Breast reduction, Sheffield
Mr Morritt regularly performs breast reduction surgery at the Spire Claremont Hospital and Thornbury Hospital in Sheffield. He has one of the largest breast reduction practices in the UK and regularly treats patients from all over the UK. Breast reduction surgery starts at £7370. To learn about other procedures that Mr Morritt offers – please click hereWho typically requests breast reduction?
Breast reduction is most frequently performed for people who:- want to reduce the size of their large breasts
- have differently sized breasts (breast asymmetry) and want the larger breast reduced
- want to improve breast symmetry after breast reconstruction
Before and after breast reduction surgery photos
Please note that while these photos show outcomes from Mr Morritt’s breast reduction patients, the outcome of surgery varies for individual patients due to skin characteristics, build etc and Mr Morritt can not therefore guarantee an exact outcome from surgery.Summary of breast reduction cases – for more details of individual cases please see below
Click here to see more before and after breast reduction photosLarge breasts – common problems
Genetics (inherited), hormones and body weight are known to affect breast size. People with large breasts frequently experience a variety of problems. read more- Pain
- Back/neck/breast
- Breast drooping or sagging
- Bra straps digging in and leaving grooves on the shoulders
- Sweating in the crease under the breast causing skin irritation
- Difficulty getting clothes to fit as the chest is out of proportion with the body
- Problems when exercising
- Can’t buy flattering bras
- Self consciousness
- Due to unwanted attention or unpleasant comments relating to the size of the patient’s breasts
- Low self esteem
Am I a good candidate for breast reduction surgery?
read moreBreast reduction – procedure
There are different methods of performing breast reduction depending on the patient’s size and shape. The most common techniques involve removal of excess skin and breast tissue followed by reshaping and lifting of the breasts and nipples. Mr Morritt most frequently uses a modern technique called ‘Wise pattern, superomedial pedicle breast reduction’. The lift obtained from this technique lasts longer and the preservation of nipple sensation is better than with older techniques. read moreSummary of features of Mr Morritt’s breast reductions:
- Breasts are reduced in size to be more in proportion with figure
- Breast and nipples are lifted
- Areola size is reduced
- All stitching is internal so there are no stitches to remove
- No drains are used
Scars from breast reduction surgery
The scars from breast reduction surgery can differ depending on how much excess skin and breast tissue are removed. There is always a scar around the areola (because the size of the areola is usually reduced as part of a breast reduction) and a scar running from the areola to the crease under the breast (this is often called a lollipop scar). In many patients who have larger breast reductions or have a lot of spare skin on their breasts, it is usually necessary to add an additional scar that runs in the crease under the breast (this is called an inverted ‘t’ scar or ‘anchor scar’). The scarring from the procedure generally settles very well and is pale and thin. Young patients, patients with Afro-caribbean ancestry and those with pale skin that does not tan in sunlight have a greater risk of thickened, raised, red scars called hypertrophic or keloid scars.Breast reduction using liposuction
In some rare cases, patients who have very fatty breasts (typically the elderly) may be suitable for breast reduction using liposuction where fat is sucked out of the breasts to reduce their size. This avoids the typical scarring of the more commonly performed breast reduction procedures but is limited in that no skin is removed and the nipples and breasts are therefore not lifted to the same degree as when skin is removed.Mammogram before breast reduction surgery
There is a national guideline recommending that patients over the age of 40 should have a mammogram before having breast reduction surgery. Click here to read moreRecovery after breast reduction
People heal at different rates with the young and fit usually healing faster than the elderly or those with other medical problems. It typically takes approximately two to six weeks to fully heal from surgery and we therefore generally recommend taking two weeks off work as a minimum to allow time to heal from surgery. Patients are advised to avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, or having a holiday for 6 weeks following surgery. read morePatient testimonial – Breast reduction
Breast reduction – frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Can I breastfeed after breast reduction surgery? read more Some patients are able to breastfeed after breast reduction surgery however, as the procedure itself involves removing part of the breast gland itself (where breast milk is made), it is not possible to guarantee that patients will be able to breastfeed after surgery. If retaining the potential (some women who have not had surgery are unable to breastfeed) ability to breast feed is very important to you, I recommend delaying the surgery until you have completed your family. When can I drive a car after breast reduction surgery? The recovery from breast reduction surgery varies for different individuals. I recommend that patients try and avoid driving during the first week following surgery. Patients can generally resume driving after one week presuming that they are pain free, not taking strong painkiller tablets and have complete control of the vehicle. Does breast reduction surgery hurt? Breast reduction surgery perhaps surprisingly does not seem to be as painful as other breast surgery such as breast augmentation. Many patients have only mild discomfort and are very comfortable on simple pain killers such as paracetamol. It is quite common for patients to no longer need painkillers 1 week after surgery. From time to time however some patients do experience more pain but this is still generally well controlled on tablet painkillers such as paracetamol and codeine. Is breast reduction surgery safe? Generally speaking breast reduction surgery is very safe and has a low serious complication rate. Minor complications such as small wound healing problems or stitch/staple abscesses are relatively common but are usually all fixed within 6 weeks of surgery. What cup size will I be after breast reduction surgery? Unfortunately it is not possible to give a precise prediction about exactly which bra cup size the patient will be after breast reduction surgery. This is mainly because bras from different shops are sized differently meaning that a lady can go from one shop to another and find that her bra size is different. Mr Morritt can however give a guide as to the expected bra cup size after breast reduction and has lots of before and after photos that patients can view to get an idea about the range of achievable options. How long should I take off work after breast reduction surgery?Depending on the size of the reduction and the patient’s general health, people will recover from breast reduction surgery at different speeds. Some patients in less physical occupations may feel able to return to work after 1 week off. We generally however recommend that patients plan to have 2 weeks off work after breast reduction as the vast majority of patients are fully healed within this time frame. Patients are advised to avoid lifting anything heavy and refrain from undertaking vigorous exercise until approximately 6 weeks after surgery.
What are the benefits of breast reduction surgery?Breast reduction can transform a patient’s life and many patients wish that they had undergone the surgery earlier in their lives. Patients generally experience improvement in pain symptoms (and in some cases, patients will no longer have pain in the back, neck, shoulders etc). Having breasts which are more in proportion with the rest of the body opens up a whole new realm of clothing possibilities and patients generally feel that it is easier to get the clothes they want to wear to fit the whole body. Similarly, having smaller breasts means that many ladies can wear underwear that they have always wanted to wear but have not previously been able to. Many patients feel that their energy levels go up and some are able to increase their exercise levels or sporting pursuits. Ultimately, most ladies feel that breast reduction surgery improves their self confidence.
Breast reduction – risks of surgery
Breast reduction is a very frequently performed procedure and the vast majority of patients having the surgery heal without significant problems. Mr Morritt has incorporated a number of safety modifications into his practice to reduce the risks for patients having surgery. Patients should understand that as with any other surgical procedure, there are potential risks with breast reduction surgery. read more- Poor scarring
- thickened (hypertrophic/keloid), raised, red, painful – more common in young patients, patients with afro-Caribbean ancestry, and patients with very pale skin that does not tan in the sun
- stretched scars – more common in patients with stretch marks
- Bleeding causing haematoma (a collection of blood)
- can affect up to 1 in 10 patients
- more frequent in patients with high blood pressure
- can cause a lump in the breast that may take months to resolve
- may require a further operation to stop the bleeding and remove the collection of blood
- Patients are advised to avoid strenuous activity and lifting for 6 weeks following surgery to minimise the risk of bleeding
- Patients are advised not to take NSAID’s (ibuprofen, aspirin etc) 2 weeks before or after surgery as these are associated with an increased risk of bleeding
- Numbness
- includes permanent numbness of nipples or skin
- Chronic pain
- a very rare complication following breast reduction surgery
- Nipple loss/death
- very rare
- more common in smokers or diabetics
- Wound healing problems
- more common in smokers
- usually managed with regular dressings
- more common at the ‘t-junction’ where all scars meet in the breast crease
- Asymmetry (uneven breasts/nipples)
- after surgery the size, shape and position of the nipples will not be identical on both sides but will be very similar
- The size and shape of left and right breasts will be similar but not identical
- Overcorrection/undercorrection
- this is where too much or too little tissue is removed
- Fat necrosis (lumpiness)
- a hard lump in the breast after surgery
- generally the lumps resolve but this can take a few years
- sometimes the lumps are permanent
- Infection
- usually requires a course of antibiotics
- Cup size
- it is not possible to guarantee a particular bra cup size following breast reduction surgery but a reasonable estimate can usually be given before surgery
- the best cosmetic results and a lowest chance of problems from poor nipple blood supply are obtained when the breasts are kept a moderate size (in contrast to when attempts are made to make breasts very small)
- Sometimes patients are unhappy with the size of their breasts after breast reduction because the breasts are smaller or larger than they had wanted
- Breast shape
- Mr Morritt cannot promise a particular breast shape after surgery
- Generally the breasts and nipples are lifted with more upper pole fullness
- Breast shape is determined by multiple factors including skin quality (stretchiness), breast tissue firmness, chest and breast width, and breast volume. Some of these factors cannot be adjusted meaning that results do vary between individuals.
- Drooping of the breasts
- with time breasts droop as part of the natural ageing process; in the early healing phases the breasts will start off high and gradually drop to some degree over the first 6 weeks to 3 months after surgery
- will be quicker in patients with poor skin quality (stretch marks)
- will be quicker in those who lose weight after surgery
- will be quicker in those with heavier breasts
- Seroma
- Tissue fluid (like blister fluid) collection in the breasts following breast reduction. Usually resolves with time but may require decompression with a needle if the breast skin becomes tight
- Regrowth of the breasts
- It is very rare but possible for the breasts to grow back after breast reduction surgery
- May occur if the patient puts on significant weight, falls pregnant, or starts a hormone treatment e.g. contraceptive pill/HRT after surgery
- Gigantomastia is a rare condition where the breasts can regrow relatively soon after breast reduction
- Risks of general anaesthesia
- Chest infections
- Damage to teeth etc
- DVT/PE/COVID-19/Death
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs can be fatal if not treated. All patients must wear surgical stockings for 6 weeks after surgery
- A ‘non-perfect’ result
- All surgery carries the risk that the outcome will not be ‘perfect’. Sometimes ‘non-perfect’ outcomes can be improved with revision surgery. In other cases if the risks involved with revision surgery outweigh the potential improvement or if revision surgery is unlikely to meet the patient’s expectations, a recommendation is made to accept a ‘non-perfect’ outcome and not undertake revision.