Relieve Back Pain with Breast Reduction Surgery

Macromastia, also known as breast hypertrophy, is a medical condition in which the breasts are abnormally enlarged. This can be caused by an increase in fat, glandular tissue, or both. In some cases, macromastia can be due to a hormonal imbalance or obesity. It can affect both men and women, although it is more common in females.

Symptoms of Symptomatic Macromastia

Symptomatic macromastia is a form of macromastia that causes physical discomfort and pain. Symptoms include back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, poor posture, skin irritation and rashes beneath the breasts, bra strap indentations on the shoulders, breathing difficulties due to extra weight on the chest wall, headaches and migraines caused by tension in the neck muscles, and difficulty finding clothes that fit properly.

Weight Loss not Effective Treatment

In most cases of macromastia or symptomatic macromastia, weight loss is not an effective treatment. The excess breast tissue cannot be reduced through diet and exercise alone; instead surgery is needed to reduce the size of the breasts.

Macromastia is an enlargement of the breasts caused by fat, glandular tissue or hormones. Symptomatic macromastia causes physical discomfort and pain, but weight loss is not an effective treatment.

Benefits of Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammoplasty, is a cosmetic procedure that reduces the size of overly large breasts. This type of surgery can be beneficial for those who suffer from macromastia or symptomatic macromastia, which is a medical condition characterized by overly large and heavy breasts that cause physical discomfort and pain. The benefits of breast reduction surgery include improved physical functioning, pain relief, improved skeletal stability, improved lung function, improved quality of sleep, reduced headaches and improved breast visualization on mammography.

Improved Physical Functioning

One of the primary benefits of breast reduction surgery is improved physical functioning. Women with overly large breasts experience physical discomfort due to the extra weight they must carry around their chest area. This can lead to poor posture, neck and back pain, skin irritation and even difficulty breathing. By reducing the size of the breasts through surgery, women can experience relief from these symptoms and an overall improvement in their physical functioning.

Pain Relief

Another benefit of breast reduction surgery is that it provides relief from pain associated with macromastia or symptomatic macromastia. Women with overly large breasts often experience chronic neck and shoulder pain due to the strain caused by carrying extra weight in this area. In addition, they may also experience skin irritation from bra straps that are too tight or chafing due to excess sweat accumulation in the chest area. Breast reduction surgery can help alleviate these symptoms by reducing the size and weight of the breasts.

Improved Skeletal Stability

In addition to providing relief from pain associated with macromastia or symptomatic macromastia, breast reduction surgery can also improve skeletal stability. Overly large breasts can cause misalignment in the spine due to the extra weight they place on it. This misalignment can lead to chronic back pain as well as other musculoskeletal issues such as scoliosis or sciatica. By reducing the size of the breasts through surgery, women can experience improved posture as well as better alignment in their spine which will help reduce any associated pain or discomfort.

Improved Lung Function

Breast reduction surgery can also improve lung function for those suffering from macromastia or symptomatic macromastia. Overly large breasts can restrict a woman’s ability to take deep breaths due to compression on her rib cage and lungs. By reducing the size of her breasts through surgery, she will be able to take deeper breaths more easily which will help improve her overall lung capacity and respiratory health.

Improved Quality of Sleep

Women with overly large breasts often suffer from poor sleep quality due to discomfort caused by their chest area while lying down at night. The extra weight placed on their chest restricts their ability to move freely during sleep which leads to tossing and turning throughout the night instead of getting restful sleep. Breast reduction surgery can help improve this issue by reducing the size and weight of their chest area so they are able to move more freely when lying down at night resulting in better quality sleep overall.

Reduced Headaches

Overly large breasts can also cause tension headaches due to increased pressure on neck muscles caused by carrying extra weight in this area all day long. Breast reduction surgery helps alleviate this issue by reducing the size and weight of a woman’s chest so she no longer has to carry around extra burden on her neck muscles resulting in fewer tension headaches over time.

Improved Breast Visualization on Mammography

Finally, another benefit of breast reduction surgery is improved breast visualization on mammography for those who have had previous surgeries involving implants or other types of augmentation procedures that make it difficult for radiologists to properly visualize a woman’s breast tissue during a mammogram screening test. By removing some excess tissue through breast reduction surgery it makes it easier for radiologists to see any abnormalities that may be present which could potentially lead to an earlier diagnosis if necessary.

Challenges for Women Contemplating Breast Reduction Surgery

Women considering breast reduction surgery should be aware of potential challenges associated with the procedure. Although the benefits outweigh the risks, there are still some issues that can arise after surgery.

Incision Care After Surgery

Breast reduction surgery requires an incision in order to remove excess tissue and skin. It is important for women to follow their doctor’s instructions carefully when caring for the incision in order to prevent infection and ensure proper healing. This includes keeping the area clean and dry, avoiding strenuous activities that could reopen the incision, and watching for signs of infection such as redness or swelling.

Resuming Activities After Surgery

Women should also be aware that it may take several weeks or months before they can resume normal activities such as exercise, lifting heavy objects, or participating in contact sports. During this time, they should follow their doctor’s instructions regarding activity level and any restrictions on physical activity.

Scarring Affecting Radiologist Interpretation of Mammogram

Women should also be aware that scarring from the breast reduction surgery may affect a radiologist’s ability to interpret mammogram results. This means that additional imaging tests may be necessary to obtain an accurate diagnosis.

Obtaining Insurance Coverage for Surgery

Finally, women should be aware that insurance coverage for breast reduction surgery is not always available. If insurance coverage is available, it may require pre-authorization or have specific criteria that must be met in order for the procedure to be covered. Therefore, it is important to check with your insurance provider beforehand to determine if coverage is available and what criteria must be met in order to receive coverage.

Women considering breast reduction surgery should be aware of potential challenges associated with the procedure. Incision care, resuming activities, scarring affecting mammogram interpretation, and insurance coverage.

Conclusion

Macromastia is a condition that affects many women, leading to physical and psychological symptoms. Breast reduction surgery can provide many benefits such as improved physical functioning, pain relief, improved skeletal stability, improved lung function, improved quality of sleep, reduced headaches, and improved breast visualization on mammography. However, there are certain challenges for women considering the procedure such as incision care after surgery, resuming activities after surgery, scarring affecting radiologist interpretation of mammogram and obtaining insurance coverage for the surgery. Ultimately, it is important for women to weigh the risks and benefits before deciding if breast reduction surgery is right for them.