Q U I C K A N S W E R:
Breast surgery covers procedures that change the size, shape or position of the breast — including breast augmentation, breast lift (mastopexy), breast reduction and gynaecomastia (male breast reduction). These are performed for cosmetic or medical reasons. Dr Ong Wei Chen provides breast surgery at WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Gleneagles Medical Centre, Singapore.
Breast surgery alters the size, shape or position of the breast, and can be performed for cosmetic reasons or medical ones such as correcting asymmetry or reducing overly large breasts. At WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Dr Ong Wei Chen offers breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction and gynaecomastia surgery. Each procedure is planned around the patient’s anatomy and goals during consultation, and all surgery is performed under anaesthesia with guidance on recovery, medication and compression garments.
What types of breast surgery are available in Singapore?
“Breast surgery is not one operation. Augmentation, lift, reduction and gynaecomastia each solve a different problem, and the right choice starts with what the patient wants to change.”
— Dr Ong Wei Chen, Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon
There are four main breast procedures at WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, each addressing a different concern:
Breast augmentation — increases breast size or restores volume using implants or fat transfer.
Breast lift (mastopexy) — raises and reshapes sagging breasts without changing their size significantly.
Breast reduction — removes excess breast tissue, fat and skin to relieve discomfort and reshape large breasts.
Gynaecomastia surgery (male breast reduction) — reduces enlarged male breast tissue.
How do I know which breast procedure is right for me?
The right procedure depends on what you want to change — size, shape, position or symmetry — along with your breast anatomy, skin quality and overall health. During consultation, Dr Ong Wei Chen assesses your breasts, discusses your goals and explains the options, trade-offs and recovery for each. Some patients benefit from a combination, such as a lift with augmentation.
Is breast surgery done for cosmetic or medical reasons?
Breast surgery is performed for both cosmetic and medical reasons. Cosmetic reasons include changing breast size or lifting sagging breasts; medical reasons include correcting asymmetry, relieving the back, neck and shoulder strain of very large breasts, or reducing enlarged male breast tissue. Whether a procedure is claimable under Medisave or insurance usually depends on whether it is medically indicated — the clinic advises on this at consultation.
What is recovery from breast surgery like?
Recovery varies by procedure but generally involves some swelling and bruising that settles over several weeks, with strenuous exercise avoided for around four weeks. Most breast procedures are performed under anaesthesia, and a supportive or compression garment is usually worn while the tissues settle. The clinic provides pain medication, wound-care guidance and follow-up appointments. All surgery carries risks, which Dr Ong discusses before you decide.
FREQUENT ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between a breast lift and breast augmentation in Singapore?
A breast lift raises and reshapes sagging breasts, while augmentation increases their size or volume. A lift (mastopexy) removes excess skin and repositions the nipple without significantly changing volume, whereas augmentation uses implants or fat transfer to add fullness. Some patients combine both. Dr Ong Wei Chen advises which suits your anatomy and goals at WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Gleneagles Medical Centre.
Can breast reduction surgery be claimed under Medisave or insurance in Singapore?
Breast reduction may be claimable when it is medically indicated, such as for neck, back or shoulder pain from very large breasts. Whether Medisave or insurance applies depends on the medical assessment and your policy. WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery is a Medisave-accredited clinic and staff assist with e-filing and claims. Check with your insurer before surgery.
Is male breast reduction (gynaecomastia surgery) available in Singapore?
Yes — Dr Ong Wei Chen has been a MOH-accredited plastic surgeon since 2007. She is a Fellow of the Academy of Medicine, Singapore, and previously served as Senior Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the National University Hospital. She now practises at WC Ong Plastic Reconstructive Surgery, Gleneagles Medical Centre.
How do I choose a plastic surgeon for breast surgery in Singapore?
Choose a surgeon who is fully accredited, holds recognised qualifications and practises at an approved facility. Dr Ong Wei Chen is a MOH-accredited plastic surgeon who trained in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery and practises at Gleneagles Medical Centre, serving the Parkway hospitals and Mount Alvernia Hospital. A consultation lets you discuss your goals and understand the procedure, risks and recovery before deciding.
