Gigantomastia: Breast Reduction for Very Large Breasts

Gigantomastia is the development of very large breasts – sometimes referred to as breast hypertrophy or macromastia. This condition can sometimes create functional and aesthetic issues that breast reduction surgery can help resolve by removing excessive breast growth to make the breasts smaller.

This article will explore gigantomastia as a phenomenon and discuss the ways breast reduction can help to improve the quality of life of women experiencing hypertrophic breasts.

The CREO Clinic’s Senior Body Plastic Surgeon and Medical Director, Dr. Omar Tillo, is a highly experienced breast reduction specialist – one who understands the art of remodelling the breasts to suit each patient’s physical and aesthetic needs. 

Contact the CREO Clinic today to find out how Dr. Tillo can relieve your gigantomastia symptoms.

What Is Gigantomastia?

Gigantomastia is broadly defined as breasts that are extremely large and sometimes disproportionate to your body size and shape. Although definitions differ, some practitioners believe an excess of over 2kg in each breast is consistent with gigantomastia.

There is no ‘normal’ breast size, so it can be hard to pin down when a person is experiencing gigantomastia, but a key feature of the condition is that your breasts cause you discomfort in your day-to-day life.

How Much Does Gigantomastia Breast Reduction Cost in London?

At the CREO Clinic in London, the cost of breast reduction surgery begins from £9,900. Every surgery at our clinic is personalised to the patient’s needs, which means a full cost breakdown will only be available after your initial consultation.

Should you wish to spread the cost of your breast reduction over multiple instalments, financing options are available via our financing partner, Chrysalis Finance.

Understanding Symptoms of Gigantomastia

Physical Symptoms

Breast hypertrophy can bring an array of concerning physical symptoms, such as:

• Chronic neck and back pain – The extra weight of heavy breasts can cause long-term pain in the back and neck
• Postural issues – The pull of gravity on larger breasts can cause the spine to curve and for patients to develop a stoop
• Pain in the breasts — Very large breasts can develop chronic pain over time due to the weight and pressure placed on them
• Sagging and drooping – The effects of gravity can lead to sagging or drooping breasts more quickly than lighter breasts 
• Skin conditions – The trapping of moisture between and under the breasts can lead to itching and skin issues such as intertrigo

Psychological and Social Impact

Long-term gigantomastia can also cause social and psychological issues, such as:

• Anxiety – Excess breast tissue can cause some women to feel self-conscious in public and experience anxiety about the prominence of their breasts.
• Limitations on clothing – Large breasts can limit the types of clothing you can wear, reducing fashion choices significantly.
• Limitations on activities – Social activities or activities that require physical movement may be difficult or uncomfortable for women experiencing gigantomastia.
• Difficulty sleeping – The discomfort caused by very large breasts can make it hard to find relaxing positions to sleep in. Disrupted sleep patterns can lead to further anxiety and negatively affect your well-being

Causes and Risk Factors of Gigantomastia

Hormonal Factors

One of the key factors believed to influence gigantomastia is changes in hormones such as those experienced during puberty and pregnancy. These are the two periods women are most likely to see breast hypertrophy develop, which is why certain hormones, such as prolactin and oestrogen are thought to play such a key role in the condition.

Genetic Considerations

Every woman inherits their body shape and size from their parents, so women are more likely to develop gigantomastia if their mother or other female members of their family also have very large breasts.

Environmental Influences

It is also possible to develop very large breasts due to certain environmental influences. For example, diet can play a key role in the development of very large breasts as obesity is thought to be a contributing factor. 

Types of Gigantomastia

Gestational Gigantomastia

It is common for gigantomastia to occur in pregnant women – this is called gestational gigantomastia, or pregnancy-induced gigantomastia. Most women’s breasts increase in size during pregnancy due to hormonal changes and increased milk production, but for some this effect can be exaggerated and cause significant discomfort.

Juvenile Gigantomastia

Female puberty is another key period for the development of gigantomastia. Some adolescents find their breasts develop extremely rapidly and become disproportionately large compared to their size and shape. This is thought to be the result of hormonal changes and the person’s genetic disposition.

Drug-Induced Gigantomastia

On very rare occasions, certain medicines have been known to cause gigantomastia in some women. Drugs such as penicillamine and bucillamine (both used to treat rheumatoid arthritis) are two such examples – the reason for these occurrences is not yet understood.

Idiopathic Gigantomastia

For some women, gigantomastia may have no specific cause or one that cannot be determined. It may be the case that idiopathic gigantomastia is related to a multitude of different factors, and cannot be pinned down to any single cause.

Impact on Breastfeeding With Gigantomastia

There are an array of breast feeding issues that can arise due to gigantomastia. They can be practical/physical, such as issues with positioning, infection, breast pain or skin conditions. Other issues can be more closely related to the function of the breasts, such as problems with latching or insufficient milk production.

Who’s a Good Candidate For Gigantomastia Breast Reduction?

Any woman experiencing a drop in the quality of life due to gigantomastia can enjoy the many significant benefits of breast reduction. Symptoms such as back pain, postural issues and drooping can all be treated and relieved through a bilateral breast reduction surgery. 

The CREO Clinic requires patients to have a BMI of 30 or under to undergo breast reduction – if you’re unsure about your BMI, use our handy BMI calculator.

Who’s Not a Good Candidate?

Women with a BMI over 30 or certain pre-existing conditions may not be a good candidate for breast reduction. During your initial consultation, Dr. Tillo will make a full assessment of your medical history and physical condition to ensure you are a good candidate for the surgery before proceeding with planning.

Diagnosing Gigantomastia

Clinical Assessment

To diagnose your gigantomastia, your General Practitioner can make a full clinical assessment of your and your family’s medical history and look for signs you may need a breast reduction. The conversation will include questions regarding the symptoms you are experiencing, your menstruation history and any medication you may be taking.

Role of Imaging

Depending on your circumstances and medical history, certain imaging practices such as a mammogram or breast ultrasound may be used to rule out the possibility of breast disease or cancer. This is particularly common for women who have a history of breast cancer in their family.

Differential Diagnosis

There can be many causes for gigantomastia and your practitioner may look to provide a differential diagnosis – this involves compiling a list of potential causes based on your medical history and physical examination, then ruling out each potential because one by one. This may involve imaging or diagnostic tests of one or both breasts, which will be reviewed by a practitioner until the most likely diagnosis can be reached.

Treatment Options for Gigantomastia

Addressing Mastitis or Ulcers

For some gigantomastia symptoms such as breast infection (mastitis) or ulcers on the breasts, one of the most common treatments is oral or topical antibiotics. Any treatment for these will also require attentive wound care through cleaning and the application of sterile gauze, where necessary.

Hormonal Treatments

Women’s breast size often increases significantly during pregnancy, so most practitioners will advise women to wait until they have finished breastfeeding before pursuing hormone regulating treatments such as tamoxifen. However, in certain cases these medications can be highly effective.

Surgical Breast Reduction

One of the most effective treatments for gigantomastia is breast reduction surgery. This surgical treatment removes excess skin, fat, and breast tissue, resizing and reshaping the breasts to relieve the physical, psychological, and functional issues gigantomastia can cause. When performed by an experienced surgeon, the results of a breast reduction are both permanent and natural -looking.

Why Choose CREO Clinic For Breast Reduction Treatment

At the CREO Clinic we pride ourselves on providing consistently excellent results for our patients, and we achieve this by choosing first-class practitioners. High-quality breast reduction requires experience and skill, which is why our reduction surgeries are always performed by an accomplished surgeon – one who has already mastered the procedure.

Our Medical Director, Dr. Omar Tillo, has a proven history of creating breast reductions that not only reduce breast size, but also make artful adjustments to re-sculpt the breasts in line with his patient’s aesthetic goals. 

Surgical Breast Reduction Treatments Offered At CREO Clinic

The CREO Clinic offers surgical breast reduction with varying types of incisions depending on the size and shape of your breasts. The severity of gigantomastia means only the anchor-shaped or inverted-T incision will be used, as this allows the most significant tissue removal.

The inverted-T incision makes a circular incision around the areola, with the addition of a vertical incision following down to the breast crease. An additional incision along the breast crease is made to provide greater access to breast tissue. This method allows Dr. Tillo to excise a larger quantity of breast tissue and create a more significant reduction.

Breast Reduction Before and After

Gigantomastia FAQs

Schedule A Consultation At CREO Clinic Today for Gigantomastia Breast Reduction Treatment

Book a consultation at the CREO Clinic to enjoy the many transformative benefits of breast reduction. Our breast reduction specialist, Dr. Omar Tillo, can provide a significant reduction in breast size and remodel the breasts to alleviate the painful and lifestyle-limiting symptoms of breast hypertrophy.