Society tells women that being well-endowed is a blessing, but, in reality, sometimes this physical feature provides more discomfort than enjoyment. Many women struggle with back pain as a result of their endowments, and others will have a combination of both neck and shoulder pain in addition to back issues. Larger breasts can often impact a woman’s ability to play sports comfortably, and they can draw undesired attention.
However, there are some women who simply want to reduce the size of their naturally large breasts. At the same time, many women begin researching possible reduction procedures may read about several myths surrounding this plan of action. Sometimes, less is more, and a breast reduction surgery is just the way to add to one’s life.
Women can achieve smaller breasts simply by losing weight.
First, let’s take into consideration that not every woman with large breasts is overweight. Now, that’s not to say that exercise and diet won’t have any effect at all on the size of one’s breasts. Physicians should encourage their patients to engage in regular exercise; however, women who are well-endowed yet maintain an otherwise normal weight will see little change if any to their breast size by dieting and exercise alone.
Simply put, weight loss can’t produce the same results that a reduction can. Breasts aren’t made up of fatty tissue solely. They are made of both glandular tissue and fatty tissue. Yes, women who lose a significant amount of weight may also see a reduced breast size, but a reduction will focus on both the glandular tissue and the fatty tissue. Therefore, patients opting for a reduction will see greater results than women who simply resort to weight loss in order to achieve a smaller breast size.
It’s also important to understand that a liposuction procedure won’t have the same effect as a reduction. Liposuction removes fatty tissue, not glandular tissue. So, the effect would be the same as weight loss. The only way to safely remove glandular tissue is through a reduction procedure.
Some women believe they won’t be able to breastfeed after a reduction.
During a modern reduction procedure, your surgeon will be able to carry out the operation without removing the nipple from the underlying tissue. This is called an inferior pedicle technique, and it’s the most common way to perform a reduction. Today, it’s a very rare occasion when a nipple would need to be removed in order to carry out the procedure. However, physicians do recommend that you wait at least three to six months after you discontinue breastfeeding before scheduling a procedure. This will allow ample time for your breasts to return to a normal size.
In the interest of full disclosure, there are situations where breastfeeding moms who have had a reduction prior to the birth of their child do experience some difficulty with the practice. In most cases, the mother may have a limited supply of milk, or there could be nerve damage to the nipple or areola. However, breastfeeding moms need not be discouraged. There are options that can assist moms who may fall into this category. Lactation aids may be recommended by your physician, and there are certain herbs that help to stimulate a mother’s milk supply.
You should discuss with your surgeon that you intend to breastfeed in the future prior to undergoing surgery. Together, you can make the best decision for your present and future health.
Reductions aren’t covered by insurance.
This myth has some partial truth. Most plastic surgery procedures are not covered by insurance, so most people assume that a reduction would fall into that category. However, if a reduction is being done in order to reduce pain or to prevent physical stress due to overly large breasts, then it’s very possible your insurance company will cover the procedure just as they would any other type of surgery. It’s important to talk with your particular insurance provider just to be sure.
Many insurance companies will pay for a reduction for two reasons. If a physician has said that a woman may have back problems – especially those that might require surgery later on in life – or a woman may develop other health problems due to overly large breasts, the insurance company will pay for this preventative type of surgery. Insurance companies also appreciate the fact that most reduction procedures don’t require further surgical operations to keep up the original surgery.
A reduction is the same as a breast lift.
People tend to confuse the idea of a breast lift and a reduction. While some plastic surgeons will do these procedures in tandem, they are actually two different operations. This is especially true if the reduction consists of a liposuction procedure without a lift. These breasts could be left drooping, so the surgeon will move the breast tissue higher and firm up the remaining breast tissue.
Then again, many reductions and lifts are often simply done at the same time as a matter of convenience. Plus, patients don’t have to worry about going under anesthesia twice, and it doing these procedures in tandem means only having one recovery time instead of two.
Many patients believe they’re able to choose a cup size.
Most women think if they have a reduction procedure, they’ll simply go down one or two cup sizes. However, after a reduction, it’s not always predictable exactly what cup size a woman will end up having.
What should happen between you and your plastic surgeon is to look at before and after pictures of women with similar builds so that you as a patient can get an idea of what the results will be. Furthermore, once the procedure is completed, your breasts will swell. Therefore, a period of two weeks or more may pass before you’re able to see the true results of the procedure.
Consulting with and utilizing a professional and experienced plastic surgeon is the first and best way to ensure that patients have successful operations.
