How This Procedure Can Treat Common Physical and Psychological Symptoms
Do your disproportionately large breasts cause you frequent pain, discomfort, and insecurity? Have you stopped participating in activities you love due to embarrassment and physical limitations?
If living with overly large breasts is negatively impacting your health and self-esteem, breast reduction surgery may provide the solution you’ve been dreaming of.
What is Breast Reduction?
Breast reduction, also called reduction mammaplasty, is a surgical procedure that removes excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin from the breasts. This transforms heavy, sagging breasts in smaller, uplifted size with better symmetry. Over 76,000 women and 25,000 men receive break reduction surgery in 2023 alone, finding immense relief from debilitating physical ailments and psychological turmoil.
With expertly performed breast reduction surgery you can finally gain comfort, confidence, and an improved quality of life. By removing excess breast tissue, you may find freedom from chronic headaches, neck pain, rashes, and other ailments caused by the burden of disproportionate breast size.
Physical and Emotional Symptoms Treated by Breast Reduction
Physical Discomfort from Large Breasts
Patients with large breasts often suffer from physical pain and discomfort on a daily basis. Some of the most common symptoms treated by breast reduction include:
- Neck, shoulder, and back pain: The excessive weight strains muscles and leads to chronic headaches and pain.
- Difficulty finding well-fitting bras and clothing: Ill-fitting bras and tops can further exacerbate pain and skin irritation.
- Limitations in physical activities: High-impact exercise and sports become challenging or impossible due to breast bounce and motion.
- Skin irritation and rashes: Sweat, moisture, and bra straps can cause skin irritation, rashes, and skin breakdown under the breasts.
Psychological Effects of Overly Large Breasts
In addition to physical discomforts, having extremely large breasts takes a psychological toll on many women. Some common issues breast reduction helps treat include:
- Low self-esteem and body image issues: The disproportionate figure impacts self-confidence and body image satisfaction. A study revealed that patients improved their self-esteem and quality of life significantly after breast reduction surgery.
- Feelings of embarrassment and discomfort: The size of their breasts can lead women to feel self-conscious and embarrassed, particularly due to unwanted attention. This discomfort can affect their social interactions and overall quality of life, as they may feel scrutinized or judged based on their appearance.
- Avoidance of social situations: Due to insecurity stemming from low self-esteem, many women may withdraw from social activities. This avoidance can lead to feelings of isolation and further exacerbate mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
Other Symptoms Alleviated by Breast Reduction
Some other symptoms potentially corrected by breast reduction surgery include:
| Symptom | Description |
| Headaches and Migraines | Chronic headaches and migraines caused by neck and upper back muscle strain from excessive breast weight. |
| Sleep Disturbances | Difficulty finding a comfortable sleeping position due to breast discomfort and pain. |
| Posture and Gait Changes | Adapting posture to compensate for disproportionate breast weight leads to neck, shoulder, and back strain. Can cause hunched appearance and altered gait. |
| Shortness of Breath | In severe cases, pressure on the chest wall and diaphragm from extremely large breasts causes shortness of breath, especially during activity. |
| Skin Irritation and Rashes | Moisture, friction, and lack of air circulation under large breasts causes rashes, irritation, and infections like intertrigo. |
How Breast Reduction Procedure Helps
During a breast reduction, excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin are removed from the breasts. There are a few techniques your plastic surgeon may use, depending on the amount of tissue to be removed and the desired outcome.
But in general, the surgeon will make an incision around the areola and vertically down the breast. The nipple and areola are repositioned higher on the breast. Skin is reduced, breast tissue is reshaped, and the incisions are closed.
Breast reductions are performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure. Recovery time is around 2-3 weeks, with exercise and strenuous activity restricted for up to 6 weeks. As with any surgery, there are risks of complications like bleeding, infection, and scarring. When performed by an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon, risks are minimized.
The Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery for Your Symptoms
A breast reduction can provide immense physical and emotional benefits by alleviating symptoms associated with macromastia. Here is how breast reduction can help alleviate specific symptoms:
Headaches and Migraines
By reducing the weight and strain on the upper back and neck muscles, breast reduction surgery can significantly reduce headaches and migraines related to the posture changes and muscle tension caused by heavy breasts.
Back Pain
Excessive breast size often leads to hunching forward and overcompensation in the back muscles which causes pronounced back pain. Breast reduction helps by correcting the posture and removing the strain.
Shoulder Grooving
The pressure and weight of large breasts can cause indentations and grooving in the shoulders from bra straps digging in. Breast reduction helps by making this load lighter.
Skin Irritation
The moist, warm environment under large breasts often leads to rashes, infections and intertrigo. Breast reduction helps prevent this by lifting the breasts and improving airflow.
Respiratory Issues
For some women with extremely large breasts, the weight on the chest wall can make breathing difficult and cause shortness of breath. Breast reduction can help alleviate this pressure.
Sleep Issues
The disproportionate weight of large breasts makes finding a comfortable sleeping position challenging. Breast reduction helps create better breast proportions for sleeping comfort.
Poor Posture
To compensate for the heavy weight up front, women with large breasts often hunch their shoulders forward leading to poor posture. Breast reduction helps correct posture.
Is Breast Reduction Right for You?
The first step is to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Anthony Deboni and Dr. Gregory Baum at CNY Cosmetics. They will evaluate your symptoms, medical history, breast anatomy, and goals. Together, you can decide if breast reduction is the right choice for you.
