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Kliniken

Breast reduction surgery in Harrogate

If your back hurts by the time you eat lunch, if your bra strap digs into your shoulder, if you quit running because it was causing more pain than it provided benefit, you already understand why you're here.

Breast reduction surgery removes excess breast tissue, fat and skin and reshapes what remains so that your breasts rest at a lower weight and sit closer to the top of your body. For most of the women who visit Kliniken for breast reduction, their primary concern is relief. While how things look is important, it typically isn't the main reason you make the call to schedule an appointment.

  • Procedure time: 2 to 2.5 hours
  • From: £9030
  • Anaesthetic: General
  • Time off work: Around 3 to 4 weeks
  • Cleared for exercise: After 6 weeks
  • Day case: Home the same day
  • Back to showering: After 48 hours
  • Final Result: 3-6 months
Book your consultation
Call us at 01423 206388
British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons
Consortium of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Clinic Owners
European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery
General Medical Council registered
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
KLINIKEN - In Harrogate, Yorkshire, UK place picture
KLINIKEN - In Harrogate, Yorkshire, UK
4.9

Same day discharge

Home the same day

Multiple locations

Harrogate (consultation + surgery) + Huddersfield (consultation)

✦ Overview

What breast reduction surgery entails?

Reduction mammoplasty or breast reduction is a surgical procedure that creates smaller, less heavy breasts. A portion of your breast’s excess tissue, fat and skin are removed. Your nipple moves up and rests where it would naturally sit atop your new, smaller breast. The remaining tissue is reshaped so the results stay in place and don’t droop after a year.

It is not liposuction. Liposuction removes fat but doesn’t remove loose skin underneath it. As such, liposuction alone can provide little to no improvement to breasts which are primarily large and heavy versus just being fatty.

Something worth keeping in mind initially: A reduction, both lifts and reduces. In most cases you won’t need to perform a lift separately from your reduction.

breast reduction surgery in harrogate

Is breast reduction right for you?

The majority of women that visit Kliniken meet the below criteria and you can check if you experience the following too:

  • Do you experience pain in your back, neck or shoulders almost every day? Has anything relieved this discomfort?
  • Due to the pressure from bra straps do they cause impressions in your shoulders that remain even when you take the bra off?
  • Have you experienced rashes or soreness in the area under your breasts?
  • Has your posture changed and now you find yourself leaning forward without meaning to?
  • Does exercise hurt or become too uncomfortable to continue so you quit doing it altogether?
  • Does nothing fit? Are tops gaping open? Do dresses not close? Does bra shopping fill you with dread?
  • Are one of your breasts significantly larger than the other?
  • Are you fed up with the attention?

You don’t need to check off all of the above. The fact that something has been shaping your life quietly for years may be enough to want to speak with us about the possibilities of having a breast reduction.

What we look for

  • We treat women over the age of 18 whose breasts have completed development.
  • A relatively stable weight is also important as a loss of one pound could impact the final outcome.
  • As smoking reduces blood flow to your healing skin and nipple area through narrowing blood vessels, quitting atleast 6 weeks before surgery is much more important than most patients think.

When waiting makes sense
Pregnancy causes significant changes to breasts. Therefore, if additional children are planned, it’s generally best to wait. Your surgeon will advise you accordingly as opposed to encouraging you to set a surgical date.

What size will you actually be?
Everyone wants to know what their new size will be, however very few get an accurate answer. This is the truth.
Surgeons don’t plan cup sizes. They plan in grams.

Cup size is a poor measurement system. The “D” in brand X isn’t the same as the “D” in brand Y. Your band size also determines how your letter affects your measurements. It is quite easy to see two women wearing a 34 dd and having entirely different amounts of breast tissue. There are many websites offering reduction charts. Use them with caution. Our surgeons actually look at your chest width, how much tissue do you have, quality of skin and where does your nipple currently sit.

What really determines your limits?

Your nipple gets its blood supply from the breast tissue beneath it. If you take away too much breast tissue, there's nothing left to give the nipple blood. That is your limit and it sits in different places on every woman.

Is larger drops possible?

Larger drops are possible. After a certain point, your surgeon may need to detach the nipple and graft it back onto the new breasts, which takes care of the blood supply problem but removes sensation & ability to nurse. Many women weigh those things up and say yes, others say no.

What about breast shape?

No one mentions shape either. Big breasts are usually wide breasts. Reduce a wide breast too far and it loses its projection & reads flat rather than small. Smaller isn't always better.

Realistic numbers

2-3 cup sizes

A drop of 2-3 cup sizes are typical amount for women.

The BMI Catch

Who gets to decide

The NHS offers a way for breast reduction.

The question is will you be able to get it?

Not by your GP or your surgeon. It will be your local Integrated Care Board (ICB) who makes that decision. Most ICBs require the patient’s BMI to be less than 27 and remain at this level for one year. This is difficult for many women with larger breasts. This is the main reason why women are denied access to the service.

Are you considering private options?

You do not need to present us with proof of any of these things. All we want to know about is what is causing you the most discomfort and what changes you wish to make.

Book your consultation now
✦ What are the different types of thigh lift

Types of breast reduction

The choice of surgical technique depends upon the amount that will be removed and the distance that the nipple will need to migrate. The decision as to which technique should be used is made by our surgeons based on your case.

Liposuction

Liposuction

Liposuction is when all of the fat from the breast is removed through suction but leaves the skin where it is. It only works if the majority of your breast tissue is fat and you have truly elastic skin that can retract after the liposuction procedure. Unfortunately, this is an uncommon scenario. In general, removing excess weight from a woman's breasts does not result in less skin, therefore the same skin envelope hangs from the original location.

Vertical (or "lollipop") technique

Vertical (or "lollipop") technique

There is one incision around the areola and another straight down to the fold. This method is suitable for smaller to moderate sized reductions. There is less scarring than the anchor technique since the surgeon doesn't make a second incision along the breast fold.

Anchor (or "Wise Pattern") technique

Anchor (or "Wise Pattern") technique

There are three incisions. One around the areola, one down to the fold and one along the fold. This method creates more scarring than the vertical method. However, the anchor technique provides greater flexibility and precision regarding the shape of the breast post op. Therefore, this is typically the preferred method for larger reductions and is referred to as the Wise Pattern Reduction Mammoplasty too.

Free Nipple Graft

Free Nipple Graft

When performing an extremely large reduction of the breasts, the nipple may lose its blood supply when moved.Our surgeon removes the nipple, reduces the breast mass and then grafts the nipple back onto the newly shaped breast. However, this process removes sensation from the nipple and prevents nursing.

✦ How does the reduction work?

Your procedure, step by step

Before the day

In an hour long consultation with our surgeon they determine what is best for you, to discuss the procedure and to ensure that you are comfortable with it. Once you agree, our surgeon gives you at least 2 weeks to book your appointment.

Surgery Day

2-2.5 hours of general anaesthesia. The excess tissue is removed by your surgeon, the nipple is lifted and then closed. Sometimes, a small drain is placed for the first couple of days after the surgery.

Post surgery

The nipple dressings remain in place so that there is no disturbance to the blood flow. A medical grade compression bra should be worn immediately post surgery as this will provide some additional support and help shape the new breast.

Discharge

Most patients will be discharged from our clinic the same day as their surgery. If your surgeon believes you would benefit from spending a night in the clinic, they will let you know prior to discharge.

✦ Are the scars after breast reduction surgery for life?

Honest fact about the scars

Every breast reduction has scarring. If any clinic downplays this information, they are not being straight with you.


Where do your scars go

Breast reduction surgery will leave you with scars in the following locations:

  • Around the areola (the circular area surrounding the nipple)
  • From the bottom of the areola down to the breast fold
  • Along the breast fold (in cases of anchor incisions)

These areas typically are covered by a bra or swimsuit. They were designed to do so, but we are sure many people would call it good fortune! 😜


What would they look like over time

When you initially look at these scars, they appear red, swollen and very noticeable. This is the reason most people worry about scarring. It is also the area of scarring that tends to change the most.

Over time, these redness and swelling will decrease and the appearance of the scarring will begin to soften. The colour will drain out slowly and at approximately one year post op, breast reduction scarring should be pale, flat and hardly noticeable. By eighteen months post op, the scarring should be as close to final appearance as possible.

Breast reduction scarring does not completely disappear. As mentioned earlier, the best case scenario is pale, flat and nearly invisible.

What actually changes the outcome

Genetics play a much larger role in how well you scar after surgery than almost any other factor. Most people who have had previous surgeries or cuts know whether their body tends to form thickened or keloid type scars. These same individuals will tend to produce similar results in terms of breast reduction scarring. Not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight during your recovery process all help minimize poor scarring. Keeping your wounds clean and protected from sunlight and performing any recommended scar treatment as directed will also contribute to minimizing poor scarring outcomes.

What we do about it

The incisions are planned by our surgeon in a way that minimizes the size of the resulting scar while still allowing you to have the desired overall look. There is always a trade off here as the two competing elements are your appearance and how well your skin heals. This decision is always made with your input and not just based on a choice of our surgeon.

After surgery, you will receive instruction from our surgical team regarding wound and scar management. The most common treatment used is silicone. It has been shown that the timing of this treatment makes a difference in whether it is effective or not.

If yours heal badly

Some do. Thickened or stretched scars can be treated. Tell your team early rather than waiting to see if it settles on its own.

✦ How do i recover after a breast reduction surgery

Recovering week by week

First 48 hours

You're sore but you don't hurt as much. The majority of women say they feel a lot of pressure or tightness but little to no pain. No shower for first 48 hours. Wear a compression bra.

Week one

At home resting, moving around the house. Do not lie flat. Do little. Sleep on your back. Use propping to help. You will be much more tired than expected. That is the anaesthetic and healing. It passes.

Week two

Swelling is still there. Breasts will look larger and firmer than the final result. Normal.

Weeks three & four

Back to desk work for the majority of women. That is where recovery lands for reduction. Not two weeks. Still no heavy lifting. Still no gym.

Six weeks & beyond

You are cleared for exercise once your surgeon says so, not before. The compression bra comes off on your team's timeline.

Three to six months

Finally gone. Swelling. Breasts settle into their real size and shape. Now buy bras. Get properly fitted.

✦ Right after breast reduction

What actually changes

  1. Weight
    Women tend to be able to tell this in the shortest of time frames, often just days after surgery. They also tell us that they feel lighter and not from their scale readings, but somehow in general. Weight loss is probably what you notice most quickly after surgery.
  2. Back & shoulders
    The most commonly cited reason is the decrease in the constant ache in their backs and shoulders caused by having heavy breasts hanging down. If there are other causes for your back and shoulder problems then you will still experience some of that after breast reduction surgery. Our doctor will tell you that before you go through with surgery
  3. Posture
    You don’t lean forward anymore. Many women mention being aware of this change on their own. Most others are told by someone else first.
  4. Grooves and rashes
    Once there is nothing pressing into them, the indentations left by your bra straps fade. The soreness in the fold underneath usually settles for good because the skin is no longer trapped against skin.
  5. Clothing
    Tops that button. Dresses that fit around your torso rather than over your bust. Shopping for bras without looking for anything that fits.
  6. Exercising
    Holding onto yourself while running stops. Whatever exercises you used to avoid doing, you’ll be able to do again.

How long it lasts

Your breasts will never regrow to their original size. They may become larger if you gain significant amounts of weight or get pregnant which is why we ask about both when you schedule an appointment.

Being honest about the timeline

You'll be able to see a difference right away. However, you won't be able to notice your final results for 3 to 6 months. It takes that long for swelling to fully dissipate from your body so what you judge at week 2 is not the same as the shape you are keeping.

✦ What if you have loose skin in other places apart from your breast too?

Combining breast reduction with other surgeries

Many patients experience changes in their body due to either childbirth or significant weight loss. In those cases, performing multiple surgeries in one setting allows you to address several issues simultaneously. This means you will only require one post op recovery period. Your surgeon decides what is safe to combine. Theatre time and anaesthetic time both have limits and neither is worth pushing to save you an appointment.

Tummy tuck

Tummy tuck

Mostly after children or weight loss when saggy breast tissue & loose abdominal skin usually appear at the same time.

View procedure
Liposuction

Liposuction

Excess breast tissue is removed but not fat in other areas. The liposuction will address the rolls underneath your arm pits, sides & back.

View procedure
Arm lift or Thigh lift

Arm lift or Thigh lift

Had a large amount of weight loss and see changes elsewhere too? Consider bringing that up with your surgeon during your consultation.

View procedure
Breast Uplift

Breast Uplift

Since an uplift also lifts as it reduces, we don’t do them very often.

View procedure

How much does breast reduction surgery
in Harrogate cost?

This is a single, fixed price agreed at consultation.
Payment plans are available through Chrysalis Finance, subject to status.

Your fee covers everything from your first consultation through to your final follow-up appointment.

  • Surgeon’s fee
  • Anaesthetist’s fee
  • Theatre and facility fees
  • Pre operative consultation and assessment
  • Post operative follow up appointments
  • Surgical support/compression garment

No hidden costs. The price you’re quoted is the price you pay.

ProcedurePricing
Consultation with a consultant plastic surgeon£200
Breast reduction surgery£9030
✦ Related procedures we offer

Scroll through other breast and body procedures at Kliniken

We are present in these locations. Visit us anywhere.

Performed here

Kliniken Harrogate

Full surgical facility

Local, sedation & general anaesthetic

Your procedure is performed at our Harrogate surgical facility with consultant-led care throughout.

Not at this location

Kliniken Cleckheaton

Minor procedures

Local anaesthetic only

Cleckheaton supports selected local anaesthetic procedures close to home.

Consultations only

Aesthetika, North Anston

Consultation clinic

Consultations only

North Anston is available for consultation appointments before treatment at the appropriate surgical location.

Opening soon

Kliniken Worcester

Opening soon

Local anaesthetic only

Worcester is opening soon and will be updated by procedure once services are confirmed.

✦ Want to see our results

Request private case studies

At Kliniken Harrogate, patient confidentiality is taken seriously. As a consultant led private clinic, we do not publish surgical case studies publicly.

However, if you would like to review before and afters of previous treated patients, we can share relevant case information privately upon request.

To maintain discretion, case studies are provided directly on enquiry.

Request case studies
✦ Who is my surgeon for breast reduction in Harrogate?

Meet your surgeons at Kliniken

Your breast reduction at Kliniken is performed by Mr Chris Munson and Mr Andrew Kilshaw, both consultant plastic surgeons with subspecialist training in body contouring and aesthetic surgery.

Mr Andrew Kilshaw

Consultant Plastic Surgeon — MBBS, MRCS, FRCS (Plast).
GMC: 7130911

Specialist in aesthetic body contouring including liposuction and combined contouring procedures.

  • Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Leeds General Infirmary (2024)
  • Dual-trained in plastic and oncoplastic breast surgery
  • TIG Oncoplastic Breast Surgery Fellowship (2023-2024)
  • Breast Microsurgery Fellowship, Leeds Teaching Hospitals (2022-2023)
  • BAAPS mentorship in breast enhancement and body contouring
  • Member of BAPRAS, BAAPS and the Association of Breast Surgery
  • Published author on breast surgery and international conference speaker
Mr Andrew Kilshaw, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Kliniken
Mr Chris Munson, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Kliniken

Mr Chris Munson

Consultant Plastic Surgeon — MBBS, MRCS, FRCS (Plast).
GMC: 7049201

Specialist in body contouring including liposuction, tummy tuck, arm lift, thigh lift & mommy makeover surgery.

  • Consultant Plastic Surgeon, Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (2022)
  • Fellowship at the Canniesburn Plastic Surgery Unit, Glasgow
    Dual-fellowship trained in breast cancer surgery and reconstruction
  • Runs a specialist surgery service at Leeds with referrals from across the North of England
  • Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of Leeds Medical School
  • Exam writer for the Royal College of Surgeons
  • Runs a specialist plastic surgery course for junior doctors

One of these two surgeons will handle
your breast reduction surgery and all follow up care.

We do not rotate staff, we do not have junior surgeons take over for senior surgeons after they operate on patients and our consultation teams are always made up of the same surgical team that does the actual work. Therefore the surgeon you see during consultation will be the same one performing surgery on you.

Book your consultation now
✦ They came for the procedure, but stayed for our service

Patient experiences at Kliniken

"I had a lipoma near my knee removed, the consultant was so reassuring throughout the whole experience and the aftercare with himself and the nurse was faultless."

Marion Harbron

Minor Surgery

"Called to minor skin surgery and was impressed how easy it was to get an appointment arranged to get surgery carried out."

George kennedy

Minor Surgery

"I recently had a minor surgical procedure with Mr Kilshaw and I am absolutely elated with the results."

Winona W

Minor Surgery

✦ Frequently asked questions

FAQs on breast reduction surgery in Harrogate

We charge £9030 per procedure. This price includes theatre costs and is based on a single, fixed price agreed prior to undergoing surgery. We also offer payment options via Chrysalis Finance.

The majority of patients see a loss of 2 to 3 cup sizes. However, surgeons plan the removal of breast tissue in terms of gram measurements and not letters. Additionally, due to variations in the blood supply to each patient's nipples, no reputable clinic can provide a guaranteed decrease in cup size.

Occasionally. Funding decisions regarding breast reductions are made locally and criteria may differ from area to area. Some ICB's do not provide funding for this type of surgery. Commonly required criteria include:
a) Symptoms lasting for a period of 12 months
b) Maintaining a BMI below 27 for a period of at least 1 year
c) Sufficient volume of breast tissue to remove.
Rejection is common and often relates more to funding parameters rather than severity of symptoms.

Yes. Scars exist in areas that hide underneath bras and swimsuits. There are typically scars around the areola and down the crease, although sometimes additional scarring exists when using an anchor technique. These scars gradually become less noticeable as time passes, however they never fully disappear.

Most women return to working at their desks within 3 to 4 weeks post surgery. Patients should refrain from engaging in strenuous physical activities and lifting heavy objects until cleared by their surgeon which is usually in 6 weeks. Final results are visible after approximately 3 to 6 months once swelling has dissipated.

Depending on the surgical technique used and the degree of tissue that is being removed, breastfeeding may be possible. When the nipple requires relocation via skin grafting, breastfeeding is not feasible. If future pregnancies are a consideration, delaying surgery is generally recommended and your surgeon will advise accordingly.

Generally, no. In conjunction with reducing the breast volume, a breast reduction surgery also provides a degree of lifting. Therefore, unless further lifting is desired, a separate lift procedure is not necessary.

Breasts do not naturally regrow. However, significant weight fluctuations or subsequent pregnancies may alter the appearance of the breasts, which is why a pre operative weight stability requirement exists.

Yes. Patients undergo surgery under general anaesthesia. Surgery can last anywhere from 2 to 2.5 hours and most patients go home the same day. However, occasional instances arise where patients benefit from an overnight hospital stay.

Yes. It is common for patients to electively undergo multiple procedures simultaneously including tummy tucks. Your surgeon determines what is safe to perform during one operative session.

No. General anaesthesia is required for breast reduction surgery and therefore, this service is provided exclusively at our Harrogate location.

Have a query that is not listed above?

We have tried to answer most queries that you might have for breast reduction in Harrogate.
In case we missed any, please do WhatsApp us and our experts will get back to you immediately.

Whatsapp your query here
✦ Knowledge Centre

Related reading on breast reduction in Harrogate

Book your consultation for breast reduction in Harrogate

An hour with our surgeon. Not a salesperson, not a coordinator.

You will be examined, measured & told what is realistic for your body.
If a reduction is not right for you, you will hear that too.

Then you go home & think about it. We give everyone at least two weeks.
Nobody is booked on the day they walk in.

Book your consultation
Call us at 01423 206388

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