How to Reduce Breast Size: Is Surgery the Best Solution?

What can be done to Reduce Breast Size?

Many women with very heavy breast tissues or large, ptotic breasts are often in pain. But it’s not just physical pain. They may feel less free to move or dress as they might like. They may also feel they look ‘frumpy’ or heavier than they actually are, in terms of body mass index (BMI). Even simple activities like walking, dressing, lifting and exercising are not as comfortable to perform for women with large, heavy breast tissues. If they had more moderately sized, slightly smaller breasts, life would be easier and far more comfortable. This is what leads many women to seek to reduce breast size and choose life-changing breast reduction procedure.

Considering Breast Reduction Surgery? Get the Breast Reduction Surgery guide!

Breast Reduction Guide Download

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Option 1. Weight Loss to Reduce Breast Size

Losing weight or reducing your body fat levels (changing your BMI only goes so far, though, and depends on your breast composition are glandular and adipose tissues) can reduce breast size but may leave loose or excess skin.

Option 2. Binding Heavy Breasts to Reduce Breast Size

Binding wraps and/or tightly fitting bras are solutions that temporarily compress your breast volume. For a long-term solution, a breast reduction may be a more suitable option depending on the patient’s needs. Reduction surgery by a specialist plastic surgeon such as Dr Rubinstein can make a life-changing difference for patients who are tired of the discomforts and pain of having very large and significantly descending breast tissues.

Option 3. Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast Reduction surgery is a procedure that involves the removal of fat, glandular tissue and skin, to reduce the size, weight or volume of the breasts. It inherently involves a lifting of the breast tissues and nipple area, which a surgeon can reshape and resize for aesthetic reasons (appearance improvements). Additional breast shaping techniques such as areola nipple complex (ANC) positioning and liposuction of excess fatty tissues in the breast area can also be used to attain a better result.

Each surgeon performs these surgeries using their preferred techniques and surgical abilities. Although all patients experience different healing processes and scarring, the procedure is primarily performed for medical reasons such as:

• postural-related back and neck pain
• shoulder pain from carrying heavy breast tissues on the upper torso
• skin indents from bra straps
• And skin chafing or skin infections from voluminous breasts

Patients should be aware that all surgery carries risks and that results can vary from patient to patient.

Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery

• Shapely breasts that are less droopy (ptotic)
• Lighter, more rounded and/or teardrop-shaped breasts
• Uplifted breasts and centrally-located nipples
• Nipples resized and readjusted for aesthetic purposes
• Look trimmer, feeling it is easier to move, lift and exercise
• Clothing feels more comfortable and you’ll have more choices
• Exercise freedoms including less bouncing and better posture
• Less back pain, shoulder pain and skin indentations from bras
• More comfortable bra-wearing

Patients report a very high satisfaction rate for breast reduction surgery. Further, it is considered to be one of the most positively life-changing of all plastic surgery procedures.

Is Breast Reduction Surgery the Best Solution for Large, Heavy Breasts?

Breast size results from a combination of factors. These include your genetics, your body composition and your overall breast composition, your weight/body mass index and your stage of life. Even thin individuals can have heavy or voluminous breasts that cause them concerns or health issues such as neck, shoulder or back pain. Hormones can also sometimes have an effect on your breast size and shape, as can your overall metabolism. If you have large breasts, you don’t have many choices if you want them to become smaller. You can lose weight, bind your breasts or have them surgically reduced. But sometimes even losing weight won’t reduce your breast size to the degree you’re seeking. That’s a great time to visit with a plastic surgeon to discuss what’s involved with breast reduction surgery.

Surgery can also Reduce Breast Size and Correct Large Asymmetric Breasts too

Dr Craig Rubinstein is internationally known for plastic surgery techniques to correct unevenly sized breasts or misshapen and elongated nipples. No two breasts are alike. Every patient has one breast that is larger, lower or differently shaped than the other breast. However, some patients have what’s known as severe asymmetry. Where one breast is noticeably different in size, shape or position – a breast reduction operation can be planned carefully to adjust for asymmetry. This allows your breasts to become more even in appearance (size, weight, shape and position).

• The breast tissue that is removed is sent off for examination.
• Your risk of breast cancer may also potentially be lowered, as you have less breast tissue with the potential for cancerous change.

Breast Reduction Before and After Photos (See more Breast Reduction Photos)

Case Study 1: Breast Reduction Before and After Photographs

Case Study 2: Breast Reduction Before and After Photographs

What Happens During Surgery for Breast Reduction?

Tissue reduction, nipple repositioning and breast reshaping are all performed for a harmonious look and balanced proportion of the breasts and nipples. Your operation would be performed while you’re under general anaesthetic in a private hospital in Melbourne. The breast reduction operation takes between two to three hours to complete (this can vary from patient to patient). During surgery, your excess breast tissue will be gently removed. Further, your surgeon may reshape and elevate the breast-nipple in accordance with best-practice surgical plans and your aesthetic goals. You’ll be provided with a supportive bra to wear after the procedure. You will also be given advice on long-term bra-wearing (24/7). You will usually stay in the hospital for at least one night (or two) once your breast reduction is completed.

Breast Reduction Research & References

Source/article: Breast Reduction Techniques and Outcomes: A Meta-analysis  by Stephen P. Daane, MD W. Bradford Rockwell, MD

• Annals of Plastic Surgery Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Volume 19, Issue 4, 1 July 1999, Pages 293–303,
• See: https://journals.lww.com/annalsplasticsurgery/toc/1998/09000
• https://doi.org/10.1053/aq.1999.v19.100635001
• Jack Penn F.R.C.S. Jack Penn  -Brenthurst Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa PlumX Metrics DOI:

Please Contact Dr.Rubinstein’s friendly team at the clinic to book a consultation or enquire about further information regarding plastic surgery procedures.