Understanding Female Breast Reduction Surgery

When we think of plastic surgery, one of the first associations we make is with breast augmentation surgery. However, breast reduction surgery is another incredibly common plastic surgery procedure. With breast reduction, large breasts are reduced in size to treat a range of complications, from chronic back pain to sleep problems. Also known as macromastia, having large breasts can be a major strain on your body, and often, the only solution is surgical reduction.

Symptoms of Macromastia

Having large breasts, or macromastia, can lead to a wide range of physical problems and bodily system disturbances. If you have symptomatic macromastia, you may experience chronic pain in your back, shoulders, and neck. Large breasts can also cause headaches, sleep disturbances, chest wall pain, shortness of breath, shoulder grooving, and poor posture. You may also experience a low tolerance for exercise, which can lead to obesity. Other symptoms include numbness and tingling of the hands and rashes that appear in between and under your breasts as well as where your bra straps lie on your body.

Non-Surgical Treatment

Many wonder if breast reduction surgery is truly necessary for such symptoms associated with having large breasts. If your symptoms are only mild or occur infrequently, you may be able to treat them using anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, heat packs, chiropractic treatment, or massage. However, if your symptoms are chronic and severe, it is unlikely that you will find a permanent solution other than surgery.

Breast Reduction Surgery

If you have large breasts and are experiencing serious symptoms, breast reduction surgery, or mammaplasty, may be an option for you. Breast reduction surgery offers many benefits because it directly treats the cause of your symptoms. Such benefits include improved sleep, skeletal stability, lung function, and overall physically functioning. You may also find relief from pain and fewer headaches, and breast reduction may make it easier to perform your mammography. With this type of surgery, patient satisfaction rates are extremely high.