You can review photographs of examples of breast reduction (before and afters) performed by Mr Turton in advance of your consultation. Mr Turton has an extensive gallery of example photos on his instagram business page (look for “turtonphilip”). Mr Turton will make a detailed assessment of your breasts at the consultation.
Once you have confirmed that you would like to have a consultation, you will be booked to see Mr Turton in the out-patient clinic for the assessment. You are welcome to bring a friend or family member with you to the consultation. Although this is not compulsory, most patients find this helpful. Your surgeon will ask you lots of questions about your reasons for wanting surgery, about any family history of breast cancer, any previous breast problems, about previous surgery, medication or other pills you may take and allergies. We also need to know about smoking, hobbies, work and whether you have had children or intend to have any more. Your current weight and height will be recorded and it is helpful to now if you are at your usual weight or intend to lose weight as this may affect results. If you have any past surgical history, and past medical problems at all, any hospital admissions, anything for which you are currently being treated for by your GP it is very important that it is fully disclosed. Please also disclose if you are on any treatment for anxiety or depression. This is not a barrier to having surgery but it is important that we are aware of it.
We make a detailed assessment of your breasts at the consultation. There are several different methods of performing a breast reduction. The commonest method results in an upside down “T” type scar with a circular scar around the nipple-areola structure. Other methods may involve just a circular scar around the nipple-areola structure with or without a vertical scar from the areola to the crease under the breast. The reduction may be more limited with less scope to remove redundant skin and less reshaping with some techniques- your surgeon will discuss which method is most suitable for you and the possible advantages/disadvantages.
If you would like the removed tissue to be analysed by a pathologist we recommend removing the tissue as a whole piece wherever possible and this will be discussed as well. This will provide much more useful information if an abnormality is found as to where it was, and if it is clear of the margins.
If you wish you may also discuss breast surgery with our breast care nurse. You will have the opportunity to fully discuss the operation, its effects and the recovery and decide if you really want the operation.
After examination of your breasts a preoperative mammogram may be advised depending on your age and other risk factors that your surgeon will discuss with you. A private mammogram usually costs approximately £185 (this is the approximate hospital price at Spire Leeds and the Leeds Nuffield Hospital as of 2024- please note additional tests, such as breast ultrasound or biopsies, if required would cost more). It should be considered if you are over 40 and have not had one in the preceding 12-months. It should be considered if you have a family history of breast cancer in first or second degree relatives. Please discuss this with your surgeon or see if your GP will refer you for one via the NHS before you have your appointment.
Mr Turton will discuss the approximate amount of breast tissue that should be removed and an estimated reduction in bra size might be given, though is an inaccurate methodology. It is not possible to guarantee the final cup size as we cannot measure this during surgery and it is very variable when you go for subsequent bra fittings (there is no universal bra size technique that all bra manufacturers use, and comfort varies from one bra to another). But it is important to clarify whether you wish predominantly for the breast to be re-shaped with the nipple raised with only a little reduction in size (this is more along the lines of an uplift or mastopexy), for a proportionate amount to be removed to better balance your breasts with your body shape, or whether you wish a significant reduction with the removal of a large amount of tissue that can make your breasts smaller for your frame. If the removed breast tissue is to be sent to the pathologist after it is removed, please be aware that some private hospitals charge approximately £450 for this. You have to request that this is done otherwise the tissue will be discarded permanently. One reason to consider it’s analysis is that even with a normal mammogram abnormalities may be found (pre-cancerous of even cancerous) on pathological examination of tissue under a microscope, which could influence further treatment without which your prognosis may alter. However, the chance of finding such an abnormality in most people is less than 1 in 400. It is also possible that the very tiniest of abnormalities may not always even be picked up under a microscope. Some very early abnormalities that are discovered with histology testing might never progress to anything more sinister, and finding them might cause anxiety that you would otherwise not have had. On the other hand finding a lesion in this way, that is in-situ cancer or a small invasive cancer, also provides the opportunity for further screening, further surgery or other treatments which may reduce the risk of recurrence. There are therefore pros and cons to sending tissue. Please discuss this with your surgeon. It should at least be considered in all women over 40, or any with a family history of breast cancer.
Following the initial consultation you will be given at least a 2 week “cooling off” period during which time you can make a final decision and then return to ask further questions and consolidate your understanding.
Once you are ready to proceed with surgery and have confirmed an operation date, you will be booked for a pre-assessment and MRSA screen by the hospital.