From the Research
Breast reduction surgery is a highly effective option for alleviating chronic back, neck, and shoulder pain caused by large breasts, and I strongly recommend considering this procedure if conservative measures have failed to provide relief. The surgery involves removing excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to achieve a breast size more proportionate to your body, typically reducing by one to two cup sizes. According to a study published in 2024 1, patients who underwent breast reduction surgery experienced significant and permanent relief from pain, with mean patient-reported pain levels decreasing from 7.1 to 3.1 after surgery.
Key Considerations
- Before surgery, you'll need a thorough evaluation, including a mammogram if you're over 40 or have risk factors for breast cancer.
- The procedure is performed under general anesthesia and typically takes 3-5 hours.
- Recovery involves wearing a surgical bra for several weeks, limiting physical activity for 4-6 weeks, and managing discomfort with prescribed pain medications like acetaminophen or NSAIDs.
- A study published in 2020 2 found that most patients use less than 10 tablets of narcotic pain medication after surgery, and acetaminophen is widely used as an adjunct, while NSAIDs remain underutilized.
Benefits and Risks
- The surgery works by reducing the weight pulling on your shoulders and spine, thereby alleviating the strain on muscles and ligaments that causes your pain.
- Potential risks include scarring, changes in nipple sensation, and asymmetry, but most patients report high satisfaction with both symptom relief and cosmetic results.
- A systematic review published in 2019 3 found that reduction mammaplasty produces an unmistakable improvement in signs, symptoms, and quantifiable measures, and breast hypertrophy causes objective, quantitative, measurable disturbances to women living with this condition.
Insurance Coverage
- Insurance often covers this procedure when deemed medically necessary due to documented physical symptoms.
- However, a study published in 2024 1 suggests that the requirement for physical therapy as a prerequisite for surgery by insurance companies should be reevaluated, as patients who undergo surgery experience permanent relief and significantly reduced pain, whereas those who undergo physical therapy do not experience significant reduction in pain.