Every breast shall droop with time. However in some women, the droopiness of the breast is such that they may not need full breast uplift. In such patients nipple lift through a small incision around nipple may be performed. All these operations may be performed under local or general anesthesia, as a day case.

Nipple reduction is a technique used for reshaping nipples that are overly-projecting, and thus often tend to fold over, and sometimes hang downward. This situation is most often seen in women with small breasts, and small diameter areolae. The cause may be developmental, or may be seen as a consequence of breast-feeding.

A woman's nipples may need corrective surgery. Inverted nipples may be partial or total. This can be corrected with a simple procedure. In some women the size and shape of areola ( the pigmented area around nipples) can be embarrassingly big or misshaped. This can be addressed by nipple reduction or shape correction.

Cosmetic surgery, like any other surgery, involves a "trauma" to the human body and there are risks associated with any procedure. Each woman's body is different, and your general health, level of fitness, age and genetic profile will all have an effect on the speed of healing and also on the risk of side-effects.

If you smoke, drink alcohol, are overweight and/or take drugs for medical or other reasons, the risk of complication during and after surgery can be greatly increased. Smoking, in particular, is discouraged because it increases the risk both of infection and thrombosis (blood clots).

After a breast reduction it is normal for all women to experience swelling, bruising, tiredness and numbness. A smaller number may also encounter infection and/or some bleeding around the scar area, and sometimes infection from germs which are present in the ducts of the breast. Infection can be treated with antibiotics, though this can delay the healing process somewhat.

You are also very likely to experience a loss of sensitivity in your nipples, which usually improves in the months after surgery, but can occasionally remain permanently.

Scarring is a normal and unavoidable consequence of this procedure, and will vary in appearance and severity, depending on the extent of surgery and on your body type. The nipple disc and the area underneath the breast are the most likely areas to be affected. Your scars will certainly reduce and fade over a period of months and, whilst permanent, should not be visible under the average bra or bikini top. Most women consider scarring to be an acceptable "trade-off" for correcting the problem of over-large breasts.

Another side-effect of breast reduction is the inability to breast-feed as the procedure involves the separation of the nipple from the underlying milk ducts. Whilst breast reduction has no counter-indication to pregnancy, you should be aware of the effect on breast feeding.

Your surgeon will see you when you have come round from the anaesthetic to check that all is well. You will probably stay in hospital for a day or two to ensure you receive all the care and support you need. If you have drainage tubes, these will be removed soon after the operation, and once you are fit to return home, you will be given medication and full post-operative instructions along with appropriate telephone numbers in case you need to contact us at any time.

During the first week after surgery, you should not remove your dressings at any time and you will not be able to immerse your breasts in water. You should try to resume normal daily activities as soon as possible: general mobility will help speed up the healing process. You should NOT, however, drive or undertake any strenuous activity or exercise. You will see our nurse after 7-10 days so that she can check your progress and remove your dressings and stitches. After your check-up you should be able to bathe and shower fully as usual, using unscented products. You should also be able to drive again.

You can expect much of the swelling and discomfort to have eased by now, and you should be able to start gentle exercise again. Your surgeon will see you again, usually 8 -10 weeks afterwards for a full post-operative consultation. You can also travel by air, and sunbathe if you wish, taking care not to expose any scars to the sun.

We're confident that you will be delighted with the results. For that reason, we guarantee that we will provide post-operative cover for a full three years after your procedure. It's our way of ensuring that you have peace of mind and confidence in LINIA.

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For your free consultation at any of the above clinics
please telephone 0845 230 1700