Breast reduction is a common operation for women whose breast size makes them uncomfortable.
This discomfort may be purely physical: the large, heavy breasts can cause dragging pain on the neck sin, it may cause back and neck pain due to the stress of fighting the weight all the time. Heavy breasts can cause hunched, round-shouldered posture and and make the fitting of clothes difficult. The dragging can give rise to chronic headaches and even severe back pain. And it does not stop there: very large breasts can cause hygiene issues with the formation of rashes under the breasts from constant sweating and irritation.
Then again, many women’s discomfort is mental and social. Very large breasts, particularly in yong women, make you a target for unwanted attention and lewd comments. Often this will result in social withdrawal, loss of confidence and problems with interpersonal relationships.
Breast reduction surgery of some kind sometimes becomes the only option for addressing some of these issues. Breast reduction can relieve most of these concerns and its benefits have always been recognised. Howwever, traditional breast reduction techniques have had some significant drawbacks, such as extensive breast scars, decreased nipple sensation and the inability to breastfeed afterwards.
Breast reduction surgery has seen steady development over the past two decades, particularly in terms of the preservation of sensation, the ability to breastfeed and the minimisation of scars.
One technique that is becoming common for women with moderately large breasts is liposuction. While the technique does not produce a breast lift, it can reliably reduce breast size by two cups, essentially without scars and without loss of sensation. The ability to breastfeed is also preserved.
There are two other techniques that combine the minimisation of scars with a breast lift.
The first is known as the vertical scar or “lollipop reduction. This method delivers a breast lift as well as reduction, but partially or completely eliminates the incision in the breast crease.
Another method eliminates the vertical scar, which is actually the scar that tends to show the most after traditional breast reduction. Again, this new method minimises the scar and preserves the ability to breastfeed after surgery.
These three techniques have revolutionised the field of breast reduction surgery. Whilst most women with large breasts have always appreciated the benefits of reduction surgery, many have baulked at actually undergoing the procedure due to concerns over scarring and the possible inability to breast feed afterwards. However, in this day and age, many women could benefit from the modern operations to reduce these concerns.