This is a question that I get asked quite often, and it’s one that I’m happy to answer. Because the reality is that we live in a society where breast size is something that we obsess over. We all want to be proud of our bodies, but we also want to feel comfortable in our own skin and not feel like we need to hide ourselves or be ashamed of our bodies. But when you have large breasts, it can be hard to feel that way. You might feel like you’re constantly being judged by other people—like you’re being looked at as if your body isn’t good enough because it doesn’t fit into their idea of what a “perfect” body looks like. It can be really hard to feel confident when you’re always worried about what other people think about the way your body looks (or doesn’t look).
But don’t worry! There IS help out there! And one option for helping with those pesky big boobs is getting a breast reduction surgery done. This procedure can help reduce your breast size by up to two cup sizes (sometimes even more!).
average size for breast reduction
Regardless of a patient’s height or weight, we find that as long as the nipple height is near the height of the inframammary fold, and the distance from the nipple to the fold is not more than 10-12cm, then patients are pretty comfortable with their breast size. With these measurements, a woman’s bra straps do not have to work very hard to keep the breast in a centered position. We would rarely see such measurements in patients seeking reduction surgery unless they were in the active athlete category and wanted the benefit of a smaller size so they could more easily take part in their profession or hobby, such as tennis, gymnastics, golf, or running. ( The “sports reduction”, as I call it, is a fantastic procedure in the right patient).
Every woman has looked in the mirror and wished she could change something about her body. For many women, especially those who have been pregnant, their most significant concern is the size of their breasts. At Southwest Michigan Plastic and Hand Surgery in Portage, MI, we’d like you to know that you don’t have to settle for heavy, sagging breasts. Today, we highlight one of our most popular procedures: breast reduction.
What Is a Breast Reduction?
Breast reduction, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a procedure that removes excess skin, fat and other tissue from your breasts. While it is extremely popular among women, it is also the most popular procedure received by men.
Most women opt for reduction mammoplasty to relieve back pain, help them lose weight and achieve more proportional contours. For men, reduction mammoplasty is popular to treat gynecomastia.
What Is Gynecomastia?
Gynecomastia is a medical condition characterized by swollen male breast tissue. This may be caused by weight gain, but it is almost always the result of hormonal imbalances. Puberty, aging, medications and other health conditions can all be responsible for too much estrogen or not enough testosterone in men.
Unfortunately, gynecomastia causes uncomfortable, sometimes painful swelling. Even worse, it wreaks havoc on a man’s self-confidence, preventing him from participating in certain activities, like swimming, water polo and pick-up basketball.
So if, for example, a patient comes into the office with a starting breast measurement of 35 cm nipple to neck, and 15 cm to the fold under the breast, then we can be VERY sure that our final result will be MUCH more comfortable. If we raise the nipple height to the level of the fold under the breast (24 cm is likely in this patient) and define a distance from the nipple to the fold of 8 cm, then in most cases, this patient will be a small D cup after surgery. For a very wide and heavier patient, the bra size may still be a DD, though a more slender patient may end up with a C cup with these same measurements. but most all patients will end up very happy!
How Many Sizes Can You Go Down in a Breast Reduction?
There are many women who want to have larger breasts, and then there are those who want the exact opposite. If your natural breasts are larger than you would like or interfere with your ability to complete everyday tasks, then it might be time to consider a surgical solution. At My Cosmetic Clinic in Crows Nest, we know that breast reduction surgery can help you feel more comfortable with the appearance of your body.
How Many Sizes Can You Go Down in a Breast Reduction?
Generally speaking, most women seek to reduce the size of their breasts by at least one or two cup sizes. Ideally, the amount of breast tissue you eliminate should create a natural-looking silhouette, meaning that the proportions of your body will be evenly balanced. Women who have especially large breasts may need to reduce the size of their breasts by additional cup sizes to achieve the desired aesthetic goal.
What Is Removed During Reduction?
Breast reduction surgery removes three main components from the breast: unwanted fat, excess glandular tissue, and loose skin. The amount of each component removed during your reduction will be determined by your aesthetic goals, as well as the exact composition of your breasts.
For example, some women have breasts composed of more fatty tissue than glandular tissue, which means more fat will be removed during surgery. Any excess skin will also be removed during surgery, which will in turn help lift breasts into a higher and tighter position. The amount of unwanted breast tissue removed during surgery will correlate directly with the size, shape, and firmness of the breast after you are fully recovered.
How Much Weight Does Reduction Equal?
The amount of weight taken off your body by a breast reduction will be determined by the current size of your breasts and the amount of tissue that is being removed. On average, the range of breast tissue removed for most reduction surgeries is in the range of 450 and 600 grams. If you have larger breasts or you desired more tissue removed, you may be able to shed as much as 1 kilogram of weight from your body.
What Are Common Reasons for Women to Seek Reduction?
Women seek reduction surgery for many reasons, including first and foremost the desire to feel better about their overall appearance. The most common reasons to seek this surgery include:
Pain and Skin Irritation
Breasts that are overly large for your body frame can cause a lot of problems. Specifically, women who have large breasts also tend to have neck, shoulder, and back pain caused by stress on the muscular-skeletal system created by top-heavy weight at the front of the body. Some women also experience skin irritation under the fold of the breasts, such as painful chafing. Large breasts may also be more prone to tenderness.
Daily Attire and Intimate Clothing
Large breasts may pose a problem in terms of fitting into daily attire and intimate clothing. One issue, in particular, is finding well-fitting bras, which can be another source of pain from uncomfortable underwire and straps digging into shoulders. It may also be difficult to find supportive athletic clothing or tops that fit as designed.
Difficulties During Everyday Activities
Sometimes large breasts can even get in the way of everyday activities, including carrying or moving objects and participating in gym activities. The issue of larger breasts interfering with athletic activities can be a causal factor for other health issues, as well, since it can be hard to find a gym activity that is comfortable to perform.
Low Self-Confidence
Large breasts can also be a problem in terms of a woman’s self-esteem and self-confidence. For example, women with large pendulum-shaped breasts may struggle with self-esteem because overly large breasts have a less firm appearance, with a lower position on the chest wall.
What Is the Goal Result of Reduction Surgery?
The goal of reduction surgery is to restore balance to your body proportions and to lift breasts to a higher position with a firmer texture. This means the overall goal is to make the breasts lighter, tighter, and firmer with a higher position on the body. Other goals of reduction surgery include less physical pain or discomfort caused by overly large breasts.
Is Reduction Surgery Safe?
A reduction is a surgical procedure that necessitates the use of general anesthesia, which has several risk factors that may disqualify some patients from the procedure. Overall, a reduction is considered a safe procedure, but patients can expect to feel some pain, bruising, swelling, and an extended healing period to recover from the surgery. However, most patients are recovered within 3 to 5 weeks of surgery.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Reduction surgery can be used as a restorative procedure for maturing women or for women who are no longer breastfeeding. Good candidates for this procedure include those who are healthy enough to tolerate invasive surgical techniques. You are likely a good candidate for breast reduction surgery if you want to:
- Reduce breast size
- Have firmer brests
- Enjoy higher and more youthful breast position
- Diminish physical pain and discomfort
- Fit more easily into clothing and intimate wear
- Restore self-confidence
Relieve Your Daily Difficulties With Breast Reduction Surgery
There are many women who wish to have smaller breasts for the sake of their physical comfort and their ability to do everyday tasks, including exercise. If you believe that breast reduction surgery is the best way to simplify your life and improve your self-confidence, contact My Cosmetic Clinic in Crows Nest to schedule your consultation appointment today.