It may seem as though having large breasts is desirable. Open up any fashion or celebrity gossip magazine, or turn on the television, and there are many pictures featuring beautiful women with large breasts. This popular culture trend is why breast augmentation is, by far, the most popular cosmetic surgical procedure that women request.
However, women who have naturally large breasts may not find them quite so desirable. Unlike the airbrushed images of pop singers, high fashion or lingerie models, and reality TV show stars, women who are over-endowed often suffer from a variety of problems that make them wish for smaller breasts. These women are excellent candidates for breast reduction cosmetic surgery.
Problems with Overly Large Breasts
Overly large breasts can cause women a number of issues, ranging from physical, to social, to even fashion.
Physical Problems
- Pain: The extra weight of overly large breasts can cause a number of chronic pain problems, particularly for women with petite frames. Women may suffer from chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain. Furthermore, the breasts themselves may be painful (mastodynia) from excess weight, particularly during the menstrual cycle.
- Poor posture: Heavy breasts may also lead to poor posture, which will only exacerbate any of these complaints. Although there are support garments that can help promote better posture, these tend to be bulky and expensive, as well as not breathing well (which can lead to other problems from retaining heat).
- Rashes: Excess heat and moisture may get trapped underneath large breasts. This can easily lead to chronic rashes or skin infections. Although using talcum powder or thoroughly drying under the breasts after a shower or bath will help, skin problems may still occur. As mentioned above, any close-fitting garments, such as those for support, may retain heat, leading to rashes or infections.
- Poor fit: Poorly fitting bras that do not fully support the breasts may lead to what is known as shoulder rutting. This is when the weight of the breasts pulls downward on the shoulder straps of the bra, creating deep grooves over time. Although bras with wider, padded shoulder straps will help reduce the amount of rutting, it may still be unavoidable.
Social Problems
In addition to physical problems associated with overly large breasts, women may also suffer embarrassment. They may be stared at by strangers or subjected to rude comments. This can be particularly difficult for teenage girls and young women. Women may slouch even more, in an effort to not be noticed, which will add to their physical discomfort.
Fashion Problems
Women with larger breasts may have difficulty finding bras and clothing that fits properly. In many cases, bras and clothing that do fit are more expensive than standard sized lingerie and clothing.
Although women with small breasts may envy those with large breasts, there is not necessarily any truth to the saying that "bigger is always better." Women with bigger breasts may find the physical, social, and clothing issues to be overwhelming. For these women, breast reduction surgery may be a viable option.
Contact Dr. Paul Pin to schedule a breast reduction consultation.