Many women will experience some degree of breast sagging during their lifetimes, thanks to hormonal fluctuations, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes, and a loss of skin laxity due to the natural aging process. If stretched skin and excess fat have given you elongated, pendulous breasts and downward-pointing nipples, you may be considering breast lift surgery.
However, in some cases, a breast lift alone isn’t necessarily enough to provide the results you need. Here’s how you can tell if you might be a better candidate for a breast reduction to enhance your feminine figure.
How Does a Breast Lift Work?
Due to the aging process, your body will produce less collagen and elastin over time. Without a sufficient supply of these components, your skin will lose its elasticity and begin to sag. Factors such as weight gain, genetics, and lifestyle choices can also take a toll and cause this cosmetic concern. When performing a breast lift, Dr. Mussat will reinforce the breast wall and reposition the nipple-areola complex to deliver perky, youthful breasts with that sensual upward curve.
What Happens During a Breast Reduction?
Women who have large, heavy, sagging breasts may experience significant discomfort, including:
Dr. Mussat performs breast reduction surgery on an outpatient basis while you are under general anesthesia, using one of three incision patterns that she believes will best satisfy your needs and cosmetic goals.
Making the Right Choice
Deciding between a breast lift or reduction can be challenging. Dr. Mussat can help you decide during your in-person consultation. However, there are at-home ways to tell whether you need a reduction or a lift.
For example, after childbearing or weight loss, you may find the upper poles of your breasts lack volume. Depending on your nipple location and skin tone, you’ll have two options to enhance your breast appearance. First, you may choose a breast lift as a stand-alone procedure or a breast lift with implants. A breast lift with no implants will resolve breast sagging, but not increase size.
However, if you have heavy breast tissues that cause pain, embarrassment, and difficulty exercising, you may want to ask Dr. Mussat about breast reduction. Not only will the procedure reinforce the breast wall, but it will also reduce breast tissue, improve your posture, and ease your discomfort.
Benefits include reducing neck and back pain, no more chafing or rashes at the breast crease, and the ability to buy fashionable clothes off the rack.
Improve Your Quality of Life With Breast Procedures
Exciting new advancements are available in aesthetic breast surgery to help women realize their cosmetic goals. Contact Dr. Florence Mussat today to learn how she can reshape and reinforce your breast appearance and enhance your figure. Schedule a private consultation with Dr. Mussat or call (312) 751-9000.
The reasons women get a breast reduction are often misunderstood. Many may believe it is a straightforward cosmetic correction, but there is more to it than that. Many women suffer from various ailments because their breasts are too large and heavy. In addition, the weight of breast tissue can cause health-related issues that affect a woman’s quality of life.
Of the many reasons women decide to undergo breast reduction surgery expertly performed by Dr. Florence Mussat, comfort, enhanced activity, and superior proportion are the most common. Together with others, these are presented here and should help you decide if breast reduction surgery might be right for you.
Breasts Too Large Cause Physical Discomfort
Back and neck pain are common for women with overly large breasts, consisting of excess fat and tissues that carry a lot of weight. This weight puts a strain on the back and may cause other physical issues restricting daily activities. A breast reduction will relieve this excess weight, increase comfort, and reduce pain.
Cause Unwanted Attention
Another problem women with big breasts deal with is unwanted attention. Inappropriate comments and catcalling from men can be highly agitating and cause unnecessary emotional trauma. A breast reduction can bring the body into better balance to reduce unfortunate remarks or attention.
Clothing Choices are Restricted
Rarely can a woman with overly sized breasts easily find suitable clothing because her choices are severely limited. She might herself restricted to oversized sweat gear, T-shirts, or men’s clothing, causing her to avoid going out in public to enjoy interaction with others.
Big Breasts Limit Workout Options
It can be uncomfortable to do light exercise like walking or jogging when a woman has overly large breasts. Of course, more intensive forms of exercise to maintain an attractive figure are out of the question. When excessive breast tissue is eliminated, she has more freedom and mobility and can live an active life without pain, exhaustion, breathlessness, or limited motion. In addition, she can have a wide range of workout routines to stay healthy and in great shape.
Skin Irritation
Skin irritation is a problem generally encountered at the natural breast crease and is caused by skin rubbing against skin and causing a painful and irritating rash. These rashes are not uncommon with women with large breasts.
Although these irritations are treatable with lotions and creams, this is not a permanent solution, making the problem even more frustrating. A breast reduction can help to eliminate these types of skin rashes.
Breast Reduction Surgery in Chicago, IL
With her hands-on experience regularly performing breast reduction surgery in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Florence Mussat is known for her skill and expertise and compassionate healthcare. With few risks but remarkable benefits, Dr. Mussat’s expertise helps you look and feel great inside and out.
To discuss the suitability of a breast reduction, schedule a private consultation with Dr. Mussat. Contact us by calling (312) 751-9000 today, and we will be happy to guide you through a safe yet aesthetically sound breast reduction procedure.
You may be thinking of having a breast reduction for purely cosmetic reasons to help you improve your self-image with a breast size that is more in proportion to your body. However, apart from the artistic improvement in your breasts’ shape and their balance with the rest of your body, significant physical benefits can also come from the operation.
Very often, as a result of the surgery, there is a dramatic reduction in physical discomfort and a significant improvement in body mechanics. Large breasts can cause chronic pain, discomfort, back problems, sleeping difficulties, and other health concerns. If any of this sounds familiar, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Florence Mussat in Chicago, IL, is standing by to help you.
Whatever your specific reasons may be for wanting to undergo breast reduction surgery, here are three essential ways you can prepare for this big day.
1. Get Preoperative Testing
Your preoperative testing may include a breast exam, chest X-ray, mammogram, blood tests, and other health screenings based on your age and medical history. A baseline mammogram taken before your procedure is crucial to monitor your breast health and detect any future mammogram changes.
2. Prepare for Your Procedure
To give your body the best chance to heal well and avoid complications, focus on following a healthy lifestyle, including quitting smoking and losing excess pounds. Dr. Mussat may also suggest that you stop taking specific medications or supplements.
Your preparation includes planning for medical leave from your job and most other commitments. Dr. Mussat can advise on how long you should plan to be off work, but expect to take a break of two to four weeks.
3. Prepare for Your Recovery
Arrange for a ride home after your procedure, and for someone to stay with you the first day, as well as to bring you to your first post-op appointment.
Before your surgery, buy a couple of sports bras. These will give you support and compression as you recover. For sizing, go one cup size smaller, but leave room for bandages and swelling. Make sure the size you choose is comfortable, because you’ll need to wear it 24 hours a day for up to about six weeks.
Keep in mind that you won’t be able to lift heavy objects for a week or two after your surgery. Plan to have things in smaller containers at home, so you can more easily manage them. Since you may also have a limited range of motion, move any items on high shelves to easy-to-reach places.
You’ll also need comfortable clothes, such as slip-on shoes and loose shirts that are easy to get on and off. Have plenty of gauze and clean washcloths on hand as well.
Why Choose Dr. Florence Mussat for Your Breast Reduction?
Dr. Florence Mussat, as a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon in downtown chicago, has a passion for cosmetic and reconstructive surgery and has been in private practice for over 20 years. With her help, you can soon be on your way to having smaller breasts, finding clothes that fit, and having less discomfort during physical activities. Schedule a personal consultation with her online or by calling (312) 751-9000 today!
Women with large breasts often blame the extra weight on their chests for upper back pain. Sometimes large breasts are a factor and sometimes they aren’t. If you have upper back pain, there are steps you can take to relieve it. One of those steps might be . But there are others that don’t involve surgery.
It’s worth making an effort to understand all of the possible causes of your back pain, and trying out some simpler remedies may help you avoid surgery. Of course, you may have other reasons to consider breast reduction surgery — to enable a more active lifestyle, for example, or to bring the contours of your body into better balance.
What Is the Connection Between Large Breasts and Back Pain?
Large breasts exert a gravitational force on the chest, and that force must be balanced by muscles that keep the back and neck straight and the shoulders pulled back. If you have D-cup breasts, their combined weight is probably between 16 and 24 pounds. For some women, that weight can lead to muscle strain and chronic pain in the shoulders, neck, or upper back.
Your posture can also be affected by large breasts, which may cause your back and shoulders to curve forward, adding to back strain and discomfort. The discomfort that builds over time may come from muscle fatigue, or it might be from a self-conscious effort to make your breasts appear less prominent.
Your bra may be a factor, too. If your bra is too tight or the shoulder bands too narrow, the straps can dig into your skin. You might subconsciously adjust your posture in unhealthy ways in an attempt to find relief from an ill-fitting bra.
Finally, large breasts can make it more difficult to get the exercise you need to manage your weight, build muscle strength in your back and shoulders, and improve flexibility in your torso. The pressure your breasts place on your chest cavity can also make it more difficult to breathe deeply while exercising, causing you to become winded more easily.
Steps You Can Take to Address Breast-Related Back Pain
Shop for a well-fitted bra. You want a bra that supports your breasts but isn’t too tight. And you want one with wide shoulder straps to spread the pressure. If you can’t find a well-fitted and comfortable bra from your usual stores, extend your search to sports bras or consider being fitted for a customized bra. The right bra can make a huge difference in your comfort.
Lose weight (if you have some to lose). When you’re overweight, you’re likely to have extra fat in your breasts and your abdomen, increasing the gravitational pull that your back has to counter. Sometimes, the solution to upper back pain is sustainable weight loss with healthy eating and regular physical activity.
Strengthen the muscles in your core. Exercise has all kinds of health benefits, from weight management to heart health. Exercises that strengthen the muscles in your core — your back, abdomen, and shoulders — can improve your posture and reduce back pain. A physical therapist or personal trainer can teach you exercises that address your specific needs. You might try yoga, which can help build strength and flexibility in ways that reduce back pain. Pilates is another exercise system that focuses on building up your core.
Breast Reduction
If you’re near your ideal weight and still have back pain after trying the remedies listed above, you might consider breast reduction surgery. The procedure isn’t specifically aimed at eliminating back pain, but many women find relief of their back problems. It’s a way to bring your body contours into better balance, free yourself to become more physically active, improve your posture, and help you feel better about yourself. By reducing the strain on your back and shoulders, breast reduction surgery often has the effect of addressing upper back pain.
Choose a Chicago Plastic Surgeon You Can Trust
Dr. Florence Mussat is a board-certified plastic surgeon in downtown Chicago with extensive experience in breast surgery, including breast reduction and breast implant removal. Call our office at (312) 751-9000 today or contact us online to schedule a personal consultation.
