability for breast reduction surgery in Perth is assessed based on overall health, stable body weight, and individual symptoms rather than breast size alone. Candidates should be in good general health, without unmanaged medical conditions, and be non-smokers or willing to stop smoking to support safe healing and recovery.
*Individual results vary as the outcomes experienced by one person do not necessarily reflect the outcomes that other people may experience, as results may vary due to many factors, including the individual’s genetics, diet and exercise. Please schedule the initial consultation so we can review your case and show you similar patient results.
At West Coast Plastic Surgery, every breast reduction procedure is performed with the utmost care and precision. Here is a general overview of the steps involved in a typical reduction mammoplasty:
Breast reduction surgery is performed under general anaesthesia to ensure comfort throughout the procedure. An experienced anaesthetic team monitors you closely before, during, and after surgery. Your anaesthetist will review your medical history and discuss any considerations prior to the procedure.
Incision placement varies depending on breast size, shape, and the breast reduction techniques used. Incisions are planned carefully to allow removal of excess tissue while supporting reshaping. Your surgeon will explain where incisions are likely to be positioned and how scarring is managed over time.
During breast reduction surgery, the remaining breast tissue is carefully reshaped after excess tissue and skin are removed. This step helps create a balanced breast contour and supports long-term proportion. Reshaping is planned to maintain blood supply and nipple position, supporting safe healing and predictable surgical outcomes.
Once the excess breast tissue and skin have been removed, the Nipple Areola Complex is carefully relocated to the most projected part on the newly reshaped breast.
Once reshaping is complete, incisions are closed using layered sutures to support wound healing and minimise tension on the skin. Dressings and supportive garments are applied before recovery. Post-operative instructions are provided to guide care and follow-up during the healing period.
It’s important to remember that each mammoplasty procedure is customised to the patient’s individual needs and goals. The exact steps of your procedure may vary slightly. We will ensure you understand your personalised surgical plan before the day of your procedure.
Mr Khan then moved to Perth, Australia in 2007. He was selected for the highly competitive specialist training programme in Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery in 2014. After the successful completion of his fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in early 2019, he travelled to Brisbane and Newcastle Upon Tyne, England for post-training fellowships in Head & Neck Surgery, Microsurgery, Facial palsy and Sarcoma.
Mr Khan has published in the peer-reviewed Plastic Surgery journal, presented at national and international conferences and has been part of the training faculty in international plastic surgery flap reconstruction courses in the UK.
Qualifications:
Recovery from breast reduction surgery takes time and patience. At West Coast Plastic Surgery, we are committed to supporting you through every stage of your recovery.
You will receive detailed aftercare instructions covering wound care, medications, warning signs to watch for, and follow-up appointments. Following these guidelines closely is essential for optimal healing and results.
Some discomfort is normal after surgery and can be effectively managed with prescribed medication. We will also advise you on proper positioning when sitting or lying down to help minimise discomfort.
Proper care of your incisions is crucial to prevent infection and promote healing. This may include cleaning the area, changing dressings, and applying treatments as directed.
Physical activity should be limited during the initial recovery period. Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting, and gradually resume activities based on our team’s guidance.
Every patient’s recovery is unique and depends on individual health and the procedure performed. Our team will closely monitor your progress and remain available to answer any questions or concerns throughout your recovery.
As with all surgeries, breast reduction mammoplasty carries potential risks.
Breast reduction, or reduction mammaplasty, is surgery that removes excess breast tissue, fat and skin to reduce the size and weight of the breasts, reshapes the tissue that remains, and repositions the nipple and areola to suit the smaller breast. It is performed under general anaesthesia and usually takes two to four hours. Most patients seek it for physical symptoms rather than appearance alone, including neck, shoulder and upper back pain, bra strap grooving, skin irritation in the fold beneath the breast, and difficulty exercising or finding clothes that fit. Because the breast is lifted as part of the reduction, the procedure also addresses sagging. At West Coast Plastic Surgery in West Perth, breast reduction is performed by Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Qadir Khan (FRACS, MED0001546567).
A good candidate has breast size that is out of proportion with her frame and is causing physical symptoms, such as neck or shoulder pain, back pain, bra strap grooving, or recurring skin irritation beneath the breasts, rather than dissatisfaction with appearance alone. Beyond symptoms, suitability rests on general health, a stable weight, no unmanaged medical conditions, and being a non-smoker or willing to stop before and after surgery, since smoking substantially raises the risk of wound healing problems and nipple complications. Surgery is generally deferred until breast development is complete, and until after pregnancy and breastfeeding if you plan to have children soon, because both change breast volume. Dr Qadir Khan will tell you directly at consultation if breast reduction is not the right procedure for you.
Medicare may contribute where the surgery is medically indicated rather than cosmetic. The item that applies to most patients is MBS 45523, bilateral reduction mammaplasty with surgical repositioning of the nipple, for patients with macromastia who are experiencing pain in the neck or shoulder region, and not with the insertion of any prosthesis. Item 45520 covers unilateral reduction in the context of breast cancer or a developmental abnormality of the breast. The descriptor turns on macromastia plus documented neck or shoulder pain, and does not specify a minimum weight of tissue to be removed, despite what is often repeated online. Medicare pays 75 per cent of the schedule fee, which contributes to the surgeon’s fee rather than covering the whole cost of surgery. Eligibility is a clinical judgement made at consultation on your examination findings and documented symptom history.
Private health insurance follows Medicare. If your surgery meets the criteria for an MBS item number, it sits in the “Breast surgery (medically necessary)” clinical category, which is a minimum inclusion on Bronze, Silver and Gold hospital policies but not on Basic. Your fund can then contribute to hospital and theatre fees and pay the balance of the schedule fee for the surgeon and anaesthetist, which is usually worth considerably more than the Medicare rebate itself. If no item number applies, the surgery is classed as cosmetic and no fund will contribute. Standard rules still apply, including a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, your policy excess, and any gap. Confirm cover with your own fund before booking, and contact our team if you need the item number to quote them.
There is no fixed legal age, and suitability is assessed on breast development, symptoms and general health rather than a birthday. In practice, surgery is usually deferred until breast growth has settled, which is generally around 18, because further development afterwards can change the result. Reduction is sometimes performed earlier for adolescents with severe symptomatic macromastia. Where the surgery is classed as cosmetic rather than medically indicated, the Medical Board of Australia’s guidelines add protections for patients under 18, including an independent assessment by a psychologist, psychiatrist or general practitioner who is not performing the surgery, and a cooling-off period of at least three months between consent and surgery. There is no upper age limit. Dr Khan will explain how your individual circumstances, rather than age alone, affect surgical planning.
Breast reduction surgery usually takes two to four hours in theatre. The duration depends on how much tissue is being removed, the degree of asymmetry between the breasts, the technique used, and whether any other procedure is combined with the reduction. You should allow most of the day at hospital once admission, anaesthetic preparation and time in the recovery ward are included. It is performed under general anaesthesia with a specialist anaesthetist present throughout. Some patients go home the same day, while many stay one night, particularly where drains have been used or a large volume of tissue has been removed. You will need someone to drive you home and stay with you the first night. Dr Khan confirms the expected theatre time and length of stay at your consultation.
A breast reduction works by removing excess breast tissue, fat and skin, then reshaping what remains into a smaller, higher breast. The nipple and areola usually stay attached to a pedicle, a column of tissue that keeps their blood supply and nerve connection intact, and are moved upward to sit correctly on the new breast shape. The areola is often reduced in diameter at the same time. Two incision patterns are common: the vertical or lollipop pattern, which runs around the areola and down to the crease, and the anchor or inverted-T pattern, which adds a scar along the crease and suits larger reductions. In very large reductions the nipple is occasionally moved as a free graft. Dr Khan selects the technique from your measurements, tissue quality and the volume being removed.
Most patients come down two to three cup sizes, but the operation is planned in grams of tissue removed and in proportion to your chest wall and frame, not in cup sizes, because bra sizing is inconsistent between brands. How small you can safely go is limited by the need to maintain a healthy blood supply to the nipple and to leave enough tissue to create a natural shape. Your breasts will look swollen and sit high for the first few weeks. Most swelling settles by around six weeks, the tissue drops into a more natural position over about three months, and the final size and shape are usually clear at around six months. Wait until then before investing in professionally fitted bras.
Breast reduction is a common, well-established operation with consistently high patient satisfaction, and it is generally safe when performed by a Specialist Plastic Surgeon in an accredited hospital. Like all surgery it carries risk. More common complications include bleeding or haematoma, seroma, infection, delayed wound healing (most often at the T-junction where incisions meet), problematic or widened scarring, asymmetry in size or shape, and changes in nipple or breast sensation. Rarely, the blood supply to the nipple is compromised, which can cause partial or complete nipple loss. General anaesthesia carries its own risks, including blood clots. Smoking, diabetes and a high BMI all raise the risk of wound complications. Dr Khan discusses the risks relevant to your circumstances at consultation, and you are welcome to seek a second opinion.
Most patients describe the first three to five days as tight, heavy and sore rather than sharply painful, and many report that pre-existing neck and shoulder pain eases almost immediately once the weight is gone. Discomfort is managed with prescribed pain relief, usually stepped down to simple analgesia within the first week. Swelling, bruising, tightness across the chest, and intermittent shooting or burning sensations as the nerves recover are all normal in the early weeks. Sleeping with your upper body elevated and wearing your surgical bra as directed both help. Pain that is worsening rather than improving, or that is clearly one-sided, should be reported promptly, as it can signal a haematoma or infection. You are given written aftercare instructions and a direct contact for concerns after surgery.
Yes, and this is the trade-off every patient should understand before agreeing to surgery, because the scars are permanent. A vertical or lollipop reduction leaves a scar around the areola and a vertical line down to the crease beneath the breast. An anchor or inverted-T reduction adds a horizontal scar along that crease, which is concealed by the breast itself and by bras and swimwear. Scars are typically raised and pink or red for the first few months, then flatten and fade over roughly 12 to 18 months, although they never disappear entirely. Silicone tape or gel, massage once the incisions have fully healed, and strict sun protection all help, because healing scars darken permanently with UV exposure. Dr Khan will show you where your scars are likely to fall and when to begin scar management.
Some change in nipple and breast sensation is common in the early months, ranging from numbness to heightened sensitivity or intermittent shooting sensations as the nerves recover. For most patients sensation returns substantially over six to twelve months, because modern pedicle techniques are designed to keep the nerve supply to the nipple intact. A minority are left with a permanent change. The risk is higher with very large reductions and with the free nipple graft technique, where the nipple is detached completely and both sensation and the ability to breastfeed are usually lost. There is no reliable way to speed the recovery of sensation, and no surgeon can guarantee it. Dr Khan will explain which technique is planned for you and what it means for sensation.
Many women breastfeed successfully after a breast reduction, but it cannot be guaranteed, and the evidence indicates the odds are lower than for women who have not had surgery, with one systematic review reporting around three and a half times the odds of unsuccessful breastfeeding compared with controls. Technique matters most. Where the column of tissue connecting the nipple to the chest wall is preserved, milk ducts and nerve supply are largely maintained and reported breastfeeding rates approach those of women with large breasts who have not had surgery. Where that column is divided, or where a free nipple graft is used, breastfeeding is unlikely. If you plan to have children, advise Dr Khan at consultation, because it influences both the technique chosen and whether to defer surgery.
Most patients take around two weeks off desk-based work and three to four weeks off physical or standing work. The first three to five days are the most uncomfortable, dressings and any drains are reviewed within the first week, and normal daily activity returns over the first two to three weeks. Heavy lifting, meaning anything above roughly two to five kilograms, and all overhead or chest work wait until about six weeks. That limit includes a toddler and a full shopping bag, so arrange help at home before surgery. A surgical support bra is worn day and night for approximately six weeks. Swelling settles substantially by six weeks, shape continues to refine over three to six months, and scars mature for 12 to 18 months.
Sleep on your back with your upper body elevated on pillows or a wedge for the first two to four weeks, since elevation reduces swelling and keeps pressure off the healing breasts and incisions. Most patients are cleared to return to side sleeping at around four to six weeks, once swelling has settled and the incisions are secure. Stomach sleeping usually waits at least six to eight weeks, and often longer, because it places direct pressure on the reshaped tissue. The surgical support bra is generally worn continuously, including overnight, for roughly the first six weeks, and many patients continue in a soft supportive bra at night for some weeks after that. These are typical timeframes, and Dr Khan’s instructions for your surgery take precedence.
Most patients resume driving one to two weeks after surgery. Three conditions need to be met first. You must be completely off prescription opioid pain medication, since driving under its influence is both unsafe and an offence in Western Australia. You must be able to perform an emergency maneuver, including checking blind spots, turning the wheel sharply and braking hard, without pain or hesitation, which is the step most people underestimate because reaching for the wheel loads the chest and shoulders. And you must be alert enough to react normally. It is also worth checking your motor vehicle insurance policy, as some insurers exclude cover if you drive against medical advice following surgery. Confirm with Dr Khan that you are cleared to drive before getting behind the wheel.
Exercise returns in stages. Gentle walking is encouraged from day one or two to support circulation and reduce clot risk. Longer walks and light lower-body work are usually reasonable from weeks two to three, and low-impact cardio such as a stationary bike is reintroduced from around week four. Running and other high-impact activity waits until roughly six weeks and requires a well-fitted high-support sports bra, because bouncing places tension directly on healing incisions. Chest and upper-body work, including push-ups, chest press and overhead lifting, is the last category to return, generally at six to eight weeks. Swimming, spas and baths wait until the incisions are fully sealed. Dr Khan will confirm the timeline that applies to your surgery.
A breast reduction already includes a lift, because removing tissue and repositioning the nipple raises the breast, so a separate breast lift is not usually required. Liposuction is sometimes used alongside the excision to refine the contour toward the armpit and the side of the chest, where fullness can otherwise remain. Reduction can also be combined with other procedures under one anaesthetic, such as abdominoplasty as part of post-pregnancy surgery, although combining operations lengthens theatre time and recovery. One restriction is worth knowing: MBS item 45523 cannot be claimed where any breast prosthesis is inserted, so a reduction combined with implants forfeits the Medicare rebate. Dr Khan will advise what can sensibly be combined in your case.
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