The Canberra Clinic
Dr Turner consults from The Clinic Skin Health & Wellness, located at G24/6 Provan St, Campbell ACT 2612 — near the Campbell Shops precinct, with easy access from Constitution Avenue and the Monaro Highway.
The clinic is accessible for patients from across Canberra, including Braddon, Barton, Civic, Manuka, Kingston, Griffith, Deakin, Woden, Tuggeranong, Belconnen, Gungahlin, Ainslie, Dickson, and surrounding suburbs. Patients travelling from Queanbeyan, Yass, Goulburn, Cooma, and the broader southern NSW region are also welcome.
The Campbell clinic is used for consultations, pre-operative planning, and post-operative follow-up. Surgical procedures are performed at accredited private hospitals in Sydney.
Breast Lift Surgery (Mastopexy)
A breast lift repositions descended breast tissue and reshapes the breast envelope without significantly altering volume. The procedure removes excess skin, reshapes the remaining tissue, and repositions the nipple-areola complex to a higher position on the chest wall.
Breast ptosis — the clinical term for breast drooping — occurs gradually as skin elasticity reduces and the breast tissue and ligament support weakens over time. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight fluctuation, and natural ageing all contribute. The degree of ptosis varies between patients and is graded on examination — it determines both whether a lift is appropriate and which technique is most suitable.
The main concern with a breast lift is scarring. The incision pattern depends on the technique required — options range from a periareolar scar (around the areola only) for minimal ptosis, to a lollipop scar (around the areola and vertically down), to an anchor or inverted-T scar for more significant cases. More extensive incision patterns allow for greater reshaping but leave longer scars. Dr Turner discusses this directly at consultation, and scar placement and appearance are covered honestly.
A breast lift does not prevent future ptosis. Pregnancy after surgery, significant weight fluctuation, or continued ageing can cause the breast to descend again over time.
Breast Reduction Surgery
Breast reduction removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to reduce volume and reposition the breast. For patients with genuinely large or heavy breasts, it addresses physical symptoms that affect daily life — chronic neck, back, and shoulder pain, skin irritation beneath the breast, difficulty exercising, and postural problems are among the most commonly reported concerns.
The procedure uses similar incision patterns to a breast lift, but includes removal of breast tissue and fat in addition to reshaping. The nipple-areola complex is repositioned at the same time. The amount of tissue removed is planned at consultation based on your anatomy and goals, and the result is a smaller, lighter, and better-positioned breast.
Medicare and Private Health Insurance
Breast reduction is one of the few breast procedures where Medicare and private health insurance coverage may apply — but only in specific circumstances. Coverage requires documented functional symptoms (typically neck, back, or shoulder pain) and a minimum tissue removal threshold to qualify for the relevant Medicare Benefits Schedule item number. Not all patients will meet the criteria.
A GP referral is required. Dr Turner assesses Medicare eligibility at consultation. If your case qualifies, surgery may attract a Medicare rebate and be eligible for your private health insurance hospital cover — significantly reducing out-of-pocket costs. If it does not qualify, surgery proceeds as a cosmetic procedure at full cost.
This is worth clarifying at consultation before any assumptions are made about coverage.
Breast Lift with Implants
Some patients want to lift the breast position and restore volume at the same time. A breast lift with implants — mastopexy augmentation — addresses both in a single procedure, though it’s one of the more technically demanding combinations in breast surgery.
The lift tightens the skin envelope while the implant expands it. Getting that balance right takes careful surgical planning. Whether a one-stage or two-stage approach (lift and augmentation done separately) is more appropriate depends on the degree of ptosis, your skin quality, and what you’re trying to achieve overall. Dr Turner explains the options and trade-offs honestly at consultation.
Who May Be a Candidate?
Suitability for breast lift or reduction depends on overall health, breast anatomy, skin quality, and the specific concerns being addressed. A consultation is required to assess this properly.
Patients who commonly present for breast lift include those who notice the breast has descended significantly from where it used to sit, the nipple points downward or sits at or below the inframammary fold, there’s significant skin laxity in the lower pole, or volume has been adequate but position has changed over time.
Patients presenting for breast reduction typically describe physical symptoms — back, neck, or shoulder discomfort, difficulty with exercise, or skin irritation — as much as cosmetic concerns. Stable weight is generally preferred before surgery. Patients planning future pregnancies should discuss the timing carefully, as pregnancy after either procedure can affect the result.
For Canberra Patients: How the Process Works
Consultation in Canberra. Assessment and surgical planning happen at the Campbell clinic. Dr Turner examines breast anatomy, discusses your concerns and goals, and explains which approach is appropriate and why. If breast reduction Medicare eligibility is relevant, this is assessed at the same appointment.
Cooling-off period. Under Australian regulations introduced in July 2023, all patients considering cosmetic surgery must complete a psychological evaluation and observe a mandatory cooling-off period between the initial consultation and proceeding. This applies to breast lift and cosmetic reduction. Dr Turner’s practice follows these requirements in full.
Surgery in Sydney. Procedures are performed at accredited private hospitals in Sydney. Canberra to Sydney is approximately 2.5–3 hours by road or under an hour from Canberra Airport. Plan to arrive the evening before and allow two to three nights post-operatively before returning to Canberra.
Follow-up in Canberra. Post-operative reviews are available at the Campbell clinic — you don’t need to return to Sydney for routine follow-up appointments.
Recovery Overview
Recovery timelines differ between procedures, though there is significant overlap.
Days 1–7: Swelling, bruising, and tightness across the chest are expected. A surgical bra is worn continuously. Most patients rest at home with limited arm movement. Drain tubes, where used, are typically removed within the first few days.
Weeks 1–2: Initial review and suture assessment. Some patients can return to sedentary work in this window; more active roles require longer. The surgical bra stays on.
Weeks 3–6: Swelling continues to improve. Light activity resumes progressively. Exercise and any strenuous upper body work should wait for specific clearance.
Months 2–6: Scars mature and soften. The breast settles into its final position over this period. Final results continue to develop for up to 12 months in some patients.
Risks and Complications
Breast lift and reduction surgery carry surgical risk. Potential complications include bleeding or haematoma, infection, poor wound healing or wound breakdown (which can occur at the T-junction of anchor-pattern incisions), changes in nipple or breast sensation, asymmetry, under-correction, and scarring that is more visible than anticipated. Partial or total nipple loss is a rare but recognised risk. For breast reduction, changes in the ability to breastfeed are possible. Revision surgery may be required in some cases.
These risks are discussed in full at consultation. Further information is on the risks and complications page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a breast lift and a breast reduction?
A breast lift (mastopexy) addresses position — it removes excess skin, reshapes the breast, and repositions the nipple without changing volume significantly. A breast reduction removes breast tissue, fat, and skin to reduce overall size as well as repositioning the breast. Many patients require elements of both, and the procedures are frequently combined. Which approach is appropriate depends on your anatomy and what you’re trying to address — the consultation establishes this.
Is breast reduction covered by Medicare or private health insurance?
It may be, in specific circumstances. Medicare coverage applies where there are documented functional symptoms and a minimum tissue removal threshold is met, qualifying the procedure for the relevant MBS item number. If that threshold is met, Medicare rebates apply and private health insurance hospital cover may significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs. A GP referral is required. Not all patients will qualify — Dr Turner assesses eligibility at consultation. Cosmetic breast reduction without functional pathology is not covered.
Will I have visible scars?
Scars are unavoidable with breast lift and reduction surgery. The incision pattern depends on the technique — periareolar only (minimal cases), lollipop (around the areola and vertically down), or anchor/inverted-T (more significant ptosis or larger reductions). The more extensive the reshaping required, the longer the scars. Scars typically mature and fade over 12–18 months but never disappear entirely. Placement is discussed specifically at consultation.
Can I breastfeed after a breast lift or reduction?
Breastfeeding may remain possible after both procedures, but it can’t be guaranteed. The degree of impact depends on which technique is used and how the nipple-areola complex is handled. Patients who are planning future pregnancies or who consider breastfeeding a priority should raise this at consultation — it may influence the surgical approach and the timing of the procedure.
How long do results last?
Neither procedure prevents future changes. Pregnancy, significant weight fluctuation, and continued ageing can all affect the breast position and shape over time. Results typically remain stable for many years when weight is stable and no further pregnancies occur, but individual variation is real. There are no guaranteed outcomes, and Dr Turner discusses realistic expectations honestly at consultation.
Considering Other Procedures at the Canberra Clinic?
Dr Turner consults for a range of facial and body procedures at Campbell. If you’re exploring more than one concern, they can often be covered in a single appointment.
Face & Neck Surgery — Canberra
- Face & Neck Lift Surgery — Canberra
- Endoscopic Brow Lift & Blepharoplasty — Canberra
- Rhinoplasty — Canberra
- Male Face Surgery — Canberra
Breast & Body Surgery — Canberra
Book a Consultation in Canberra
To arrange a consultation at the Campbell clinic, contact the practice online or call 1300 437 758.
Canberra Clinic: G24/6 Provan Street, Campbell ACT 2612
