Have you noticed upper back or neck pain that doesn’t go away? Do your bra straps leave painful dents in your shoulders? Your breasts may be to blame.
Many women suffer chronic back pain for years before realizing that the source of their pain is their breasts — or that they could benefit from breast reduction surgery.
Nearly half a million breast reduction surgeries are performed across the world each year. The procedure reduces the weight of each breast and the impact your chest has on your spine health, and it could be the answer to your back pain.
Walter D. Gracia, MD, PA, and our team perform breast reduction surgery in Fort Worth, Texas, and we’re here to answer your questions.
Breast size: the cause of your chronic back pain?
Your breasts are made up of a combination of glandular (breast) tissue, fibrous tissue, and fat. The size of your breasts is unique to your body, and it’s dependent on factors like genetics, weight, height, and hormones.
Breasts come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s no ‘ideal’ size for any woman. However, some women have large, heavy breasts — and that excess weight can be a source of chronic pain.
Known medically as macromastia or breast hypertrophy, large breasts can put extra pressure on your back, shoulders, and neck. The weight affects your posture, leading to back, shoulder, and neck pain for many women.
Plus, pain isn’t the only symptom. Friction from heavy breasts can irritate the skin under your breasts and create painful rashes. The persistent pressure on your spine can also contribute to other back problems, like degenerative disc disease, muscle spasms, nerve pain, and poor posture.
If you’re suffering from chronic back pain and have large breasts, it’s time to find out if breast reduction could offer the relief you deserve.
The benefits of breast reduction
Breast reduction is a popular cosmetic procedure that involves removing excess breast tissue and reshaping your breasts. Reducing the weight of each breast relieves pressure on your spine, and surgery can offer you the following:
- Less back pain
- Less neck and shoulder pain
- Less discomfort with exercise
- Reduced neck muscle spasms
- Better posture
- Enhanced self-confidence
Dr. Gracia and our team specialize in breast surgeries, including reduction. At your consultation, we examine your breasts, review your symptoms and medical history, and discuss your goals for treatment. You may be a good candidate if you’re in generally good health and experiencing symptoms related to heavy breasts.
What happens during breast reduction surgery
Breast reduction is an outpatient surgery, meaning you don’t have to stay in the hospital overnight. If you choose breast reduction, you discuss your target breast size with Dr. Gracia. Our team schedules your surgery and gives you instructions to prepare.
On the day of your surgery, wear loose, comfortable clothing and bring someone with you to drive you home. We help you prepare for the procedure, then administer general anesthesia to keep you comfortable.
Most breast reduction procedures take 3-5 hours. During surgery, Dr. Gracia makes incisions in each breast and removes excess fatty tissue. All breast reduction surgeries include a breast lift, and Dr. Gracia repositions your skin and nipples to give each breast a lifted appearance.
He closes the incisions, and you’re moved into a recovery room. It’s normal to have some pain in the days following breast reduction, but most women report that pain improves within a few days.
Breast reduction surgery offers some of the highest patient satisfaction rates of any cosmetic surgery, and it’s easy to see why. Book an appointment with Dr. Gracia and our team to find out if breast reduction could eliminate your back pain. Call our Fort Worth, Texas, office at (817) 336-9450 or request an appointment.