Breast Reduction

There can be several reasons to have breast reduction surgery. For instance, large and heavy breasts can have quite an impact on your physical and mental well-being.

Most ladies opt for breast reduction surgery for aesthetic reasons. Others consciously decide to reduce the excessively large bosom to get rid of certain symptoms. Indeed, it is not uncommon for women with somewhat larger breasts (often from cup size D upwards) to suffer from neck and back complaints more quickly. For example, during sports or lifting. Having your breasts reduced in size offers a solution in this case.

If you think your breasts are too large or heavy, if you want one or several bra sizes less, if you are in good health, then you are a good candidate for breast reduction.

Heavy breast reduction is, of course, completely customised. After all, we are all different, so are our breasts. Especially from cup size D, breast reduction can be a solution to reduce heavy breasts.

Men can also have breast growth (gynaecomastia). Breast reduction or breast reduction for men then offers the solution. Read more about this procedure on our gynaecomastia page, or breast reduction for men.

Nipple necrosis, dying off of the nipple, is a risk you need to consider. Fortunately, die-off of the nipple in breast reduction surgery is very rare. This complication mainly happens in women who smoke. Blood flow to the nipple is much poorer in smokers. The surgeon recommends that you stop smoking and drinking well before your breast reduction surgery and keep this habit for at least 6 weeks after the procedure.

If during the check-up consultation, after your breast reduction surgery, the surgeon notices that blood flow to the nipple is not optimal, he/she may choose to loosen your nipple again and place it back on the breast as a skin graft. Should the graft fail, aesthetic tattooing of the nipple may offer a solution.

In principle, anyone, male or female, who is in healthy shape and has breasts that are too large can have a mammoplasty breast reduction. Would you also like to lose weight all over your body, for example because you have a high BMI? Then we recommend losing weight first, because losing weight (also gaining weight) can change the shape of your natural breasts.

During the consultation with the doctor, you can indicate a preference for the size of the breasts, as you would like it.

You can also get professional advice from the doctor. They know from experience what suits your body. Of course, you can expect honest and transparent advice, for the best results.

View before and after pictures of breast reduction surgery here.

At Wellness Kliniek, we use special techniques to make the operation as effective as possible. You will be given sleep anaesthesia. The procedure takes around 2 to 3 hours. You are considered an outpatient, so you can go home the same day. If you wish, it is possible to book an overnight stay.

Your surgeon will follow up with you regularly after breast reduction surgery. The aim of the check-up consultation is to detect and treat any complications in time. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact your surgeon for an earlier check-up. We are at your service 7/7 days a week.

The 1st week after your breast reduction, stay home from work and rest well. For 6 weeks, you will wear a compression bra or sports bra without underwire. You should not do any heavy lifting or sports. The stitches will dissolve on their own and do not need to be removed. The scar will fade within 18 months

Keep in mind that every body is different. The doctor at Wellness Kliniek will inform you about the operation based on your situation. You will also be given more information in advance about the rules of life after the breast reduction, for optimal recovery.

A breast reduction leaves a scar around the nipple, with a vertical line towards the inframammary fold and sometimes in the inframammary fold. The scar is shaped like an anchor, an inverted T, and is therefore called the anchor lift. An anchor scar is used when reducing the size of very large breasts.

An anchor lift scars are initially red. After 3 months, the red scars begin to fade and become less noticeable. After that, the thin line around the areola and on the breast fades. After about 18 months, you will see the final result of the breast reduction. Good care of the wound is important to allow the scars to heal optimally. You will of course be given proper instructions about this.

There is also another method used for medium-sized breasts. Unlike the anchor lift, this incision method does not leave a scar in the inframammary fold. During the consultation, the surgeon will decide which technique will produce the best results for your breasts.

The breast is reduced in size by removing some of the skin and breast tissue. The nipple is placed slightly higher on the breast and usually reduced in size as well. Your breast will have a slightly different shape. The scar runs around your areola, in a vertical line towards the inframammary fold, and a scar in the fold below your breast. This is also known as the anchor breast reduction or anchor lift.

Scar anchor lift: So you will have a circular scar around your areola, from there towards the fold of your breast, and a horizontal scar in the fold itself. This is shaped like an anchor and is therefore called anchor scar.

The scars fade and become less and less visible. Moreover, they largely disappear, both under the breasts (in the fold) and around the areola where they are not noticeable.

There are several possible techniques, which we will of course discuss with you. Whether the anchor lift or an alternative approach is the best option depends on the current shape and size of your breasts.

If you get a breast reduction, your breasts are usually naturally lifted too, as they have often sagged due to gravity. In a breast reduction, the surgeon removes mammary gland tissue and fat in the breast to make them less heavy. A breast lift preserves the volume in your breast.

The surgeons at Wellness Kliniek always perform the breast reduction in such a way that the breasts are also lifted where necessary, to achieve the most beautiful result. In this mammoplasty, the nipple is moved to a higher point and excess skin is removed.

Yes. It does happen that in some ladies, one breast is just slightly larger than the other. A bosom with uneven breasts looks less beautiful. You may also experience symptoms because the load on one side of the body is greater than on the other. In this case, we can bring the breasts back into harmony with a mammoplasty.

If you have a tubular breast, then the underside of the breast has not developed as well. Breast reduction and lifting of tubular breasts requires a specialised mammoplasty approach. The surgeons at Wellness Kliniek are expert and experienced in reducing and lifting uneven and tubular breasts. Make an appointment for a consultation with a specialist.

In principle, breast reduction surgery is permanent, but it is important to know that by gaining or losing weight, the size of the breasts can change. So they can get bigger or smaller. Hormone fluctuations and medication sometimes also play a role in this. Would you like bigger breasts again at a later date. You can also go to Wellness Kliniek for breast enlargement.

At Wellness Kliniek, we perform breast reductions from the age of 18. Breast reduction is not recommended for girls with large breasts at a young age. This is because the breasts continue to grow until around the age of 18.

Yes indeed! In fact, it is a popular procedure. In men, breast reduction is often called breast reduction. It involves removing breast tissue through a small incision. Sometimes combined with liposculpture to remove local fat deposits. We have created a special page on gynaecomastia, or breast reduction in men.

More on breast reduction for men

A breast reduction normally takes around 2-3 hours. The exact time depends on the procedure and will be discussed with you during the consultation, so you know what to expect. Incidentally, you will not notice the operation time yourself at all, as you will be given a sleep anaesthetic beforehand. You will wake up in the recovery room.

You may opt for a breast reduction because you find it more beautiful to have smaller breasts or because you experience physical complaints. A combination of these factors is also possible. Know that no specific reason is needed to get a breast reduction. It's all about what you feel good about!

Will breast augmentation be covered or reimbursed is the question women rightly ask themselves. Women often choose breast reduction in a private hospital because of the higher quality of care, experienced surgeons, shorter waiting times, and greater freedom of choice, despite having to bear the cost of breast reduction themselves. The discretion and personal attention in private clinics are also important reasons for this choice. Reimbursement by the National Health Service (NHS) may be available in certain NHS hospitals if you have very large breasts that cause physical discomfort.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both hospitals and private cosmetic clinics if you are in doubt about which of the two institutions to have your breast reduction done at. If the procedure is covered or reimbursed, due to medical reasons, your GP often refers you to a general hospital. In that case, you often cannot choose where and by which plastic surgeon you will have the breast reduction done, but have the advantage of no or reduced costs.

Women who want a breast reduction to look more aesthetically pleasing often choose a specialised aesthetic clinic. The disadvantage is that your breast reduction will then not be covered or reimbursed by your mutual insurance company or insurer.

Many women find it worth considering a specialised, cosmetic private clinic experienced in aesthetic breast surgery, such as Wellness Kliniek. In a specialised clinic, doctors deal with plastic / cosmetic / aesthetic breast surgery on a daily basis. Often, you also notice a bit more of a personal approach there and extra time is spent on what you want / personalised advice. Patients often experience private clinics positively, and feel that their wishes are listened to as much as possible. And that is really important when you opt for a breast reduction (partly) for aesthetic reasons / without reimbursement. Also, waiting lists are often shorter due to greater capacity for beauty surgery.

Want to have your breast reduction done in hospital without reimbursement? That can be quite a hassle, in connection with waiting lists and applications (ask your GP for advice). In practice, people whose breast reduction is not reimbursed more often choose a private clinic instead of a hospital (due to the various advantages).

Do you have private insurance, do you get reimbursed and do you prefer a private clinic? Discuss the cost with your insurer before scheduling treatment at an aesthetic clinic. This is because there is a chance that your breast reduction will not be covered or reimbursed after all, and then you will be forced to opt for a general hospital or still pay for the procedure yourself.

We advise you to choose a clinic with ISO 9001 quality assurance. This is an international quality label and inspections take place regularly. This ensures quality and safety of care and patient satisfaction. Wellness Kliniek offers ISO 9001 guarantee.

We advise you to compare clinics based on patients‘ breast reduction experiences, the quality label and the plastic surgeons’ proven experience with breast reduction. Your feelings after the no-obligation consultation are also important to factor into your choice.

Wellness Kliniek makes patient satisfaction a top priority and has already won several awards for this. We are among the top international clinics in the field of breast surgery. We are happy to offer you a no-obligation consultation, in which you can put all your questions to an experienced specialist. We are also there for a second opinion.

The benefits of breast reduction can be different for everyone, but generally we find that ladies are happy with both aesthetic and physical changes. For example, they experience more self-confidence and fewer physical complaints, including neck and back pain. Playing sports (and recovering from sports) is easier, causing fewer complaints. And one experiences a lighter feeling while walking. Would you like bigger breasts again at a later date? Then it is possible to still have a breast augmentation.

A breast reduction gives good results, but you should expect a relatively long recovery period. Because although most recovery takes place within one week, you will still need six weeks to fully resume your daily activities. Furthermore, it is very important that you take good care of the wound and that the procedure is performed by a plastic surgeon and nursing team experienced in aesthetic breast reduction. Otherwise, you run the risk of poor wound healing, which means you will continue to see the scar over time.

At Wellness Kliniek, we think it's important to keep you well informed and therefore also point out any breast reduction risks. These will also be discussed during the no-obligation consultation. When a breast reduction is performed by an experienced plastic surgeon, and the wound is cared for according to the aftercare rules, the chances of a successful breast reduction recovery are very high, and the risk of complications is very small!

Possible breast reduction complications:

• Infections: improper care increases the risk of infections around the incisions. This can lead to redness, swelling, pain and fever. Antibiotics may be needed to remedy it. It can have a negative impact on wound healing.
• Scars: there is always a scar left by breast reduction surgery. Fortunately, these will fade over time (after 18 months) and (partially) disappear into the folds, but with an anchor lift you will always see a slight line.
• Asymmetry: keep in mind that breasts may be asymmetrical (not equal) before surgery. The plastic surgeon can often correct this (partially), but the chance remains that some breast asymmetry will remain. Discuss the chance of asymmetry breasts after breast reduction at the consultation. At Wellness Kliniek, you can count on experienced doctors.
• Necrosis: necrosis is a complication where tissue (skin, fat or nipple) dies due to reduced blood supply to the breast or nipple and is more common in smokers than non-smokers. Necrosis can lead to discolouration, of the wounds, or poor healing. Treatment is necessary and can range from wound care to further surgery to remove the dead tissue.
• Loss of sensation: sensation changes or loss after breast reduction can occur in the nipple, areola, and surrounding skin due to damage to nerves during surgery. This is because nerves that provide your sensation are cut or relocated during the procedure. Loss of sensation or changes in sensation in the breast or nipple are usually temporary, but it can be permanent in rare cases.
• No breastfeeding: Sometimes you cannot breastfeed after this procedure. It varies from woman to woman and also depends on the surgical technique chosen. Discuss with the plastic surgeon whether you want to continue breastfeeding after the procedure.

Yes. In principle, you can. It depends on several factors, including how the incision is made. The question is whether this involves moving the nipple and completely detaching it from the underlying breast tissue. In that case, the milk ducts may be damaged. It is therefore more ideal to keep the nipple connected to the mammary gland.

Moreover, the less glandular tissue removed, the greater the chance of breastfeeding. Furthermore, time plays a role: the more time between breast reduction and breastfeeding, the longer the milk ducts have time to recover. Your own genetics/ anatomy/milk production also plays a role, but that is always the case when it comes to breastfeeding.

Would you like to breastfeed after your breast reduction? Discuss this with your surgeon. A way can be found to maximise the chances of being able to breastfeed. The doctors at Wellness Kliniek will analyse your breasts and give personal advice on the risk in your situation, so you can always decide afterwards whether breast reduction is for you or whether you would rather wait until your desire to have children is fulfilled.

Ladies feel freer in their movements and they experience fewer physical complaints. Positive experiences are also reported emotionally. Read breast reduction reviews at Wellness Kliniek to get a better idea of patients' breast reduction experiences. We are proud of our positive reviews, for which we have already received the WhatClinic Award several times.

Yes you can! At Wellness Kliniek, we are happy to show you the results of previous treatments using before and after breast reduction photos. Feel free to bring your own photos to the consultation, if you have a particular result in mind that you would like to pursue. This will give the doctor a good idea of what you would like.

Just after your breast reduction, you can expect some swelling, bruising and discomfort. It is normal to experience some pain and stiff muscles and it is best to rest a lot.

You will receive aftercare instructions from the doctor before you go home. It is useful to have someone with you during the first week after breast reduction to help you with household chores and to pamper you. Getting up to go to the toilet, for example, can be a bit painful. The area around the breasts feels like you have severe muscle pain. Fortunately, you will soon feel the pain diminish as the days go by and it can be well controlled with painkillers.

After a breast reduction, some patients experience a stabbing pain in the breasts. Stabbing pain after a breast reduction can be a normal part of the healing process and can occur as nerves in the operated area recover and reconnect. These stabbing pains can vary in ferocity and frequency and it is usually a sign that the nerve tissue is recovering. So nothing to really worry about!

Consult your surgeon if the pain lasts longer, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as redness, swelling, or fever, as this may indicate complications.
These typical breast reduction pain symptoms normally disappear after a few months. Fortunately, most women do not experience this pain.

After your breast reduction, you want to wear a bra that you really like, we understand that all too well at Wellness Kliniek! Until 6 weeks after treatment, you will wear a special compression bra (kind of sports bra), which you can then change for new lingerie. The bra after breast reduction has no underwire and is made of soft, breathable material to prevent irritation. It is important to wear this supportive bra continuously, both day and night, for several weeks after surgery, unless your surgeon advises otherwise. This special breast reduction bra is available at Wellness Kliniek.

It is best not to shower in the first few days after a breast reduction, because the wounds and the bandage need to stay dry in any case. The bandage will be tight. You can, however, ask a family member or friend to help you wash. In doing so, avoid the area around the scars and gently pat the area around the breasts dry.

Generally, you will see the final result of a breast reduction after 18 months. The scars will have faded by then. Fortunately, you can also enjoy the results of the procedure much earlier! After about 6 weeks you will be almost healed and you will already see results. However, the breasts may still be a little high and tight, and they will sag a little more and assume a more natural shape later on.

Keep in mind that gaining or losing weight, or hormonal changes (such as medication use or pregnancy) can affect the result of the breast reduction.

Breast reduction scars cannot be avoided, but they will fortunately fade within 18 months. Depending on the exact procedure, (parts of) the scars fall away under the folds of your breasts and around the areola. These will then be little to no visible after some time. Usually, a scar also runs from the areola to the fold under your breasts. This vertical scar will also replace, but it will remain slightly visible in many cases.

To what extent the scar will eventually remain visible also depends on your body's ability to recover. It is also important that you follow the aftercare rules for wound care carefully. You will receive them from your doctor.

Using scar cream after breast reduction surgery can help soften and reduce the visibility of scars. It is usually advised to wait until the wounds have fully healed and the stitches have dissolved. Always consult your surgeon before you start using scar cream to make sure it is safe and to get specific recommendations on which products are best for your skin. Sometimes the surgeon recommends not using scar cream after breast reduction and massaging your scars every day. At Wellness Kliniek, every woman gets personal advice from her plastic surgeon on this.

Breast reduction liposuction is an alternative way to remove fat in the breasts. For example, it is a good technique for man boobs. However, for women, it does not give the desired effect in most cases, as it is only minimal. Also, the breasts cannot be lifted that way. Would you like a mini breast reduction and are curious about the options? Discuss your wishes with your doctor during a no-obligation consultation and receive personalised advice based on your bosom.

Mastectomy is a surgical procedure in which one or more breasts are partially or completely removed. This includes the mammary gland and nipple, and often also the lymph nodes. It is often performed in hospital as treatment (or risk prevention) for breast cancer.

Transsexuals, specifically trans men (people who were born female in appearance but identify as male), may choose to undergo breast reduction as part of their transition to have their breasts made smaller or removed completely, which is known as a mastectomy or top surgery.

The plastic surgeons at Wellness Kliniek specialise in aesthetic breast surgery for men and women and help trans men achieve a more masculine breast profile that better matches their gender identity, to feel more comfortable in your own body.

Breast removal can significantly help reduce gender dysphoria, which is the feeling of discomfort that arises when someone's body does not match their inner sense of gender.