What is a breast reduction and what are the benefits of this procedure?

A breast reduction can offer significant benefits to women desiring smaller, more proportional breasts. There are a number of reasons, both medical and cosmetic, for women to undergo this procedure. Whatever the case may be, the goal of plastic surgeons is to provide patients with the best experience and results possible.

By removing excess breast fat, tissue and skin, plastic surgeons can reduce your breast size to be more proportionate with your body. This surgery is very popular among patients since it can alleviate the physical discomfort caused by the size of your breasts.

A breast reduction is more than cosmetic

It's important to understand that for many women, large breasts are more than just an aesthetic issue – they are also a health concern. Large breasts can cause discomfort and/or pain in the shoulders, neck and back. Large breasts can also cause rashes, interfere with certain activities and even can cause upper extremity numbness, tingling and headaches.

Typically, larger breasts are also usually positioned lower on the chest than ideal and the areola size may be quite enlarged. Shifting the breast tissue upward and reducing the weight in the process combines to help improve a women's posture and decrease the tension and pressure from her bra straps on her shoulders and neck.

What you need to know about breast reduction

It is important for patients to understand that a breast reduction may cause surgical scars, potential loss of some nipple sensitivity and the ability to breastfeed at a later date. Your board-certified plastic surgeon will discuss all of the relevant issues with you at your consultation and should be able to have you speak to other patients about their experiences.

Open communication with your plastic surgeon is important to get the best possible outcome. Be sure to ask questions and mention any concerns you may have about the breast reduction procedure, and be prepared to discuss your goals for the surgery. Plastic surgeons are trained to modify the procedure for each individual to optimize the outcome of your surgical experience.

Breast reduction surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure that, on average, takes about two to three hours. An outpatient procedure means the patient is able to return home the same day of surgery or the next morning if staying overnight in the facility is best to help control discomfort or nausea.

Breast reduction surgery offers life-changing results

Patient satisfaction after breast reduction is remarkably high and the results are long-lasting. Additionally, the majority of women that undergo the procedure later in life report that their major regret is that they did not have the reduction surgery earlier.

If you think a breast reduction might be right for you, be sure to meet with a board-certified plastic surgeon for a consultation. Think about all the activities, as well as clothing styles, that you could be enjoying once your breast size and position match the rest of your body and are in sync with your desires for physical activity!