The majority of women are dissatisfied with the size of their natural breasts. While some women seek breast augmentation procedures to achieve fuller breasts, others opt for breast reduction surgery to reduce their breast size. Breast reduction is a common goal for women who feel that their large breasts affect their personal and professional lives. Besides affecting your self-esteem, large breasts can cause physical discomforts like back pain and neck pain. Although women primarily do the procedure, Matthew J. Lynch MD offers breast reduction for men with gynecomastia.
Who is a good candidate for breast reduction?
Breast reduction is usually an option for women with large breasts that are out of proportion to the rest of the body. Most of the time, large breasts feel heavy, causing physical discomfort, and may also affect your appearance. The following are signs that you may be a perfect candidate for breast reduction.
- You are unhappy about having larger or heavier breasts.
- Your breast development has stopped; you are over 18 years.
- The size and weight of your breasts are causing pain in your neck, shoulders, and back.
- Finding bras and shirts that fit comfortably has become challenging due to your large breasts.
- You have shoulder indentations due to bra straps or chronic rashes below your breasts.
However, consulting your surgeon is necessary to ensure that breast reduction is what you need. You may think you need a breast reduction when a breast lift is an ideal procedure. A breast lift repositions your breasts to a higher part of your chest, giving you a perkier, more youthful shape. Sometimes your surgeon may suggest combining a breast reduction with a breast lift for the best outcome. Due to the various options available, discussing your goals with your plastic surgeon is essential to establish the proper procedure.
Breast reduction has a high satisfaction rate; most patients are usually happy with the results and the relief once the extra weight is eliminated. If you are in pain due to large breasts, the sooner you get breast reduction surgery, the earlier you enjoy a better quality of life.
Breast reduction surgery consultation
Before surgery, you will have to meet with your plastic surgeon to discuss your medical history, including whether you wive had any previous breast procedures or medical conditions affecting your breast. Your specialist will also ask you about your family’s medical history to establish your eligibility for surgery. Be prepared to discuss your motivation and goals with your surgeon; this may be uncomfortable, but you want to be as open as possible. You may also talk about the emotional and physical issues you have dealt with regarding your breasts.
Your surgeon will take photos of your breasts; these may serve as a reference point after surgery. You will receive some pre-operative guidelines to help you prepare for surgery. Your specialist may also order a mammogram or breast exam before surgery. Your plastic surgeon may caution against breast reduction if you are a heavy smoker because smoking risks slow-healing wounds and infection. You may need to stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs and blood thinners before surgery to avoid excessive bleeding and bruising.
If you are unhappy with the size of your breasts, consult your surgeon at Matthew J. Lynch, MD, to know whether breast reduction is an option for you.
