Back pain, poor posture, or general discomfort with the size of the breasts can lead an individual to consider breast reduction surgery. There’s no agreed upon size among doctors as to when breasts are “too big,” so women of all cup sizes do end up seeking the procedure and seeing positive results.
The process still isn’t one to be considered lightly. It’s after all a surgery in which medical professionals come and intervene in the health status of a patient. There are some possible complications like in all kinds of surgery. The Vera Clinic has a good page concerning the actual procedure itself from a medical point of view.
There are still some things left out of the sometimes sterile and clinical explanations of breast reduction surgery. These things include but aren’t limited to:
Ensuring It Truly Is the Right Choice
Before taking the plunge and going under the knife, any prospective patient should do everything in their power to make sure that breast reduction surgery is the only logical next step, as far as having a comfortable bust size is concerned. For instance, breast surgery shouldn’t be considered until the breasts have completely developed. This means that most doctors won’t even consider the procedure on anyone under the age of 18.
Next, the patient should have tried extensively to change the fat or muscle composition of their body through natural methods. Exercise and diet should be employed first to see if the extra breast tissue can be easily remedied through a change in lifestyle.
Also, the reasoning for a breast reduction surgery is considered healthiest if it’s motivated primarily by physical issues, as opposed to mental ones. Physical issues like pain and discomfort, or difficulty maintaining proper hygiene are considered valid physical reasons to pursue breast reduction. But if breast reduction surgery is being sought explicitly to help with someone’s mental headspace, the patient might be better served by a mental health professional than a plastic surgeon.
Reduced Ability/Inability to Breastfeed
One of the most common complications from even the most successful breast reduction procedures is that a woman’s ability to breastfeed can be impaired. The functioning of the breasts can be reduced, so if breastfeeding future children is important to the patient, they should fully understand the possible ramifications of the procedure.
Reduced Sensation
Some women lose feeling in portions or the entirety of the breasts following the procedure. The nervous system can’t always fully sync up to the new breast area. This can result in numbness or loss in sensitivity of the breasts or nipples.
Odd Nipple Positioning
Because the removal of breast tissue is seldom 100% proportional with respect to the entire breast, the nipples may be positioned at a much higher or lower position than they were previously. Some women need to adjust their clothing choices, or to go for a supplementary surgery that moves the nipples to compensate for the change in where the nipples are found.
Insurance May Cover Breast Reduction
If breast reduction surgery is to help with functioning and quality of life, as opposed to being completely cosmetic, there’s a much higher chance an insurance company will pay for it. If your large breasts are impairing your ability to work or to live a normal life, you should consult your insurance company. They may pay for the procedure either in part or in full.
