When Should You Consider Breast Reduction Surgery?

When most people consider cosmetic surgery involving the breasts, they think in terms of breast enlargement. But some women are in need of the opposite – breast reduction. While having large breasts is desirable to both many women and men, there are limits to how large breasts should be, and when they’re too large, either naturally or as a result of surgery, they can cause numerous health problems and inconveniences.

The Downsides Of Having Large Breasts

When a woman’s breasts are larger than they should be, they can cause back pain, which causes her to crouch more in response. Indents may also appear in the skin as a result of the bra straps, and women who have larger breasts than normal will find it difficult to locate clothes which fit them. Large breasts also have a tendency to sag, which is unattractive.

Many women mistakenly believe that losing weight alone will be enough make their breasts become smaller, and while maintaining a healthy weight is important, this alone is usually not enough to cause their breasts to shrink. Furthermore, women with larger breasts will find it more challenging to perform cardiovascular exercises as they will become winded much faster than women that have normal sized breasts.

Why Breast Reduction Surgery Is The Best Option

Breast reduction surgery is a very standard cosmetic procedure. It is performed on women of all ages except young teenagers because surgeons want to be sure their breasts have stopped growing before an operation can be performed. Most insurance companies will only cover this procedure if a woman can show that she suffers from macromastia, which includes pain in the back, shoulder and neck along with sleeping difficulties resulting from overly large breasts.

What To Expect During This Procedure

Breast reduction surgery will typically last from two hours to five hours. During the procedure the surgeon will perform incisions that are designed to generate flaps in the skin but will not touch the areola or nipple. The surgeon will then extract the excess tissue within the breast, after which he will reshape the tissue that remains and suture the incisions.

While women are recommended to discuss the size they desire with their surgeons before surgery, the final result may not match that specific size. This procedure should never be performed by someone that is not qualified and skilled, because it can result in side effects such as scarring, asymmetrical breasts and even infection. When this procedure is performed by a surgeon that is board certified the results will be spectacular, with an increase in satisfaction, social and sexual well-being.

As with most cosmetic procedures, patients will need at least two weeks to recover from breast reduction surgery. During this time they may experience side effects which include stiffness in the breasts, as well as swelling and soreness. These effects are normal and will subside with time. Surgeons can provide medications to assist with the pain. A full recovery from breast reduction surgery can take as long as 8 weeks, depending on the procedure, so the patient should seek the help of family or friends for daily tasks during this time.

This article was not written by Dr. Robert S. Fischer M.D and may not represent his views. To talk to Dr. Robert S. Fischer M.D. please contact the office directly.

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