Signs You Need a Breast Reduction

Breast reduction addresses aesthetic as well as functional concerns caused by oversized breasts. This article will highlight tell-tale signs that you may need to undergo breast reduction surgery and how the procedure can improve your quality of life.

At the CREO Clinic, Dr. Omar Tillo is a body contouring and breast reconstructive surgeon, helping patients refine their figures to address their physical and aesthetic concerns. 

If you are struggling with symptoms of oversized breasts or simply wish to reduce their size for aesthetic reasons, contact the CREO Clinic today and speak to a board certified plastic surgeon to find out how a breast reduction surgery can help you feel more comfortable and confident. 

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1. Upper Back, Neck, and Shoulder Pain

Heavy or large breasts can cause discomfort in the upper back, neck, and shoulders due to tension in the trapezius muscle. These areas rely on the spine to keep them aligned, but the heavy weight on the chest places strain on the spine and, accordingly, on the neck and shoulders. In most cases, if this pain is not solved by painkillers, a breast reduction procedure may be necessary.

 2. Difficulty Exercising

Some patients seek a breast reduction surgery due to their breasts becoming an obstacle during exercise. As large breasts have little connective tissue, they take on a large amount of impact when exercising, which can be painful. An ideal candidate for breast reduction may be used to opting for low-impact exercises such as yoga or may avoid exercise entirely due to fear or embarrassment.

3. You Can’t Sit or Stand Up Straight for Long

As large breasts place additional stress on the upper back, it can become difficult to maintain a straight posture for long periods of time. Many patients with larger breasts find that the additional weight can cause the shoulders to be pulled forward, leading to rounded shoulders and an increased curvature in the upper spine. 

These changes in posture can cause pain across the back, shoulders, and neck, leading many to pursue a breast reduction surgery to improve their symptoms. 

4. Difficulty Breathing

The additional weight from large breasts can create additional pressure around the chest, making it more difficult to breathe, particularly when lying flat on your back. As a result, patients may find it more difficult to sleep comfortably. 

For this reason, a breast reduction surgery can provide ample relief for patients struggling to breathe normally due to oversized breasts.

5. Dissatisfaction in Size

A lot of people with a more prominent chest may not feel comfortable in certain clothing due to the size of their breasts. If you are someone who feels dissatisfied by their breast size, often feeling as though they have to dress modestly or can’t wear certain items, a breast reduction may make you feel a lot more confident and satisfied in your body.

6. Breasts Look Disproportionate to the Rest of Your Body

Having oversized, large breasts can disrupt the natural proportions of the body, particularly for those with a smaller frame. A breast reduction can effectively contour the figure to create a bust that is more in line with the shape of the rest of the body.

7. Drastically Uneven or Asymmetrical Breast Sizes

Having major differences in the size of the breasts can present both aesthetic and practical issues. By undergoing a breast reduction to remove excess breast tissue and create a more symmetrical bust, patients can enjoy a more contoured figure and feel more comfortable when wearing fitted clothing.

8. Difficulty Finding Bras

High-street stores and popular brands do not always stock or even manufacture bras in larger cup sizes. Typically, mainstream labels cater only up to size 44DD, which is not suitable for all customers. Furthermore, larger bras do not often come in all available styles due to the use of more material. Therefore, customers may have to compromise on style because of their breast size.

9. Difficulty Fitting Into Your Clothes

It can often be difficult to find suitable clothing when you have a larger chest, particularly if your breast size is not in proportion with the rest of your upper body. A breast reduction can make it easier to find comfort and confidence by wearing tighter clothing and can make shopping much less complicated. 

10. Grooves Form in Your Shoulders from Bra Straps

Heavy, large breasts can cause a downward pull on your bra straps, leading to indentations forming on the shoulders. This can cause pain and irritation to the skin from supporting overly large breasts. A breast surgery can reduce the downward force of the overburdened bra straps on the shoulders, preventing grooves from forming and alleviating associated discomfort. 

11. Rashes Beneath Breasts

Rashes beneath the breasts can be caused by intertrigo, which is an inflammation of the skin where it folds. Excess breast tissue results in trapped moisture and a lack of air circulation, which in turn often causes itching and a burning sensation beneath the breasts. These rashes may be recurrent and increasingly troublesome but may be relieved by breast reduction surgery. 

12. Uncomfortable Sleeping

Large breasts can often limit the number of positions one can sleep in comfortably. For example, sleeping on the stomach puts too much pressure on the breast tissue, whilst sleeping on the side can cause friction between the breasts, also creating rashes and wrinkles on the chest over time. More so, some women may resort to wearing a bra when sleeping to increase comfort, which is an added inconvenience. 

13. Nipples or Areolas Point Downward

The heaviness of disproportionately large breasts can make the nipples and areolas sag and point downward. Some people may believe a breast lift is the most appropriate cosmetic surgery for this. However, in the case of large breasts, a breast reduction may also be needed to rectify the issue and create the ideal body shape. 

14. Poor Posture

Poor posture is also symptomatic of large breasts. Heaviness in the body’s centre of gravity, which is the chest, can cause spinal discomfort, shoulder pain, or neck pain, and explains why those with larger breasts may hunch forward. Some women also develop a habit of hunching to hide their very large breasts due to embarrassment, which can exacerbate the problem. Straightening the back can be strenuous, resulting in disfiguration.

15. You Feel Self-Conscious About Your Breasts in Public

Many women with very large breasts feel self-conscious about their size and worry about unwanted attention they may receive in public. As a result, this can impact their confidence, and they may feel the need to wear less figure-hugging clothing to conceal their breasts as much as possible. By restoring a more modest breast size, a breast reduction can help to reduce these concerns. 

Benefits of Breast Reduction 

Breast reduction surgery is a diverse and often life-altering cosmetic procedure. It is proven to alleviate the aesthetic, physical, and functional symptoms of overly large breasts mentioned above. After your recovery, you can reap the benefits of breast reduction surgery, such as increased mobility, dissipated bodily pain, corrected posture, and ease in simple activities such as sleeping, exercising, and finding the right clothes.

This cosmetic surgery also pairs well with procedures like breast augmentation (known as the ‘additional subtraction’ technique; this combination is ideal for patients with large and sagging breasts and less volume in the upper poles) and breast lift, which means it can be a step towards improving your upper body proportions and increasing self-confidence.

Schedule a Consultation with CREO Clinic Today

Dr. Omar Tillo is a specialist in reconstruction surgery and has extensive experience in conducting breast reduction surgery using a variety of different techniques.

His expertise means that you will have full transparency and guidance throughout the breast reduction process, and his clinical knowledge will give you the best chances for a speedy recovery and positive results. Book a consultation with CREO Clinic today to start your journey.