Think Plastic Surgery, and you’re probably more inclined to envision procedures that increase, not decrease a woman’s cup size. Yet, each year tens of thousands of women decide to undergo Breast Reduction surgery. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons national plastic surgery statistics, 43,591 breast reduction procedures were performed during 2018. The procedure has tremendously high patient satisfaction and scores a 98% “worth it” rating from patients on the popular RealSelf online community. Whether performed to alleviate the back pain that large, heavy breasts can cause, or to bring a woman’s body into better balance, the result of Breast Reduction Surgery can change a woman’s life!
What are the common reasons a woman may pursue Breast Reduction Surgery?
“There are so many reasons why a woman may schedule a consultation to discuss Breast Reduction Surgery with her plastic surgeon,” says Dr. Nathan Leigh, a board-certified plastic surgeon with Edina Plastic Surgery. “The most common concerns I hear are frequent back pain, deep shoulder indentations from bra straps, and discomfort while exercising,” he shares.
“But a woman may also feel frustrated that she can’t find clothes that fit properly or even try to hide the size of her breasts with poor posture or baggy clothing. Large breasts can be incredibly uncomfortable for a woman and have a direct impact on her physical and mental health.”
How do I know if I’m a good candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery?
“There are certain criteria that surgeons use to identify if a woman is a proper candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery,” explains Dr. Leigh. “Some of these markers extend beyond the physical discomfort large breasts can cause and focus on how a woman feels about her body and the influence her breast size has had on her self-esteem.”
- You can feel the effect the size of your breasts has on your body.
If your breasts are causing you pain, discomfort, or directly influencing your poor posture – you are most likely a candidate for surgery. When a woman’s breasts are large and heavy, surrounding muscles have to continuously work overtime to try and balance the body from front to back and maintain your posture. This compensation act can lead to neck, shoulder, and back pain. If left unchecked, the unbalance can even lead to a hunched over posture and affect a woman’s spinal curvature. Women who already feel self-conscious about their breast size may try and downplay them by hunching over further and exasperating the situation.
“Aside from neck and back pain, large breasts can also cause problems such as rashes and irritation on the skin. Moisture and heat become trapped under breast tissue, and skin can become irritated and inflamed, especially in the summer months,” explains Dr. Leigh.
- The size of your breasts makes daily life more difficult.
Many large-chested women find that their breast size presents countless obstacles during their daily life. Clothing options for the well-endowed can be very limited and constrictive. When exercising, many women with large breasts find themselves double, or even triple layering sports bras to prevent painful bouncing and movement. Even the seatbelt in a woman’s car can feel like a hindrance when you have very large breasts.
“Many of my Breast Reduction Surgery patients share how upsetting just walking down the street and dealing with the staring eyes and commentary of strangers can be,” says Dr. Leigh. “I find this so saddening, as this kind of attention is unwelcomed and can be so detrimental to a woman’s psyche, especially my younger patients.”
- You’d like your surgeons to make other changes besides just decreasing your breast size.
During Breast Reduction Surgery, your surgeon’s goal is to remove excess tissue and skin from your breasts to decrease their size and alleviate the unwanted weight from your chest. This will result in better balance and harmony to your overall body. Other improvements to the shape and placement of your breasts may be performed, such as lifting the breasts into a higher, more youthful-looking positioning and modifying the shape and size of the areola.
“Breast Reduction Surgery can be life-changing for patients who have been battling both the physical and mental toll that over-sized breasts can take on the body,” says Dr. Leigh. “It is so gratifying to see my patients return months after surgery standing taller, prouder, and sharing how confident and beautiful they feel!”
Are you suffering from neck and back pain due to the size and weight of your breasts? Are you interested in decreasing your bust size to achieve more balance to your body? Schedule a complimentary consultation with one of our plastic surgeons to discuss Breast Reductions Surgery by calling (612) 688-3177 or by CLICKING HERE.
