Debunking Myths About Breast Reduction
While many women wish they had larger breasts, there are probably an equal number who wish that their breasts were smaller. Disproportionately large breasts may hinder a woman’s ability to move freely and comfortably, as well as preventing her from wearing certain clothing.
The weight of overly large breasts often causes strain on the back, shoulders, and neck, not to mention those unsightly and painful grooves caused by bra straps digging into the shoulders. Over time, this can cause significant damage to the musculoskeletal system and result in chronic pain and an array of other problems.
While breast reduction surgery may successfully alleviate these issues, many women hesitate to consider this procedure thanks to myths and misconceptions that have circulated about breast reduction.
Still others may have unreasonable expectations about the procedure, expecting it to perform aesthetic miracles. Below we provide a list of common myths about breast reduction, and the factual information to debunk those myths.
Myth 1: I won’t be able to breast feed after breast reduction surgery.
The truth is, this will only happen to you if you trust a delicate breast surgery to a surgeon with no specialization in breast surgery, and no specialized training in how lactation functions. By trusting your surgery to a reputable plastic surgeon such as Dr. Olga Bachilo, who has extensive experience performing this type of surgery, you greatly improve your chances of successfully breastfeeding after breast reduction surgery. Please be sure to inform Dr. Bachilo that you plan to breast feed in the future during your initial consultation.
Myth 2: I can make my breasts smaller by exercising and losing weight.
While exercising regularly can help you to lose weight and tone your body, as well as providing a slew of health benefits, the likelihood of exercise and weight loss significantly reducing the size of your breasts is slim. Breasts are composed of fatty and glandular tissue. While exercise and weight loss may address excess fatty tissue, glandular tissue, which often develops as a consequence of hormonal influences, is not eliminated by weight loss, and requires surgical removal.
If you are more than 30 pounds overweight, Dr. Bachilo may recommend a weight reduction plan so that you can get closer to your ideal weight in preparation for the procedure, to reduce the amount of fatty tissue that will need to be removed during the surgery. Losing weight will also improve your overall health, accelerating the healing process following surgery and helping you maintain a more attractive figure.
Myth 3: Breast reduction surgery will lift sagging breasts.
This one is a yes and a no. Breast reduction is designed to simply reduce volume in the breast, removing fatty and glandular tissue; however, there is a slight benefit of breast lifting in the process. The procedure for cosmetic lifting and firming sagging breasts is called a breast lift, and is generally not covered by insurance, while breast reduction often is. If you are pleased with the volume of your breasts, but desire firmness and lifting, then you may want to choose breast lift procedure instead.
Myth 4: I can choose my new cup size.
It would be truly amazing if we could custom-design our bodies in this way, but if you really want natural-looking results that are in harmony with the rest of your body and appearance, you must understand that plastic surgery doesn’t produce miracles. While a dramatic improvement in your appearance is possible with breast reduction surgery, it is not as simple as choosing to go from a DDD to a C cup. By reviewing our before and after photos of actual breast reduction surgery patients, you can get a better idea of what you can reasonably expect from this procedure.
Myth 5: Health insurance doesn’t cover breast reduction.
Fortunately, breast reduction surgery may indeed be covered by some health insurance, when the procedure is performed for reasons that are not purely cosmetic, such as to alleviate back and shoulder pain or to prevent damage to the musculoskeletal system.
If oversized breasts are causing you pain and discomfort, or you simply want a more proportional and balanced appearance, contact Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa to schedule a consultation to discuss a breast reduction procedure with Dr. Bachilo. Our friendly office welcomes residents of Houston and neighboring communities in Texas.
