Cosmetic Breast Surgery
Any type of Breast surgery requires a high level of skill and experience. Breast surgeries are popular procedures and Dr Briggs has helped many women achieve their desired results.
Dr Briggs is a Specialist Plastic Surgeon has over 20 years experience. He takes an individualized approach to each patient.
Breast Plastic Surgery in Melbourne, Victoria
Do you have underdeveloped breasts?
Do you wish to alter the appearance of your breasts following pregnancy or significant weight fluctuations?
Or, do you have overly large breasts that hinder your daily activities?
What is Breast Surgery?
Breast surgery is a type of surgical procedure that involves altering the size, shape, or position of the breasts, correct breast deformities, or reconstructing your breasts after surgical removal.
The type of breast surgery that your breast surgeon will perform will depend on your condition, body type, and aesthetic goals.
Dr Briggs performs the following breast surgeries;
Am I a Suitable Candidate for Breast Surgery?
To ensure you receive the best breast surgery results, your breast surgeon will assess your condition, health history, amount of breast tissue and lifestyle, as well as your cosmetic goals during your consultation.
Breast surgery is a broad term that encompasses different procedures such as breast augmentation, breast lift (mastopexy), breast reduction, and breast reconstruction. The suitable candidates for each of these procedures vary depending on the specific surgery being considered.
Breast Augmentation, good candidates are women who desire to increase the size and/or alter the shape of their breasts, have realistic expectations, and are in good overall health.
Mastopexy/Breast Lift surgery, suitable candidates are women who have lost breast volume due to ageing, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or weight fluctuations and are in good overall health.
Breast Reduction/Mammoplasty, suitable candidates are women who experience discomfort, pain, or health problems due to large breasts, have realistic expectations, and are in good overall health.
For breast reconstruction, candidates are women who have undergone mastectomy or lumpectomy as part of breast cancer treatment or have a congenital breast deformity.
It is important to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon to determine if breast surgery is appropriate and which specific procedure would best address the patient’s needs and goals.
What are the Potential Outcomes of Breast Surgery
If performed by a trained, experienced surgeon, generally breast surgery can offer the following benefits (depending on the breast surgery):
- Breast contour that is in proportion with the rest of your body
- Altered body posture
- Altered body proportions
- Altered breast appearance
- Lower risk of skin irritation, infection, and other physical discomforts
Breast Surgery Before and After Photos
Due to the recent updates in guidelines by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), our website is currently undergoing substantial revisions. As a result, we have had to remove the majority of our Before and After photos to comply with these new regulations. Our utmost priority is to maintain the accuracy and compliance of our content, and we are actively working to reintroduce a more extensive collection of before and after photos in the near future. You can view additional Before and After photos of Dr Briggs’ patients, during an in-person consultation at our clinic.
See more real patient before and after photos performed in Melbourne by Specialist Plastic Surgeon Dr Patrick Briggs.
Photo Disclaimer
The photos on this website and in our office are for informational purposes. The images demonstrate the potential outcomes of procedures. Individual results will vary, and effects cannot be guaranteed. The photos do not promise or guarantee specific results. They are meant to help visualise potential outcomes.
Each patient is unique, and many factors affect surgical results.
In consultations, Dr. Briggs evaluates each patient and discusses realistic expectations.
What are the Most Popular Breast Surgery Procedures
The following are the well-known breast procedures:
- Breast augmentation
- This surgical procedure makes use of breast implants to enlarge your breasts.
- Breast lift (Mastopexy)
- This procedure involves reshaping and lifting your breast by removing excess skin and fat.
- Breast reduction
- This procedure involves the removal of excess fat, skin, and breast tissue and may alter breast contour
- Breast implant revision surgery
- The surgery is done to replace your old, ageing implants.
- Breast implant removal
- This surgical procedure may correct complications of your primary breast augmentation.
- Inverted Nipple Correction
- This procedure may reshape your areola and nipple so that the nipple comes out from your breast.
Recovery after Breast Surgery
It is important to keep in mind that the recovery time of breast surgery may vary from patient to patient. Some patients may require shorter downtime while others will take longer to recover.
The length of your recovery will greatly depend on several factors such as; the extent and type of your surgery, your healing ability, your body type, and your treatment goals.
Immediately after your surgery, you may experience soreness, bruising, and pain on your surgical site. These discomforts can be alleviated by taking pain relievers and anti-inflammatories. Cold-compresses may also help. To support your healing breasts, you may need to wear a support bra or compression garments. In addition, you will be advised to prevent strenuous activities to avoid tension on your suture lines.
Recovery after breast surgery varies from person to person and depends on the specific procedure performed. It is important to follow all post-operative instructions provided by your plastic surgeon, including restrictions on physical activity, medication usage, and wound care. Swelling, bruising, and discomfort are common in the first few days after surgery, and it may take several weeks to fully recover. It is important to attend all follow-up appointments with your surgeon to ensure proper healing and address any concerns or complications that may arise. Be sure to discuss your specific recovery plan with your surgeon before the procedure.
What are the Risks of a Breast Procedure?
The following are some of the general risks associated with Breast Surgeries;
- Allergic reactions to anesthesia such as skin rashes and difficulty breathing
- Capsular contracture
- Changes in skin sensation
- Delayed wound healing
- Hematoma
- Hemorrhage
- Implant leakage or rupture
- Increasing pain at the surgical site
- Numbness in one or both breasts
- Possibility of revision surgery
- Pus draining from your wound
- Rippling of the implant
- Seroma
- Severe swelling
- Skin discolouration
- Skin loss
- Sutures that protrude through the skin
- Unwanted scarring
- Wound dehiscence
- Wrong or faulty position of the implant
Minimizing Scars after Breast Surgery
It is important to remember that all surgical procedures leave scars, including ‘so-called’ scarless methods.
Experienced plastic surgeons are extremely careful about scar placement and minimization, with surgical scars generally fading over time with most scars being barely visible after 12 months.
We will arrange post-op appointments with our specialist nursing team after your procedure to ensure everything is healing well and to monitor your progress.
You will see your surgeon and/or nurse and/or dermal team about six to eight weeks later for a scar consultation and organise scar minimization treatments.
The Coco Ruby dermal team conducts a series of follow-up scar treatments using a customized selection of Skin Needling, Healite II LED and massaging with oils, Fraxel Laser, V-Laser, Silicone strips & gels and Steroids can also help minimize scars.
How much is Breast Surgery? Costs and Prices
Just like recovery time, the costs and prices of breast surgery may also vary. This will greatly depend on several factors such as your surgeon’s fees, anesthesiologist’s fees, hospital fees, type of surgery and anesthetist fee, and your desired breast surgery results.
To get a detailed estimate of the total costs of your procedure, schedule a consultation with a surgeon qualified in the breast surgery you are considering.
Paying for Breast Surgery
Some Breast Surgery procedures may be eligible for Medicare.
Purely cosmetic Breast Surgery procedures are usually NOT covered by Medicare or private health insurance so you must fund the cost of the surgery yourself.
Patients can pay for surgery through various methods. These methods include:
- Payment in full at the time of the procedure using accepted payment methods such as credit cards (such as Visa, Mastercard), buy now, pay-later products (such as Afterpay, Openpay, Zip Pay).
- Non-commercial payment arrangements between the medical practitioner and patient, where the payment is made in instalments.
- Medicare rebates, if the surgery is considered medically necessary. (this will not cover the total cost and patients will still have out of pocket costs).
- Private health insurance, if the patient has an appropriate level of cover. (This is unlikely to cover the total cost and patients may still have out of pocket costs).
How to find a Breast Surgeon in Melbourne
Your surgical results will depend on the surgeon you choose. Since all Breast Surgeries are major procedures, you’ll need a top breast plastic surgeon.
In Australia, a plastic surgeon must have the following qualifications:
- An undergraduate degree in medicine, typically a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree.
- A minimum of two years of general medical training as a junior hospital doctor.
- Completion of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) surgical education and training program, which includes at least five years of accredited surgical training, with at least two years in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
- Fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
Plastic surgeons in Australia must also be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and adhere to the standards and guidelines set forth by the Medical Board of Australia.
You also want to ensure the surgeon you choose has:
- Experience in different types of Breast Surgery.
- Available Patient Before and After Photos.
- Detailed recovery plans
- A support team.
Further reading – Medical References about Breast Surgery
Dr Patrick Briggs Melbourne
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Dr Patrick Briggs FRACS (Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons) is a Specialist Plastic and Cosmetic Surgeon.
Both he and his team are dedicated to patient care and are committed to treating each and every patient with respect and privacy.
Furthermore, he is experienced in Breast, Body and Face Surgery having performed over 4500 Surgeries in private practice.
How can we help?
Dr Briggs’ Patient Coordinators take pleasure in assisting you with any questions when considering a plastic surgery procedure. Please call the Hawthorn East clinic in Melbourne between 8 am – 6 pm on Weekdays.
Phone 1300 599 990, Email us or Book a free 15-minute Call with Dr Patrick Briggs’s team.
What Next?
Want more information about your Procedure?
- For more information about pricing and payment methods, please visit our page on Surgery Payment options.
- Talk to our Patient Care Team from 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday on 1300 599 990.
What to Bring to Your Consultation
- If you like, please bring a friend or relative to help discuss the information and your choices.
- Take a lot of notes and thoroughly examine the documents your surgeon provides.
- You may need to undress so it’s a good idea to wear simple clothes.
How to Book a Consultation
- Dr Briggs’ Consultation fee is $300.
- A referral from your GP or your specialist is essential (as of the 1st July 2023).
- Please contact the Patient Care Team at Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery to book your consultation.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is for educational and informational proposes. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article. The author and publisher of this article make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, or completeness of the content of this article. The information contained in this article is strictly at your own risk.
