Heavy breasts may be a most disabling condition for a woman to have. Her anxieties are often internalised and not discussed and this affects her modis operandi.

Symptoms may include breast pain, shoulder and neck pain or infection below the breasts in the skin creases. All the above are improved significantly with a breast reduction. At the time of the operation the breast contents and skin envelope are reshaped to give a more aesthetic appearance.

Breast reduction techniques vary and need to be discussed with Mr Barnett prior to surgery to achieve the best result for you.

View Photogallery of Patient Images - Breast Reduction Mamoplasty

A mastopexy results from the skin envelope being too big and elongated for the breast contents.  The nipple drop below the shoulders is excessive giving an unsatisfactory appearance.  Mastopexy or breast uplift is performed by reducing the skin envelope using one of a number of techniques. This may be combined with rearranging of the breast tissue enclosed or in some circumstances adding breast implants to enhance the contour and outcome.

Breast reconstruction is now a common surgical procedure performed either at the time of mastectomy or as a delayed procedure following treatment for breast cancer.

Psychologically this is an enormous boost to the patient as it removes the feeling of devastation sometimes associated with mastectomy.

Breast reconstruction may be performed following lumpectomy or more commonly following mastectomy. If post-operative radiotherapy is indicated delayed breast reconstruction is more appropriate.

Mr Barnett's preferred method of reconstruction is to use autologous tissue (patients own tissue excess) for reconstruction. This may involve taking lower abdominal tissue or excess back tissue to reconstruct the breasts.
(See the additional information about Natural Tissue Breast Reconstruction Surgery).

Other techniques used for breast reconstruction include tissue expansion using conventional techniques or the Becker expander – prosthesis.

In some patients breast prostheses may be inserted at the time of mastectomy.

View Photogallery of Patient Images - Breast Reconstruction

Tissue expansion is a procedure whereby body tissues are expanded or stretched by the insertion of a tissue expander or balloon below the skin. The volume of the expander is increased weekly over a three month period stretching the tissue to twice or three times its original volume.

Tissue expansion is commonly used in breast reconstruction and we use this technique from time to time with Becker expanders – prostheses. These adjustable expander prostheses are initially over inflated and then maintained in that status for two to three months and then deflated by a small volume in order to get a more natural appearance.

Similarly tissue expansion may be used all over the body to stretch adjacent tissues to provide sufficient tissue to replace adjacent skin. This may result following a birth mark or other damage such as a burn.

View Photogallery of Patient Images - Breast Tissue Expansion

Gynaecomastia

Gynaecomastia may be a psychological embarrassment for some males. They feel unable to show their body whether it be in close fitting clothing or when naked. This restricts their ability to carry our physical activities including gym and swimming.

The most common procedure is to reduce the breasts using liposuction alone however on occasions excision of breast tissue and/or skin reduction is required.