Located opposite Norwest

Private Hospital in the Norwest

Business Park, Norwest Plastic

& Cosmetic Surgery is only 15

minutes from Parramatta and 45

minutes from the Sydney CBD.

The location has easy access to

the M2, linking the M7,

M4 & M5 motorways.

A patient guideto understandingBreast Reduction

Thinking of breast reduction? A short guide to assist you in making your decisions.

Suite 108, Level 1, 10 Norbrik Drive Bella Vista NSW 2153

p. 1300 112 358 f. 02 8824 3877 e. info@drgavinsandercoe.com.au w. www.drgavinsandercoe.com.au

Do you feel your breasts are too heavy?

Do you suffer from neck, shoulder, or back pain? Is it hard to find clothes that fit well? A breast reduction is a

safe way to re-size and re-shape your breasts to suit the rest of your

figure.

Women who’ve undergone breast

reductions say it restores their

confidence, and allows them to exercise and undertake activities that may have been

uncomfortable before.

www.drgavinsandercoe.com.au

Elizabeth

MacArthur Dr

Elizabeth

MacArthur Dr

Nor

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Dr

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To Old

Windsor Rd Loop Rd

BELLA VISTA

NORWESTHOSPITAL

Am I a candidate for a short scar breast reduction technique?

Short scar breast reduction techniques remove breast gland and fat and small amount of breast skin. The remaining skin needs to tighten up for the final result. Women that have the best results from short scar techniques tend to be young, need small to moderate reductions in size, and have good quality thick skin. Thin skin with stretch marks tends not to respond as well to short scar techniques.

Your consultation

You should expect to spend about an hour with Dr Gavin Sandercoe. During this time he will take a thorough history and examination. Measurements and digital photographs are taken to assist with planning and explaining any asymmetries or limitations. Dr Gavin Sandercoe will discuss what you wish to achieve from your procedure, your risks and expectations, and you are given a take home information package to review before your second consultation.

Breast reduction procedure

Dr Sandercoe only performs breast reduction procedures in accredited hospitals and day surgeries, ensuring that your safety is paramount. You are put to sleep (general anaesthetic) by a specialist anaesthetist, and pain relief and antibiotics are given through a drip before the operation is started. The breast and nipple incisions are made and the required breast tissue removal is performed. The nipples are sutured into their new position and you are sat upright to check for symmetry. Drains are usually placed into the breasts.

The actual operation takes 2-3 hours. Your surgical bra will be fitted before you wake up. Most breast reduction procedures are performed as an inpatient procedure, so you should expect to stay overnight in hospital. Many women feel well enough to leave the morning after the operation, but there is no rush to get home if you do not feel up to it.

A breast reduction (also known as a reduction mammaplasty) removes fat, tissue and skin from the breasts allowing them to be smaller, lighter and more proportional to your body. The nipple/areola is also reduced and lifted to a more youthful position.

Am I a good candidate for a breast reduction?

If any of the following conditions apply to you, you may be a good candidate for the procedure:

- Breasts that are too large in proportion to the rest of your body

- Different sized breasts

- Back, neck and shoulder pain caused by the heaviness of your breasts

- Your nipples/areola’s point downwards

- Skin rashes/irritation under your breasts

- Restrictions in physical activity due to the heaviness and discomfort of your breasts

- You feel self-conscious about the largeness of your breasts

What is involved in a breast reduction?

There are a variety of techniques for the breast reduction procedure. Dr Gavin Sandercoe is a fully qualified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with training and experience in many of these. He does not favour one technique in particular – instead, he will help you understand which type of surgery will best suit your breasts and your recovery needs.

These options will be discussed with you at your initial consultation.

Can liposuction alone achieve a good breast reduction?

Liposuction can only remove fat, not breast gland. A breast reduction using liposuction only relies on the overlying breast skin to shrink after the fat has been removed. This is not suitable for most patients.

When to re-start activities

- Most women take 1-2 weeks off from work

- At about 4 weeks, light exercise is safe (no bouncing, such as aerobics or running)

- It takes the tissues around 6-8 weeks to fully heal, and at this time it is safe to begin heavy work and aerobic activities such as running. You should use a bra with extra support until there is no discomfort during the activity.

Breast reduction risks

All procedures carry some risk. Having your procedure done in an accredited hospital minimises your risk during a procedure. Generally speaking, patients undergoing elective surgery have very minimal risk, but it is a doctor’s duty to inform patients of all their material risks. Our consent package details these risks and Dr Sandercoe will discuss these with you during your consultation.

Will my private health insurance cover some costs?

In certain circumstances, as specified by Medicare, some of your procedure may be covered by your private health insurance. Depending on your health fund and level of cover, this may involve obtaining approval from Medicare prior to your operation date. During your initial consultation, Dr Sandercoe will let you know if you are likely to fulfil these criteria.

Questions?

We wish to keep our patients as informed as possible. The best way of making sure that all your questions get answered is to have a pad with you and jot down your questions & bring them to your consultations. We encourage you to also bring your partner or friend with you to your consultation. Please keep us aware of your problems and any suggestions to improve our patient care.

A more in depth discussion of breast reduction can be found at www.drgavinsandercoe.com.au.