The surgery takes between two to four hours to complete and is almost always performed under a general anaesthetic.  Excess breast tissue is removed and the nipple and areola are repositioned.

A one to two night stay is recommended for this procedure.

You may well experience some pain in the first few days. However, this is not usually severe and the area only pulls and hurts when you move around or cough. Mild painkillers are all that is normally required. Occasionally, you can experience random, shooting pains in your breasts for a few months as the nerves responsible for sensation recover.

With the exception of showering, you will need to wear a good sports bra for support around the clock for several weeks until the swelling and bruising go down.

There is a high complication rate with this procedure. Approximately forty individuals out of every hundred will develop some form of problem. However, the vast majority of these are only minor.

There will be permanent scarring where the incisions were made, which may take up to two years to fade and soften. Most, but not all people feel that the trade-off between having small breasts with scars versus large, uncomfortable breasts is well worth it.

Delayed healing frequently occurs and ranges from minor problems needing daily dressing changes for a while, to major issues that require further surgery. People with diabetes, smokers and people who are overweight are at increased risk of this complication. Sometimes, areas of fat and breast tissue form hard lumps and this can take a year or more to settle down.

Reduced nipple sensation is common and the ability for the nipple to go erect may also be affected, although this problem often resolves. Another complication relating to breast reduction surgery is nipple necrosis, with loss of part or the entire nipple, although this complication only occurs in about one out of every hundred people.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure that breasts are symmetrical after surgery, absolute symmetry cannot be guaranteed.

Other risks include bleeding, wound infection, chest infection and blood clots in the leg (known as a deep vein thrombosis), although these risks are uncommon.

The risks will be discussed in detail at your consultation.

There will be bruising and swelling for around the first two weeks but you should be able to return to work and social activities within 5 to 7 days.

You should avoid strenuous activity which would push your heart rate to over 100 beats per minute for the first two to three weeks. Activity at this level will increase your blood pressure and could make you bleed. You should also avoid excessive, exaggerated movements with your arms.

Contrary to popular belief, women with large breasts can experience difficulty with breast feeding. Breast reduction surgery can make it even more difficult, as the operation involves removing some of the milk ducts that lead to the nipple area. It is estimated that only fifteen ladies out of every hundred will be able to breast feed following this operation. If breast feeding is important to you, you are advised to avoid surgery until your family is complete.

The availability of breast reduction surgery on the NHS varies; some parts of the country do not fund breast reduction surgery at all.  Other areas will fund the surgery depending upon on the severity of your symptoms. Your General Practitioner will be able to advise you.