While breast augmentation continues to be a highly popular procedure with women worldwide, you may be surprised to learn that breast reduction is also one of today’s most often-requested cosmetic solutions. Breast reduction can be a powerful and life-changing procedure for women struggling with back, neck, and shoulder pain and relentless chafing from bra straps. The surgery can restore balance and proportion to the upper body while enhancing self-esteem and confidence.
While the benefits of breast reduction are indisputable, it can be difficult to know the right timing for the procedure, especially if you plan to become pregnant and breastfeed in the future. Pregnancy and childbirth can take a serious toll on your physique, with the potential to distort and even reverse the results of a cosmetic procedure. For this reason, most doctors recommend that patients wait until after having a baby before pursuing breast reduction. In this blog, Dr. Kent "Kye" Higdon, an award-winning body sculpting expert, shares his insights on finding the right timing for your breast reduction.
Understanding Breast Reduction
Breast reduction is a cosmetic procedure that reduces the size of the breasts, alleviating discomfort and self-consciousness. I will remove excess breast tissue, reshaping the breast mounds to appear more proportionate, balanced, and youthful. While it can yield excellent results when performed on its own, many surgeons choose to pair breast reduction with a breast lift or liposuction, and often a tummy tuck, to take results to the next level. Nipple grafting may also be necessary during surgery if the patient wishes to go down multiple cup sizes.
Breast reduction is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes 2-4 hours to complete. Incision placement will depend on the amount of breast tissue that needs to be removed, the amount of skin laxity present, scarring concerns, and personal preferences. Depending on your needs and anatomy, I may recommend a periareolar (donut) incision, a vertical (lollipop) incision, or an anchor (inverted T) incision.
How Can I Tell If I Need a Breast Reduction?
Women choose breast reduction for a wide range of reasons. Most often, they are experiencing physical discomfort and a lack of mobility stemming from oversized, pendulous breasts. Signs that you may need breast reduction include the following:
- Pain in the back, neck, and shoulders
- Irritation and chafing from bra straps that dig into the skin
- Fatigue and loss of stamina
- Loss of enjoyment in sports and hobbies
- Poor posture
- Numbness in the arms and hands
- Difficulty finding clothes, swimwear, or lingerie that fit well
- Loss of self-confidence
- Teasing, taunting, bullying, or catcalling due to oversized breasts
What Is the Best Timing for Undergoing Breast Reduction?
In most cases, I urge patients to wait until after they are finished having children before pursuing breast reduction. The reason for this is that pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing can significantly impact the size and shape of the breasts. If a cosmetic procedure is performed before these changes take place, its results may be compromised, and your investment in your appearance may be forfeited.
Patients who become pregnant after cosmetic breast surgery usually end up needing revision surgery to restore their original aesthetic outcome. Additionally, there is always a risk with breast reduction that the incisions could affect a mother’s ability to breastfeed.
That being said, there are cases in which a woman wishes to obtain relief from the discomfort of oversized breasts right away, knowing that having children is several years off in the future. In this scenario, an open and informative consultation is the best way to proceed and weigh out the pros and cons of breast reduction prior to pregnancy.
What Is the Takeaway?
Breast reduction surgery has among the highest rates of patient satisfaction, as it can dramatically increase patient comfort, well-being, mobility, and peace of mind. However, undergoing the surgery prior to getting pregnant can present certain problems.
Pregnancy, childbirth, and nursing may reverse the contouring changes brought about by plastic surgery, and many women end up needing a revision after becoming moms to restore their original breast reduction results. Additionally, breast reduction surgery has the potential to interfere with breastfeeding.
The best way to determine the right timing for undergoing your breast reduction procedure is to meet with me, a board-certified, aesthetic fellowship-trained, and very experienced plastic surgeon who has performed thousands of breast surgeries and can advise you on the best course of action given your circumstances, anatomy, and goals.
Want to Learn More About Breast Reduction? Contact Higdon Plastic Surgery to Book a Private Consultation!
Don’t spend another moment struggling with back, neck, and shoulder pain from oversized breasts. A breast reduction, performed with artistry, precision, and expertise, can restore your comfort, mobility, confidence, and quality of life. I focus on natural-looking outcomes, carefully tailoring your procedure to your unique goals and preferences for a stunning transformation. Call 615-434-4410 today to get started!
