Not everyone wishes they had larger breasts. In fact, for some women, having breasts that are too large is a source of physical discomfort and emotional stress. Just as a breast augmentation can make smaller or underdeveloped breasts larger, a breast reduction can make large or overdeveloped breasts smaller.
Breast reduction surgery isn’t always the right choice for every woman. If you have long been bothered by the size of your breasts, it might be time to sit down with your surgeon and discuss your options. Usually, candidates for breast reduction want the surgery for physical or cosmetic reasons.
Cosmetic Reasons for Breast Reduction
When you have very large breasts, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to find shirts and tops that fit properly. A top that fits you in the chest area might be huge and unflattering in the waist or hip areas. Another common problem women with large breasts face is having their button-front shirts gape between buttons. The shirt mostly fits, but the size of the breasts creates an opening that doesn’t look professional or flattering.
Another reason to reduce the size of your breasts is if you just don’t feel happy with the way they look. Some women can feel self-conscious or overly sexualized when they have larger than average breasts. You shouldn’t feel that you need to hide your breasts or that you need to wear a sports bra or minimizer bra to make them look smaller.
Physical Reasons for Breast Reduction
Large breasts can be physically uncomfortable. At the least, you feel some discomfort due to the weight of your breasts. At the worst, you experience severe back, neck and shoulder problems thanks to your breasts. In even more severe cases, large breasts have been shown to cause numbness and tingling in the fingers and have been linked to migraines. The extra weight in the chest area can also make it difficult for some women to breathe.
Along with pain, large breasts can cause skin issues. If the skin of the breasts rubs against the skin of the chest or rib area, you might experience chafing or a rash. If you have a combination of large breasts and a poorly fitted or designed bra, you might develop deep indentations or grooves in your shoulders due to bra straps that dig in.
You might be a candidate for breast reduction if the size of your breasts is interfering with your ability to maintain your physical health through exercise. Some women exercise less or stop exercising altogether because the movement and weight of their breasts causes too much discomfort.
Breast Reduction Can Correct Uneven Breasts
In some cases, a woman might consider a breast reduction if her breasts are wildly different sizes. In that case, the reduction is usually performed on a single breast to make it equal in size to the other. Alternatively, a surgeon might perform a breast reduction on both breasts but remove considerably more tissue from one breast compared to the other.
Your Health Matters
Your overall health plays a role in determining whether breast reduction is the right option for you. Generally, candidates for the surgery need to be in good health. That means no uncontrolled long-term conditions, no smoking and no blood or circulatory problems. Having certain medical conditions or habits like smoking can increase your risk for complications during surgery and as you recover.
Just as there are emotional and physical reasons for breast reduction, there are emotional and physical health concerns. You want to have a realistic idea of what the surgery can and can’t do for you. That means having an understanding of what the recovery process is like, how much discomfort you’ll experience after surgery and the understanding that the surgery will improve your breasts, but won’t make them perfect.
Men Can Have Breast Reduction Too
Women aren’t the only people who might be good candidates for breast reduction. Males can have the surgery too if they experience a condition known as gynecomastia, or enlargement of the breasts in men.
Men can develop gynecomastia at any point throughout their lives, but it is more common in older men and teenagers. Babies can develop the condition as well, but it typically resolves on it its own at an early age. Changes in hormone levels in a man’s body are linked to the development of male breasts. Although the condition does often occur in men who are overweight, it’s not necessarily caused by excess fat or weight gain.
Along with having enlarged breasts, male candidates for breast reduction surgery should be in good health and have a good understanding of what the surgery and recovery involves.
About Dr. Rubinstein
Dr. Ran Y. Rubinstein, a board certified plastic surgeon, regularly performs breast reduction surgery on patients at his practice in Manhattan. He can help you decide if the procedure is the right option for you to improve your overall comfort and confidence. Along with breast reduction, Dr. Rubinstein offers patients a variety of procedures, from facelift to rhinoplasty, at Laser & Cosmetic Surgery Specialists, PC in Newburgh, New York. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Rubinstein, call 845-863-1772 today.
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