Many plastic surgeons I’ve met place breast reduction surgery at or near the top of the list of procedures they enjoy. Why? Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammaplasty, has the power not just to transform a woman’s figure, but to give her a whole new outlook on life as well.
If you haven’t carried around breasts too big for your frame, it’s difficult to imagine what it can be like. Physically, huge breasts are truly a burden. The extra weight causes neck, shoulder and back aches, and can even create deep, painful grooves from bra straps. Many women find it hard to get comfortable enough to get a good night sleep regularly and some even wear bras to bed.
The emotional distress caused by large breasts can be even more difficult to bear than the physical discomfort. Women report that their bust line is the first thing others notice about them — especially in their teen years. Many report hearing whispers behind their back and even being taunted about their figures.
Large breasts almost inevitably hold women back in some ways. One woman I talked with told me how she longed to be more active, but speaking both physically and psychologically, she could not bring herself to engage in athletics. “You would never catch me jogging,” she said. Another woman told me her self-confidence wasn’t what it should be in part because she always felt frumpy. She had a very difficult time finding career clothes that fit, and even when they fit reasonably well they weren’t exactly stylish.
Perhaps you can begin to see why breast reduction surgery is so rewarding for plastic surgeons. With this procedure, they get the rare chance to give a woman something she has not experienced since childhood: freedom from huge, heavy breasts and the chance to lead a more active, self-confident life. Most plastic surgeons want nothing more than to delight their patients, and in post-op appointments it’s not unusual for patients to express excitement, elation and even joy.
And if plastic surgeons feel this way about performing the procedure, just imagine how breast reduction patients react to their new figures! As the formerly frumpy patient put it, “Breast reduction has been a life-changing experience for me.”