Breast Reduction (Reduction Mammaplasty)
Surgical reduction of the size of your breasts

Oversized breasts can be the cause of other physical and psyhcological problems, including lower back pains and worries about your general appearance. Breast reduction surgery, or reduction mammaplasty, is designed to reduce the size of your breasts in order to allieviate these problems.

Breast reduction surgery can also be performed on individual breasts in the case where there is some asymmetry between the two breasts.

Length

The procedure can last up to four hours.

Procedure

The procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and involves repositioning the nipple and its surrounding tissue and removing excess fat cells from the lower breast and underarm area. The goal is to achieve a natural shape to the breast and retain as much sensation and function as possible.

Recovery

You will be required to stay for between 1 and 3 days, and stitches are usually removed between 1 and 2 weeks later. Typically you are required to rest for between 2 and 6 weeks after the operation.

Risks

There can be significant scarring depending on the quality of the surgical stitching, and there can be up to three different scars per breast depending on the exact procedure required. There can be excess skin left after the breast reduction itself which can require another operation later on to remedy. There is also the risk of loss of sensation and function in the nipple itself.

Cosmetic Surgery in Croatia
A guide to plastic surgery regulations in Croatia

The Ministry of Health holds overall responsiblitiy for the management of public health within Croatia.

In 1995 the Croatian Medical Chamber was established. This is the independant overseer of the profession and membership is mandatory for all Croatian doctors.

Established in 1874, the Croation Medical Association represents the professional interests of doctors in Croatia. Membership is voluntary, though membership is required for all specialists in plastic surgery.

The Croatian Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery is the official society for plastic surgeons in Croatia. The society publishes a list of their members online.

Education

The basic medical degree takes 6 years. Plastic surgery is a recognized specialty and the training programme has been harmonized with EU requirements in anticipation of future membership. The registrar training is a 60 month (10 semester) programme. Successful completion earns the title "plastične kirurgije".

Complaints

A three tiered complaints system is available. The most direct course is to contact the Croatian Medical Chamber. The Chamber inforces the ethical code and can disipline physician in violation of the code, impose fines and remove a physician from the register.

Civil action may be persued in the courts. Complaints may also be lodged with the Ministry of Health. Physicians in private practice have full liablity and malpractice cover is available, though rarely taken.

Storage and Access to Medical Records

Croatia has a passed "The Act on Personal Data Protection", which created the Personal Data Protection Agency. This legislation is designed to bring Croatia in compliance with EU regulations on data protection in advance of EU membership.

The Croatian Medical Chamber also inforces its ethical code which requires doctors to maintain and protect the medical records of their patients.

Resources

Croatian Medical Chamber
Šubićeva ul.9, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
tel: +385 1 4500 830
email: nikolina.budic@hlk.hr
website: http://www.hlk.hr/ (Croatian language only)

Croatian Medical Association
Šubićeva ul.9, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
tel: +385 1 4693 300
website: http://hlz.mef.hr/index.html

Croatian Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery
Website: http://www.kbd.hr/cspras/
Member list: http://www.kbd.hr/cspras/Members%20list.htm