Is Breast Reduction Surgery for You?

Many women anguish over breast size, but for some women, having large breasts is a curse, not a blessing. Women with breasts that are too large sometimes complain of pain in the head, neck and shoulders and back, leading to poor posture and even emotional stress. Oversized breasts are also associated with skin irritation, breathing difficulties, and deep grooves from bra straps.

For some women, the answer could simply lie in losing weight. But for others with breasts that are too large even after weight loss, the best solution for decreasing the size of the bosom is breast reduction surgery. Even Marie Osmond recently disclosed that she underwent breast reduction surgery in her 20’s to reduce her E cup breast size.

Breast reduction surgery or reduction mammoplasty involves the removal of the excess fat, glandular tissues and redundant skin. The procedure results in well-shaped breasts that are proportionate to the body. Techniques vary, but the most common procedure involves an anchor-shaped incision that circles the areola. Innovative technologies have made breast reduction a minimally invasive procedure with remarkable skin tightening effects.

According to a study published in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), breast reduction surgery improves a woman’s physical health as well as mental well-being. Using Breast Q questionnaire, a well-validated survey instrument, the study tracked the physical and psychological effects of breast reduction surgery. It was found that on a 100-point scale, satisfaction with breast appearance rose from around 20 before surgery to more than 80 after the procedure.

Women are not the only ones to have breast reduction surgery. For men, the procedure is called gynecomastia, the term that describes over-sized male breasts. According to statistics published by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons in 2012, male patients considering breast reduction or gynecomasty increased 5% from the previous year. Reliable plastic surgeons perform male breast reduction procedures using advanced minimally invasive liposuction technologies such as BodyTite (radio frequency enabled) and Smartlipo Triplex (laser-enabled).