Service
Breast reduction
Breast reduction (reduction mammoplasty) removes part of the tissue and excess skin and moves the nipple higher. It is done for back and neck pain, bra strap grooves, inflamed skin under the breasts — and for appearance.
Breasts that are too large
Breasts that are too large, with pain in the back, neck and shoulders, bra strap grooves and skin under the breasts that becomes inflamed. The weight of the breasts is carried on the shoulders and the spine: the shoulders are pulled forward, the straps cut in, and the muscles of the neck and back are working all the time. The pain gets worse with standing and exercise. Breast size is determined by heredity, hormones and body weight — exercise does not change glandular tissue, and weight loss reduces it only in part.
Surgical or liposuction technique?
For breasts that are large because of glandular tissue and have excess skin, tissue and skin are removed, with an incision around the areola and downwards. For breasts that are large because of fatty tissue, with good skin, part can be removed by liposuction alone, through small punctures. Which technique is suitable becomes clear at the examination.
Surgical reduction is done with two basic techniques, which differ in where the scars remain. The vertical technique — an incision around the areola and vertically down to the fold under the breast ("keyhole") — is the one we do most often. The inverted-T technique — with a longer horizontal incision in the fold under the breast as well — is for very large breasts, for older patients and when there is a risk to circulation, as in smokers. In both cases part of the gland, fatty tissue and skin is removed, the breast is reshaped, and the nipple and areola are moved higher and reduced where needed.
Liposuction reduction is an option when the breast is large mainly because of fatty tissue and the skin is elastic enough to draw back by itself after the volume is reduced — most often in younger patients. It is done through small punctures, with no incision or a minimal one, so there are no characteristic scars. It does not replace surgical reduction for large, sagging breasts with excess skin.
Breastfeeding and sensation
Depending on the technique and the amount of tissue removed, some of the milk ducts are cut, so breastfeeding is not promised. If you are planning a pregnancy, tell us at the examination — it affects the choice of technique and when the procedure is done. Sensation in the nipple is weaker after the operation in most women and returns over weeks to months; a lasting change is possible, more often with large reductions.
When is the procedure not suitable?
The procedure is done in adults, once the breasts are fully developed. Before the procedure a breast ultrasound is done, and in older patients a mammogram as well — no operation is done without a normal finding. In smokers, because of the circulation to the nipple, a safer technique is chosen or the procedure is postponed for a smoke-free period.
General reasons for postponing a procedure (pregnancy, breastfeeding, inflammation, a clotting disorder, smoking): When is a procedure postponed?
Anaesthesia
Before a procedure under general or regional anaesthesia, you are seen by the anaesthetist, who works full time at the clinic; the same doctor is also present during the procedure. The anaesthetic assessment and the anaesthesia for larger operations are included in the price of the procedure. What happens before, during and after anaesthesia is described on the Anaesthesia page.
Risks
Occasional — a change in the sensation of the nipple, asymmetry that needs correction, slower healing where the incisions meet, a collection of blood (haematoma) that is emptied as soon as possible, a wider or thickened scar.
Rare — a disturbance of the circulation of the areola and nipple, most often in smokers: from loss of colour to death of part of the skin; with very large movements of the nipple it is exceptionally transferred as a free graft, which means loss of sensation and of the ability to breastfeed.
Expected, and rare but serious → Risks and complications: what is the course of healing, and what is a complication?
Price
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Breast reduction with the surgical technique | €5,000–6,000 |
| Breast reduction with liposuction only | €3,000–4,500 |
Specialist and team
Specialty: plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.
When the procedure is done under sedation or general anaesthesia, the anaesthesia is led by a specialist in anaesthesiology, resuscitation and intensive care who works full time at the clinic.
In the operating theatre, the surgeon is assisted by head nurse Martina Šereg, with the help of nurses Kristina Jurešić and Mateja Tomorad, and in recovery the care assistant Mirjana Kovačić is with you. Martina also looks after preparation, scheduling and contact after the procedure.
Who will operate is decided at the examination, based on the findings and the type of procedure. You know the name of the surgeon before the procedure and meet them at the examination.
What happens at the examination?
The first examination lasts 30 to 45 minutes on average. The surgeon examines the area you are concerned about, asks about illnesses, medicines, allergies and previous operations, and talks with you about what you expect. If the procedure is appropriate and likely to help, you receive a plan: which procedure is proposed, under which anaesthesia, what recovery looks like and what is included in the price. If the procedure is not needed or would not give you what you expect, you will hear that at the examination too.
What if the result is not as agreed?
The result of a procedure is assessed at a follow-up visit, once the swelling has gone down and the scar has matured, not in the first weeks. If it differs from what was agreed at the examination, the same surgeon carries out the correction.
→ Poliklinika Barbel's correction policy
In the same visit
- Areola and nipple correction — the areola is reduced and moved in the same procedure, because the reduction goes through that incision anyway.
- Liposuction — with excess fatty tissue at the flanks and back, liposuction of those areas is done in the same procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Do the breasts grow again? Tissue that has been removed does not come back. The breasts still change with weight, pregnancy and the years — which is why the procedure is planned when your weight is stable.
Are reduction and lift done separately? No — a reduction always includes a lift: the breast is reshaped and the nipple is moved higher. It is one procedure.
Is breast reduction paid for by the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (Hrvatski zavod za zdravstveno osiguranje, HZZO)? In hospitals, breast reduction is sometimes approved when it is medically justified (pain, skin changes), with a waiting list and criteria that change. At Poliklinika Barbel the procedure is paid for privately; ask your doctor about the options in the public system.
Will my back pain go away? In most women, pain in the neck, shoulders and back eases or goes away, because the breasts no longer pull forward. We cannot promise this to everyone, because back pain also has other causes.
Recovery after breast reduction: what do you look out for at home? After the procedure an elastic bra is worn; the doctor tells you how long at the follow-up visit. Most stitches dissolve by themselves, and the rest are removed after about ten days. On average, you can return to training after six weeks. The scar matures for twelve months, and while it matures it is protected from the sun.
How much does the result depend on care after the procedure? The larger the procedure, the more it depends on it, but it always does. Healing takes weeks and months and happens almost entirely at home, so the instructions you receive when you go home, about the wound, physical activity and the scar, are part of the procedure, not a recommendation.
Who is with me if I stay overnight in the clinic after the procedure? You stay overnight when the doctor judges it necessary and this is agreed with you. You then spend the night in a room in the recovery unit, which has a bed, a television and a bathroom. A nurse is with you all night and a doctor is on call. The overnight stay and night care are included in the price of the procedure.
→ How long do you stay in the clinic after surgery?
Medical review: doctors of Poliklinika Barbel · October 2026.