
The best surgeon shows high, recent case volume in breast reduction, explains scars and technique in plain words, and shares a clear safety and follow-up plan. Take this 12-point checklist to two consultations and compare answers, not marketing.
When you search "breast reduction surgeon near me," you'll find dozens of profiles. All of them look confident online. But how do you compare credentials, safety protocols, and scar outcomes side by side? This checklist strips away the marketing noise and gives you twelve practical questions to ask in every consult, so you can weigh training, technique, and transparency like-for-like. Whether you're exploring breast procedures at SB Aesthetics (Gurgaon/Delhi NCR) or meeting multiple surgeons, use these filters to make an informed choice.
Print this table and take it to every consultation. These are guide questions. Feel free to reword them. A more detailed guide is further below for your reference in this article. Use the notes column to capture answers in your own words.
Download the 1-page breast reduction surgeon checklist (PDF)
This short explainer covers scar patterns and expectations:
Training & credentials:
Board certification from a recognized plastic surgery body in the country of practice, fellowship training in aesthetic or reconstructive breast surgery, and active hospital privileges prove the surgeon meets safety and competency benchmarks.
Case volume & complexity:
A surgeon performing 50+ reductions per year, with a mix of routine cases, large-volume removals, and asymmetry corrections, has seen edge cases you might not even know to ask about.
Safety setup:
A named consultant anesthetist, an accredited operating theater with full resuscitation equipment, a written DVT prophylaxis protocol, and clear criteria for overnight observation separate careful surgeons from ones cutting corners.
Technique transparency:
The surgeon should explain pedicle choice (superior, inferior, or medial), anticipated scar pattern (vertical or Wise), how much glandular versus fatty tissue will be removed, and the symmetry plan, in plain language, you can repeat back.
Expectation setting:
Realistic discussions about cup-size reduction, scar maturation over twelve months, and example photos (not AI-generated "after" images) help you visualize outcomes without inflated promises.
Shared decisions:
Clear written consent that lists risks, a frank conversation about time off work, and the wisdom to postpone surgery if conditions aren't optimal show the surgeon prioritizes your safety over their calendar.
Below are the twelve checks, with what to listen for and the exact question to ask. It will help you to look past marketing and judge the actual plan for your case. You’ll see what to expect, where risks sit, and how the surgeon handles them. Every point ends with the exact question to ask.
1) Credentials that matter
Look for an accredited plastic-surgery degree, MCh (Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery) or DNB (Plastic Surgery), ideally after MBBS and MS (General Surgery). Check the degree certificate and the doctor’s medical council registration number on display. Memberships in recognized plastic-surgery bodies (APSI/IAAPS, ISAPS) add weight, but the core proof is the accredited degree and active registration. Be wary of vague claims like “trained abroad” or “fellowship” without the institution and year.
Ask: "What is your plastic-surgery qualification (MCh/DNB), from which institution and year? May I note your medical council registration number?"
2) Reduction-specific case volume
A surgeon with high and consistent case volume in breast reduction builds pattern recognition for planning and for handling edge cases. Ask to see a de-identified portfolio that shows different starting sizes and body types, not just implants. Limited, mixed-signal portfolios are a red flag.
Ask: “How many breast reductions did you perform in the last 12 months? Would you have some before and after, like my case?”
3) Experience with large-volume & asymmetry
Removing more than one kilogram per breast changes planning: drains are more likely, an overnight stay may be safer, and the risk of delayed wound healing risk rises. Correcting marked asymmetry needs measured resection and careful nipple repositioning. A surgeon experienced in large-volume breast reduction (>1 kg) will show you their protocol.
Ask: “How do you plan very large reductions? What do you do to keep a natural shape and protect nipple/areola blood supply?”
4) Technique & scar plan (in plain words)
Your surgeon should sketch your expected scar pattern, vertical (lollipop) or Wise (anchor)—and explain pedicle choice in plain words. Understanding scar vs scarless breast reduction helps you separate realistic outcomes from marketing language.
Ask: “Which pedicle and scar shape will you use for my anatomy, and can you sketch it?”
5) Safety: anesthesia & DVT prevention
The anesthetist should be named in your quote, not "anesthesia team TBD." Ask about pre-operative risk stratification (medical history, BMI, clotting disorders), intra-operative DVT prevention (compression devices, leg pumps), post-operative antibiotics, and monitoring protocols. A written policy for recognizing and managing thrombosis shows systematic care.
Ask: "Who will administer my anesthesia, and what's your DVT prevention protocol?"
6) Imaging, marking, and measurements
Pre-operative photography from multiple angles, documented sternal-notch-to-nipple measurements, inframammary fold position, and planned areola diameter create a surgical roadmap. These measurements are written into your chart and guide symmetry corrections. Without them, the surgeon is improvising.
Ask: "Will you take photos and measurements before surgery, and how can I request my photos? (Note: Many expert plastic surgeons don’t share markings; they’re proprietary. Before-and-after photos carry liabilities on the patient side.)"
7) Pain, drains, and day-care vs overnight
You should get a clear pain plan in advance, not on surgery day. Drains are more common in high-volume reductions; ask when they’re removed. Overnight observation may be advised for medical reasons or travel distance. Reading the breast reduction recovery timeline helps you plan time off and support at home.
Ask: “What’s your pain plan? Will I need drains, and when would you keep me overnight?”
8) Complication rates and escalation pathway
Every practice has non-zero complication rates for hematoma, infection, or delayed healing. What matters is transparency and a written escalation pathway: who you call, where you go, and what’s included. “Zero complications ever” is not credible.
Ask: “Can you share your typical complication rates and the care pathway you follow if something goes wrong?”
9) Scar care and follow-up schedule
Scar maturation takes twelve months. A structured plan, including silicone gel or sheets starting at two weeks, micropore taping for three months, scar massage technique, and sun protection, improves the final appearance. Follow-up visits around one, two, six, and twelve weeks let the surgeon monitor healing and adjust care. If follow-ups are vague or "as needed," you're navigating recovery blind.
Ask: "What’s included in the surgery-day fee, and what will I pay later (follow-ups, dressings, scar-care products, medicines)? (Note: Many clinics bill only for surgery on the day; follow-ups and OPD items are paid separately.)"
10) Realistic result preview
Hand-drawn sketches, breast sizers held against your chest, or a binder of real patient photos (with consent) help you visualize your result. Be wary of AI-generated "before-after" images or promises of "perfect symmetry," human bodies aren't symmetrical, and scars are permanent. A good surgeon educates rather than sells.
Ask: "Can you show me examples of patients with similar starting anatomy, and do you use sizers or sketches during planning?"
11) All-inclusive quotation and revision policy
Your quote should itemize surgeon fees, OT, anesthesia, consumables, any overnight stay, follow-ups, and basic scar-care supplies. The revision policy should be plain: what is covered and what is not. Reading breast reduction cost in Delhi helps you spot missing inclusions.
Ask: “Is this quote all-inclusive, and what does your revision policy cover in writing?”
12) Comfort, communication, and consent quality
Do you feel heard, or rushed? Are your questions answered in language you understand, or jargon you nod along to? Does the consent form list risks in detail, or gloss over them? Who answers your calls when you're worried at 10 PM three days post-op, the surgeon, a junior assistant, or a voicemail? Trust your instinct here.
Ask: "Who should I contact after surgery if I’m worried, and who will see me at follow-ups—will it be a team doctor or you?”
(Note: At SB Aesthetics, trained team doctors handle routine follow-ups; Dr. Shilpi reviews cases at key milestones or if needed.)"
A breast lift (mastopexy) repositions sagging tissue without removing volume, useful if you're happy with your size but want perkier contours. A breast reduction removes excess glandular and fatty tissue, lifts the nipple, and reshapes the breast, solving both volume discomfort and sagging. The term "scarless" typically refers to liposuction-only approaches, which are suitable for fatty breasts with good skin tone but can't lift the nipple or remove dense glandular tissue, resulting in limited reshaping and no solution for true macromastia.
Note: Many Surgeons oversell liposuction, which can leave the patient with saggy deflated breasts with excess skin.
This video explains the difference clearly:
Active skin infections, poorly controlled diabetes or hypertension, ongoing smoking (ideally quit four weeks before), and unavoidable work travel or family commitments in the first two weeks post-op are all reasons to reschedule. Surgery is elective; healing is not. A surgeon who pushes you to proceed despite red flags is prioritizing their schedule over your safety. Rescheduling is always the wiser choice.
Most patients describe the first 48 hours as moderate discomfort, tight, sore, bruised, managed with prescribed oral pain relief. By day five, many switch to over-the-counter medications. Pain peaks around day two and tapers steadily; drains, if used, cause more irritation than true pain.
It depends on the volume removed, your anatomy, and the surgeon's technique. Large-volume reductions often use drains for 24–72 hours to prevent fluid collection. Ask your surgeon about their drain policy and typical removal timeline during the consult.
With diligent scar care, silicone, taping, massage, sun protection, most scars fade to thin, pale lines. They remain visible on close inspection but are easily hidden under clothing. Darker skin tones may experience more pigmentation; discuss your risk profile and realistic expectations early.
It depends on the pedicle technique and how much glandular tissue is removed. Inferior pedicle methods preserve more ductal connections, improving breastfeeding odds, but no surgeon can guarantee it. If future breastfeeding is a priority, state this clearly so technique can be adjusted.
Some insurers cover reduction if you meet criteria like chronic back pain, shoulder grooves, or recurrent rashes documented by a physician. Policies vary widely; check your terms and request a pre-authorization letter. Many patients pay out-of-pocket because aesthetic improvement alone doesn't qualify.
A board-certified plastic surgeon with high annual reduction volume, transparent technique explanations, a documented safety setup, realistic expectation-setting, and a clear follow-up and revision policy, use the 12-point checklist to compare.
SB Aesthetics performs one of the highest volumes of breast reductions in India and a high volume of breast surgeries across Delhi NCR. We maintain clear scar-planning protocols for every case, and offer structured follow-up schedules at one, two, six, and twelve weeks, not "call if you need us."
Dr. Shilpi speaks nationally and internationally on breast-reduction technique and safety, with a focus on symmetric results and large-volume reductions. Our patients appreciate transparent itemized quotes, realistic result previews, and the ability to reach the surgical team directly during recovery.
We keep our program data-driven and team-reviewed. In 2025, Dr. Shilpi Bhadani presented “Improving Predictability in Large-Volume Breast Reduction” at BAAPS in London, an approach developed in our practice and now being prepared for publication. We actively shape the good practices of plastic surgery; thus, we are at the forefront of knowledge and innovation.
Our weekly case reviews cover planning and execution for complex reductions, abdominoplasty, and long-term scar care. We also maintain structured protocols for regenerative fat grafting (a focus in our practice for 15+ years), aiming for controlled use and predictable results. Patient safety stays non-negotiable: elective care must remain low-morbidity and data-tracked from consult to recovery.
Shared knowledge of the team speaks bigger than any one résumé. Patients benefit from a consistent method, clear follow-ups, and a reachable surgical team during recovery.
Bring the printed 1-page checklist to your appointment. Ask all twelve questions. Share your work schedule, commute constraints, and any upcoming travel so we can tailor your surgery and recovery plan to your real life. Comparing surgeons is smart; asking hard questions is how you find the right one.
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SB Aesthetics is one of the renowned medical centers in Gurgaon offering world-class and most advanced plastic surgeries procedures under the guidance of Dr. Shilpi Bhadani.
Disclaimer: The content on this website (www.drshilpibhadani.com) is solely for the purpose of educating and creating awareness about the domain i.e. plastic surgery. This shall not be treated as a substitute to a professional plastic surgeon's advice or prescription. Every individual and their case is different, so the results of any of the treatments mentioned on the website may vary.