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celebrities like ariel winter, queen latifah and patti stranger have all been open about going under the knife to reduce their breast size. whether it be to help ease neck and back pain, other physical symptoms, or purely for aesthetic reasons, breast reduction surgery can be life-changing, increasing quality of life and improving self-esteem.
a study released by the american society of plastic surgeons (asps) reported that there were almost 44,000 surgeries done to reduce breast size in 2018. the most common reason for the procedure — also known as reduction mammaplasty — is to reduce back and neck pain that results when the body tries to support the weight of large breasts (macromastia), according to health link bc. large breasts can also make certain activities difficult or painful – especially impact sports.
and then there is the boob shaming . in addition to having a harder time finding comfortable bras that fits and blouses that button properly, larger busted women also tend to become targets for cat-calling, sexual innuendos and just basic creepy leering. but women aren’t the only ones whose larger breasts cause shame and embarrassment — men also seek surgery to reduce breast tissue. known as gynecomastia, overdeveloped or enlarged breasts in men can occur at any age, according to the asps, and can be caused by hormonal changes, heredity, obesity or the use of certain drugs such as anabolic steroids and marijuana. gynecomastia is prevalent in up to 70 per cent of men aged 50 to 69 years.
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usually done under general anesthesia, there are various ways a surgeon may approach the breast reduction, depending on the patient’s breast size and shape. the most common method, according to the aspc, begins with two circular incisions around the areola, the dark patch of skin surrounding the nipple.
pain may persist for two to three weeks after the procedure and patients are encouraged to refrain from lifting heavy objects or raising their arms above their heads during this time. they may also be required to wear a special support bra over the bandages to support the incisions. your surgeon will give you more information on how to keep the incisions clean, when it is safe to shower and when to begin exercising again.
as with all surgeries, breast reduction is not without risks. first, there are the potential side effects of general anesthesia: patients may experience confusion, memory loss or nausea among other symptoms after they wake up.
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breast reduction surgery can also affect the ability to breastfeed, advises the canadian society of plastic surgeons, so it’s important to speak to your surgeon if you are planning to have children and breastfeed. depending on the type of surgery required, special attention should be paid to protecting the milk ducts and glands.
the tissue removed during the procedure also has a potential to be donated — the most common use is to treat burn victims. in 2016 , ten tissue banks across canada prepared and released 10,781 grafts of various human tissues from donors, including skin. to find out how to donate check with canadian blood services .
the procedure may be covered by provincial health bodies or private insurance, and should always be performed by a licensed physician. you can verify a surgeon’s certifications through the royal college of physicians and surgeons .