MEDICAL PROCEDURES
Capsulectomy​
Capsule formation following a breast implant is a part of the natural healing process but in some cases, it could be the cause of unsightly scarring or disabling pain.
Capsulectomy to remove the scar tissue around an implant can relieve the pain/unsightly scar and can be performed as the only procedure or in combination with an exchange of a new breast implant.
The procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic, mostly as a day case/overnight stay procedure and takes about two hours for both sides. Your incision will be closed with an absorbable stitch.
You shall be able to drive after a week or two following the operation and majority recover back to normal within 6-8 weeks. You shall expect some pain, bruising which could be helped by a supportive, sports bra.
Majority of patients do not experience any complications, but potential risks are: Bleeding, infection, extreme pain, breast asymmetry, poor scar, unable to breastfeed and loss of sensation in nipple.
Breast Reduction
Breast reduction surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic and takes about 2.5- 3 hours and you shall expect to be in hospital for 1 or 2 nights.
Mostly, the operation involves moving your nipple to its new higher position – usually while it's still attached to the blood supply, removing excess fat, glandular tissue and skin from your breasts and reshaping the remaining breast tissue. You shall expect to have scars around your nipple and a vertical scar and over infra-mammary crease (a horizontal scar across the crease). In majority, scars fade over the time and should be invisible under normal clothes, bras and bikini tops.
You'll have dressings on your breasts and drains (plastic tubes) may be attached to them to drain blood away. You will be advised to wear a supportive, sports bra to help with pain and bruise.
It's likely your breasts will be swollen and may feel tender and lumpy after surgery. The swelling may last for around 3 months.
You are likely to require minimum of 2 weeks off work, and may need help with housework, childcare and shopping.
It can take 2 to 6 weeks to fully recover from breast reduction surgery but may take longer in case of any complications.
You will be advised not to drive until it's no longer painful to wear a seatbelt.
Majority of patients recover without any complications but common, potential risks are following: excessive bleeding, infection, delayed wound healing especially T-juntions, poor/ thick obvious scarring, unevenly shaped breasts or nipples, loss of nipple sensation, unable to breastfeed, lumpy breasts, excess skin left around the scars.
Breast Augmentation
Also known as Breast enlargement or a "boob job"
During the operation, implants are inserted into your breasts to increase their size, change their shape, or make them more even.
Silicone implants are the most common type used in the UK. They're less likely to wrinkle and feel more natural.
Breast implants do not last a lifetime. It's likely they'll need to be replaced at some point. Some women may need further surgery after about 10 years, either because of problems with the implants or because their breasts have changed around the implants.
Surgery requires a general anaesthesia and last about 60-90 minutes.
It is generally performed as a day case procedure/overnight stay. The operation involves a cut (incision) in the skin next to or below the breast.
Early complications are pain, bleeding, infection, poor scar, breast asymmetry and late complications include capsular contracture causing pain, implant leak, ALCL (extremely rare).
Breast implant related ALCL (Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma) is a rare and highly treatable type of lymphoma that can develop around breast implants. This is a cancer of the immune system, not a type of breast cancer. The current lifetime risk of BIA-ALCL is estimated to be 1:2,207-1:86,029 for women with textured implants based upon current confirmed cases and textured implant sales data over the past two decades. When caught early, BIA-ALCL is usually curable.
Gynaecomastia (Male Breast) Excision
Breast reduction surgery is an option for men with gynaecomastia. It may also be used to tighten the breast area after significant weight loss that has caused the skin to sag.
Surgery is carried out under general anaesthetic and takes about 1 hour and it can be performed as a day case procedure/overnight stay.
Recovery takes about 6 weeks in total.
Complications include pain, infection, bleeding, breast asymmetry, loss of nipple sensation, loss of nipple and poor scar.
One Stop Breast Clinic
One Stop Breast Clinic provides you with fast track diagnostic investigations if you think you may have developed recent symptoms of breast cancer as following:
A worrisome breast lump
Breast asymmetry
Nipple retraction
Nipple discharge
Breast pain
Skin changes
The ‘One Stop Breast Clinic’ involves a triple assessment offering a thorough and accurate breast cancer diagnosis. The entire process can take about an hour and most of diagnostic assessments and tests completed in the one visit.
Fast appointments and results, no need for a GP referral.
Access to highly experienced and validated consultant breast surgeon
