Is Breast Reduction Surgery Right for Me?

What do these celebrities have in common?

• Drew Barrymore
• Christina Ricci
• Roseanne Barr
• Patricia Heaton
• Queen Latifah
• Loni Anderson

They have all undergone breast reduction surgery, otherwise known as mammaplasty. Thousands of women undergo the surgery every year and it now shares the same popularity as face-lifts. When compared to other cosmetic surgery procedures (rhinoplasty, breast implants, liposuction, tummy tuck, etc.), breast reduction surgery usually provides more satisfaction to patients. If you have large and heavy breasts, the extra weight could be causing you many health problems.

Neck, shoulder, and back pain - Heavy breasts can throw off the alignment of your spine. The excess weight strains the muscles in your upper body which can lead to chronic pain.

Headaches - Women commonly experience relief from every kind of headache after breast reduction surgery, including migraines.

Irritation of skin and rashes - Skin becomes irritated under the bra. Rashes can break out when there is too much skin-to-skin contact and sweating.

Fatigue - Breast reduction surgery usually reduces between 4-10 pounds of body weight. Of course, women who carry this extra weight commonly feel tired.

Insomnia and other sleeping disorders - Sleeping on the stomach may be out of the question because of large breast size. Sleeping on the back may be uncomfortable because the breasts shift.

Shortness of breath - Many women find it cumbersome to exercise because of their large breasts so it's difficult to stay in shape. Also, the lungs must work harder to expand with the added weight.  Breast reduction surgery has been shown to improve breathing.

Poor posture and rounded shoulders - Heavy breasts force your neck and shoulders forward, resulting in poor posture.

Shoulder grooving - Years of pressure from bra straps can cause permanent damage to the shoulders.

Women with significant symptoms that are due to heavy breasts are less productive.  They limit their activities because of pain and therefore are less fit.  They tire more easily and are less likely to take on new challenges.  In the workplace this may translate into an employee who is more susceptible to job-related injury and therefor may need more time off from work.  A woman looking for employment will reject certain jobs if she feels she is not physically up to its requirements (for example, being on her feet or bending over a wortable for eight hours).

If you experience any of these problems due to excess breast weight, you may be an excellent candidate for breast reduction surgery.