Medically reviewed by Dr. Omar Tillo MD, MS, EBOPRAS, FRCS (Plast) For many women, bra strap discomfort is a very common issue.
There are a few tips and tricks to get around this problem, and in this article, we will explore some of the best advice for anyone suffering from painful bra strap indentations.
What Causes Bra Strap Indentations?
One of the most frequent causes of bra strap indentations is when overly heavy breasts lead to increased pressure from your bra straps. This excess pressure digs into your skin, which can lead to uncomfortable and often painful grooves.
How to Get Rid of Grooves From Bra Straps
Here are a few key tips to getting rid of those frustrating bra strap grooves:
Apply Topical Solutions
There are some creams and other topical applications which can be beneficial for the look and feel of bra strap indentations.
Exfoliator and Moisturizer
To remove the dead skin and lighten the marks created by your bra straps, use an exfoliator scrub. This should help to reduce the appearance of the indentations.
A moisturiser can also work to reduce the visibility of indentations by dealing with the dry, red skin caused by chafing.
Makeup
A simple fix for bra strap indentations is to use makeup to cover up the marks left by the straps. There is specific makeup, like those designed to conceal scars, that could be useful here.
Get a Better-Fitting Bra
It is always difficult to get your bra size exactly right, but a professional fitting will go a long way to helping you determine it accurately.
After you understand your sizing better, you can purchase a bra that is much less likely to result in unsightly indentations.
Breast Reduction
Bra strap indentations can be commonplace in women with larger, heavier breasts.
A breast reduction can lower your bra size, thereby dealing with the indentations, as well as a variety of other chronic issues you may be experiencing that are associated with large breasts.
Benefits of Breast Reduction
Deciding to undergo a reduction can have huge benefits for anyone suffering the consequences of overly large breasts. Here are some important examples:
- Opens up new Lifestyles – large breasts can be a real impediment to certain physical activities. By reducing their size, patients feel more able to engage in exercise.
- Deals with back pain – Curvature in the spine caused by heavy breasts often leads to lower back pain, which a reduction can help alleviate.
- Keeps skin issues at bay – Excess breast tissue can lead to skin conditions in the skin folds, such as intertrigo. By reducing breast size, skin conditions like these become far less likely.
How Much Does Breast Reduction Cost?
It is crucial to understand the cost of breast reduction before making any first steps in planning your surgery. At the CREO Clinic in London, breast reduction surgery starts from £8,900.
A bespoke surgery plan will be designed specifically to your needs, and as such, the final cost breakdown will only be available after an initial consultation.
Breast Reduction Procedure
The techniques used for your breast reduction will depend greatly on your needs. The most important factor in determining the incisions used in your surgery will be how extensive a reduction you require.
A circular incision, which goes around the nipple, may be sufficient for a small reduction. However, for larger reductions, an anchor-shaped incision or an inverted t incision may be more suitable.
How Long is Breast Reduction Recovery?
Recovery from breast reduction surgery differs from patient to patient, but, in general, you should be able to return to work and most other activities after two weeks.
However, you will need to wait six weeks to engage in more strenuous activity and heavy lifting.
When Do You See Breast Reduction Results?
After 6 to 12 months, the full results of your breast reduction should be visible. This is the point when inflammation has subsided, and your breasts’ final size and position are revealed.
Schedule a Consultation with CREO Clinic Today
If you are interested in exploring the possibility of a breast reduction, book a consultation with Dr. Omar Tillo, the CREO Clinic’s double board-certified body contouring surgeon.
Dr. Tillo has the experience and expertise necessary to build a personalised treatment plan tailored to your needs to help reshape your breasts to create a more aesthetically pleasing look, helping you feel more comfortable in the skin you live in.