Self Conscious About Your Large Breasts? Consider Breast Reduction Surgery

Women with under-developed breasts can be self conscious. In the same manner, women with large, heavy breasts also experience the same feelings of being self conscious, and struggling with thoughts of poor self image. Over-development of a woman's breasts can potentially be at the root cause various issues involving self-esteem, self-confidence and self image. In addition, large, heavy pendulous breasts also contribute an added difficulty for physical activity, posture, backaches and undesired attention in public. Breast Reduction Surgery can help to treat all of these issues associated with overly large breasts.

Over the course of many years, plastic surgeons have worked to perfect the short scar approach to reduce the size of the breasts, which, in turn relieves back pain, promotes better posture, and improves the shape and contour of the breasts.

Insurance plans may cover breast reduction surgery. However, denial by an insurance plan or a request by that plan for a harsh or excessive reduction prompts many patients to go outside the ordinary insurance coverage to seek help. Anyone considering the surgery procedure, should first consult with a plastic surgeon and research the procedure. This is an important step and one that should not be taken lightly.

Breast Reduction in Scottsdale Arizona

Of all plastic and reconstructive surgery procedures, patients who have had breast reduction surgery report one of the highest satisfaction ratings. For many women with large breasts, neck and back pain is a chronic problem. Heavy breasts can also cause grooves int he shoulders under the bra straps, rashes and skin irritations underneath the breasts and women of all ages with large breasts are also frequently the target of teasing, and social exclusion. Breast Reduction surgery provides relief from these problems in over ninety percent of patients who have this procedure.

Only about half of all patients' breast size is related to their body weight. When asked about a woman's breast size being directly related to body weight Scottsdale, Arizona plastic surgeon Patti Flint MD states" This is certainly not true in all patients. I have cared for many patients who have lost large amounts of weight without a single bra cup size decrease."

Breast reduction surgery procedures are meant for patients whose breasts are overly large for their frame and as a result they suffer the associated symptoms. However, there are also many patients who elect to have breast reduction surgery as a result of feeling self conscious about the size of their breasts, and desire a smaller chest, but are not yet experiencing the pain and physical complications. For both types of patient, there is a noticeable increase in self esteem, energy levels and improvement in posture after surgery and recovery.

Plastic Surgery Q&A - Breast Reduction

The size of my breasts are very large and sag. Can a breast reduction help me?

You may be a good candidate for breast reduction if you have: breasts that are too large in proportion to your body frame; heavy, pendulous breasts with nipples and areolas that point downward; one breast is much larger than the other; back, neck or shoulder pain caused by the weight of your breasts; skin irritation beneath your breasts; indentations in your shoulders from tight bra straps; restriction of physical activity due to the size and weight of your breasts; or dissatisfaction or self-consciousness about the largeness of your breasts.

Breast reduction can be performed at any age, but plastic surgeons usually recommend waiting until breast development has stopped. Childbirth and breast-feeding may have significant and unpredictable effects on the size and shape of your breasts. Nevertheless, many women decide to undergo breast reduction before having children and feel that they can address any subsequent changes later. If you plan to breast-feed in the future, you should discuss this with your plastic surgeon.

Gynecomastia Affects Half Of All Men, But Surgery Can Help

Gynecomastia is the proper medical term used to describe irregular breast development in males. Gynecomastia is a condition that affects almost half of males during development and it is a fairly common condition that can occur on either one or both sides of the chest. This condition is the result of extra breast tissue, fat, or both. Usually, gynecomastia develops during a normal phase of development. This condition can happen at the beginning stages of puberty, however in most cases reverts by the age of 20. This condition can also happen during aging in normally healthy males. Other "pathological" causes of gynecomastia can occur, usually due to both a decline in the production of the male hormone testosterone, and an increase in the production of the female hormone estrogen. The use of certain drugs can also contribute to the cause of gynecomastia.

A plastic surgeon will usually treat this condition by reducing the size of the soft tissues by removal of the fatty tissues through a liposuction procedure or through the open removal of the breast's glandular tissues through a tiny incision around the areola. In cases where the patient has excessive amounts of skin, longer incisions are ultimately necessary for the removal of the excess skin and tissue. These longer incisions will also result in a larger scar.

What Is Breast Reduction Surgery?

Breast Reduction surgery, also known as Reduction Mammoplasty surgery, is a breast procedure designed to reduce breast size and weight by removing excess breast tissue, fat and skin. During a breast reduction surgery procedure, the plastic surgeon reduces the breasts to create a more proportionate figure, and also lifts the breasts.

According to the ASPS, more than 114,000 Breast Reduction surgeries were performed in 2005 on women who had excessively large breasts, conditions also known as Macromastia, Mammary Hypertrophy and Mammary Gigantism. Some girls experience over-development of thier breasts (Mammary Hypertrophy) during puberty, while some women develop very large breasts (Gigantomastia) during pregnancy. All of these women chose breast reduction surgery because it was the best method of correction for the physical and emotional issues that are caused by excess breast weight. For many with Mammary Hypertrophy, the mere weight of the breasts makes it impossible to maintain any kind of regular exercise plan.

A woman with "F" cup breasts is carrying approximately six pounds more than a woman with "D" cup breasts. This additional weight is sustained in the neck, back and shoulders, causing chronic pain in these areas of the body. Many find relief through the use of strong narcotics and muscle relaxants, leading to possible physical addiction, and emotional anguish. With these considerations, Mammary Hypertrophy is a physical disability. Breast reduction surgery can be the answer to these issues for women with overly large breasts.

What Is Breast Reduction?

Women with very large, pendulous breasts may experience a variety of medical problems caused by the excessive weight-from back and neck pain and skin irritation to skeletal deformities and breathing problems. Bra straps may leave indentations in their shoulders. And unusually large breasts can make a woman-or a teenage girl-feel extremely self-conscious.

Breast reduction surgery, technically known as reduction mammaplasty, is designed for such women. The procedure removes fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts, making them smaller, lighter, and firmer. It can also reduce the size of the areola, the darker skin surrounding the nipple. The goal is to give the woman smaller, better-shaped breasts in proportion with the rest of her body.

If you're considering breast reduction, this will give you a basic understanding of the procedure- when it can help, how it's performed, and what results you can expect. It can't answer all of your questions, since a lot depends on your individual circumstances. Please be sure to ask your doctor if there is anything about the procedure you don't understand.

The Best Candidates for Breast Reduction

Breast reduction is usually performed for physical relief rather than simply cosmetic improvement. Most women who have the surgery are troubled by very large, sagging breasts that restrict their activities and cause them physical discomfort.

In most cases, breast reduction isn't performed until a woman's breasts are fully developed; however, it can be done earlier if large breasts are causing serious physical discomfort. The best candidates are those who are mature enough to fully understand the procedure and have realistic expectations about the results. Breast reduction is not recommended for women who intend to breast-feed.

Your New Look
Although much of the swelling and bruising will disappear in the first few weeks, it may be six months to a year before your breasts settle into their new shape. Even then, their shape may fluctuate in response to your hormonal shifts, weight changes, and pregnancy.

Of all plastic surgery procedures, breast reduction results in the quickest body-image changes. You'll be rid of the physical discomfort of large breasts, your body will look better proportioned, and clothes will fit you better.