Should I Get a Breast Reduction? Our Take:

At Charlotte Plastic Surgery, we hear from many women who aren’t totally satisfied with the size or appearance of their breasts. Through subtle cosmetic surgery, we’re able to help these women feel more confident in the way they look.

With that said, not all patients have the same end goals. While some women wish for their breasts to be a bit larger, we also hear from women who wish their breasts could be smaller. Our surgeons perform many breast reduction procedures, which decrease breast volume and can improve overall health, happiness, and quality of life.

Maybe you’ve asked yourself this question: Should I get a breast reduction? In this post, we’ll provide some general information about what the procedure entails and list some reasons why it might be beneficial. Hopefully, this will allow you to make a fully informed decision. With that said, you’re always welcome to reach out to us with any specific questions you may have.

What is Breast Reduction?

Before we address the question of should I get a breast reduction, let’s tackle the fundamentals: What does this surgery actually involve?

During breast reduction surgery, your surgeon will remove excess breast tissue and breast fat. Then, the surgeon will reshape, resize, and lift the breasts. The goal is to provide the patient with a breast size that is more proportional to their body.

Note that our surgeons also offer breast implant removal, but that’s not really what we’re discussing here. Breast reduction is for women who simply don’t like the natural size of their breasts and wish to have some of their volume removed.

Why Get a Breast Reduction?

There are a number of reasons why women choose to have their breast size reduced, starting with simple aesthetics. You may feel as though your breasts are just too large for your frame, out of proportion with the rest of your body. That’s a perfectly fine reason to consider a breast reduction.

Other women choose to have a breast reduction due to medical complications. For example, oversized breasts can lead to very real pain and discomfort in the neck, back, and shoulders. We also hear from a lot of women who develop yeast infections and other skin irritations on the underside of the breasts. Often, breast reduction can alleviate this problem.

And of course, oversized breasts can lead to practical considerations: A lot of women with larger breasts find it difficult to find clothing that fits properly. They may also find it hard to find bras that fit them; and even if they do, irritation along the bra line is quite common.

The bottom line is that, while many women wish their breasts could be a bit bigger, there are plenty of others who deal with real physical pain and mental distress due to their oversized breasts. A breast reduction procedure can provide relief, and help these women enjoy a higher quality of life. That’s why we’re pleased to offer breast reductions to our patients at Charlotte Plastic Surgery.

When Should I Get a Breast Reduction? A Checklist

To help you make an informed decision about whether you might be a good candidate for breast reduction, we’ve put together a checklist. If any of these statements describe you, then you may qualify for this procedure, and we invite you to reach out to learn more.

• You deal with persistent neck, back, or shoulder pain. This pain persists even after you seek therapeutic interventions, such as yoga, massage, or medication.
• Your bra leaves deep grooves or indentations along with your shoulder blades or the upper part of your back.
• You have limited physical movement due to the size of your breasts, or you simply feel uncomfortable with activities like running or jogging.
• You have persistent skin infections, including yeast or fungal infections, on or under your breasts; and you find that you regularly need to use creams and ointments to alleviate these infections.
• The skin on your breasts is saggy or stretched.
• You have a low breast profile, meaning the nipple/areola falls below the breast crease.
• You have an enlarged areola due to stretched skin.
• It’s difficult to find clothing or undergarments that fit properly.
• You simply feel uncomfortable or self-conscious about the size of your breasts.

Again, if you fall into any of these categories, you may be a good candidate for breast reduction. We’d love to talk with you further about when to get a breast reduction.

Breast Reduction at Charlotte Plastic Surgery

If our checklist causes you to think should I get a breast reduction, we invite you to consider the next steps. First, reach out to Charlotte Plastic Surgery directly, and set up a consultation with one of our surgeons.

During the COVID era, we’re doing a lot of our consultations virtually, to put patient safety first. During this private, one-on-one conversation, we’ll talk with you more about your goals, explain the breast reduction process, and answer any questions you might have. We’ll want to ask you more about your reasons for seeking breast reduction and to ensure this is the right procedure to address your needs.

It’s also important to us that we verify your general health and wellbeing. In rare instances, underlying medical issues make breast reduction risky or increase your chances of a rocky recovery period. As such, our surgeons always like to cover some basic medical history before any procedure.

Also note that, during your consultation, we’ll talk with you further about the recovery period, helping you plan ahead for the necessary downtime.

Most of all, however, we’ll work with you to set the right expectations, helping you get a sense of what your results will look like and how your quality of life might be improved.

Contact Charlotte Plastic Surgery to Learn More

Would you like to set up a consultation, or simply to ask more questions about breast reduction? Reach out to our office whenever you’re ready.