While breast augmentation continues to capture attention and make headlines around the world, many patients are seeking the exact opposite of the results this plastic surgery provides. We are talking, of course, about breast reduction. Chicago’s Dr. John Q. Cook has performed more than 1,000 volume-reducing surgeries, which indicates that the breast-sculpting technique is not a niche procedure.
What prompts so many people to seek out breast reduction? There is no single answer, but there are some commonalities. Here is a look at six reasons patients may opt to develop a plan for reducing volume in their breasts.
1. Discomfort
Carrying around heavy objects can be tiring and cause strain. Breasts are no different. Patients whose breasts grow exceptionally large frequently complain of neck, shoulder, and back pain. They may develop poor posture as a result of the constant downward pull on their chest. Large breasts can also fill bras to the point that the straps dig into the skin. Taking away volume can help patients to quite literally “get a load off their chests,” easing their physical discomfort.
2. Embarrassment
“Matronly” and “heavyset” are two words that Dr. Cook hears breast-reduction patients use when they are describing their self-image prior to surgery. The contours caused by overly large breasts can cause clothes to not hang properly on the body’s frame, as well as make a silhouette appear out of proportion. Many patients also find that their large breasts draw unwanted attention from other people who may stare or even comment on the breasts’ size and appearance. Choosing reduction surgery helps patients to regain more confidence in their self-image, as well as reduce attention from others.
3. Position
Heavy breasts can hang lower on the chest simply due to the fact that gravity has more to work with as it pulls down. The weight of large breasts can stretch skin, ligaments, and other tissues, leading to a drooping or sagging look. Dr. Cook finds that breast reduction patients benefit greatly from breasts being moved to a higher position on the chest. Not only can this provide a cosmetic benefit, but it can also help to move a patient’s center of gravity higher to help them better balance their body.
4. Shape
All breasts can widen and “spread out” with age, and overly large breasts have more “material” to spread out over time. This can lead to breasts that lose the shape they maintained in a patient’s younger years. A structural breast reduction not only removes volume, but also restores the breasts’ structure to help them hold their shape.
5. Symmetry
Larger breasts can reveal asymmetries, with one breast noticeably appearing larger than the other. This may be the result of their natural development, or it could happen after pregnancy and breastfeeding. No matter the cause, a breast reduction can help. Instead of removing the same amount of tissue from both breasts, Dr. Cook can customize the reduction to each breast so that they are ultimately similar in size.
6. Future Health
Screenings are a vital element in the fight against breast cancer, but overly large breasts can make accurate detection of lumps a challenge. Even mammograms are less effective if there is too much dense tissue. A breast reduction can help to make future breast cancer screenings easier, less stressful, and more effective.
If you are considering breast reduction surgery for any reason, contact Whole Beauty® Institute by calling 312-751-2112 (Chicago Gold Coast Office) or 847-446-7562 (North Shore Office in Winnetka) or submit an online contact form.