This operation is performed to remove excess skin, breast tissue and fat tissue from the breasts. It is usually performed for breasts that are excessively heavy and large in size. This often leads to recurrent episodes of upper back pain, shoulder pain which radiates into the neck with grooves marked in the skin by the bra straps and recurrent episodes of a burning rash either between or below the breasts. Also the patient usually complains that they have great difficulty in fitting clothes and are unable to participate in sport. 


In cases where the physical symptoms (see above) are severe, some medical aids will grant benefits to help cover the costs of this operation. In other cases this operation may be undertaken on careful evaluation even if the patient does not have severe symptoms as listed above.