Last week I talked about the fact that many women are choosing to reduce the size of their breast implants these days, and I touched on the fact that for some of them the question is not one of appearance but of discomfort—or even of pain. For those who don’t have extremely large breasts, this may not seem like a serious issue; but the physical effects that oversized breasts can have on the body are anything but trivial, and for those who suffer from them, a breast reduction can mean a real improvement in quality of life. Extremely large breasts can cause severe back and neck pain, numbness in the fingers, and shortness of breath. They have even been linked to migraines in some cases, not to mention the fact that they can interfere with basic activities like exercising and sitting comfortably at a desk. Though we don’t yet have all the facts on why all of these issues arise, we do know that it’s partly to do with the way that the weight of large breasts causes the shoulders to pull forward. This places pressure on the nerves in the area of the body where your ribs and shoulder blades come together, squeezing them and causing pain.
While physical therapy, weight loss, and pain medication can help to alleviate some of the pain incurred by overly large breasts, breast reduction is often the only surefire way to address it. The positive effects of eliminating the pull caused by large breasts by making them smaller are almost immediately evident; and at least one study has even shown that reducing your breasts can mean reducing your risk for spine disorders. Most women who decide to undergo reduction surgery are happy they did—in fact, according to the ASAPS, “level of patient satisfaction from breast reduction is among the highest of any plastic surgery procedure.”
If the size of your breasts is causing you neck soreness, backaches, or any other kinds of discomfort, please schedule a free consultation with us here at the San Francisco Plastic Surgery & Laser Center . . . and take the first step toward a new, pain-free you!