Will A Breast Reduction Relieve Back Pain?

Most people have experienced some form of back pain at some point in their life, perhaps due to muscle strain, overuse, or trauma, and understand just how debilitating it can be. Chronic or even temporary back pain can make everyday tasks uncomfortable – if not impossible – and lead to a host of other physical and mental symptoms, including depression. For women who suffer from daily aches and pains associated with their overly large breasts, the problem can be particularly frustrating and cause a variety of additional issues. Fortunately, cosmetic surgery offers a solution. Breast reduction surgery, also called reduction mammoplasty, is a highly effective option for reducing the volume, weight, and size of a woman's breasts to relieve discomfort and enhance her life overall.

The caring team of plastic surgeons at Austin-Weston, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery fully understands the difficulties that women with overly large or heavy breasts face and are proud to offer breast reduction in Northern Virginia to help patients finally get relief from their symptoms and achieve their cosmetic goals.

How do I know if I need a breast reduction?

While back pain is certainly a major issue for many women with significantly large breasts, there are a number of additional physical and mental symptoms that can also signal that it may be time for breast reduction surgery. Some of the most common signs you need a breast reduction include:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Poor posture
• Numbness or tingling in the arms and hands
• Loss of nipple or breast sensation
• Bra strap indentions
• Skin irritation under breast crease
• Difficulty or discomfort with exercise
• Depression and anxiety

If you are experiencing any of these breast reduction symptoms, it may be time to schedule an appointment with a plastic surgeon to explore your options. During your initial consultation with one of Austin-Weston's plastic surgeons, you will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns and goals, have all of your questions answered at length, and learn more about how a breast reduction surgery can help you. Undergoing a breast reduction by the exceptional surgeons at Austin-Weston, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Northern Virginia is a safe and effective way to address all of these complaints, and more, so that you can finally live your life comfortably and confidently without the pain associated with disproportionately large breasts.

How does a breast reduction work?

The specific surgical methods used during a breast reduction, including the type of incision the surgeon will make, depend largely on the severity of a patient's complaints as well as her overall goals. Typically, breast reduction surgery will begin with the patient being placed under general anesthesia. The procedure usually takes about 2 – 3 hours, but this can vary depending on the complexity of the case. The surgeon will make their incision on the breast, which will likely be around the areola. In cases where there is a significant amount of excess skin requiring a breast lift to also be performed, the surgeon may use a keyhole, lollipop, or anchor incision. During your consultation and preoperative appointments, your surgeon will be able to determine which method and incision are most appropriate for you so that you know what to expect prior to surgery.

Once the incision has been made, the surgeon will be able to excise breast tissue, skin, and fat to reshape and recontour the breasts. Liposuction may be used to further enhance the results of breast reduction surgery if appropriate. For patients who have particularly elongated or drooping breasts, the surgeon may also move the nipple-areola complex to a more natural, appealing position on the breast. Finally, the surgeon will evaluate the size, shape, and symmetry of the breasts before closing the incisions.

While the preliminary results of your breast reduction will be immediately noticeable, it will take several weeks or even months for all of the swelling to subside and your final results to be visible. It is essential that you follow all of your surgeon's postoperative guidelines carefully in order to ensure complete healing and the best possible outcome.

Am I a candidate for breast reduction?

Most patients who are in relatively good health and desire a smaller, more natural, and more proportionate breast size can be considered for breast reduction surgery. It is also important that patients are nonsmokers, are at a stable and healthy weight, and have realistic expectations for their surgery.

The best way to determine with certainty whether or not you are a good candidate for breast reduction surgery in Northern Virginia is to be evaluated by a knowledgeable, experienced, plastic surgeon. Call Austin-Weston, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery today to schedule your one-on-one consultation, and learn more about how a breast reduction can help relieve your pain, boost your confidence, and change your life for the better!