Recently, Hollywood celebrity Ariel Winter of television sitcom Modern Family decided to publicly announce her reduction mammoplasty also referred to as breast reduction surgery. Winter was one of many women who suffer with the daily discomfort due to excess weight on their chests.
While most women undergo this surgery at 18 years of age and over, Winter, 17, had the surgery during the early part of summer. The surgery transformed her from a bra cup which was a size 32F to 34D.
She recently told a People magazine reporter, “I was 15 years old with [size] F [breasts]. How do you navigate that?”
Having a celebrity such as Winter convey what she did is helpful to so many women who experience the same troubles she did. They are able to relate to what she has encountered as well as empower themselves knowing that there is a solution and not to discount the benefits of breast reduction surgery.
Numerous women are affected with discomfort due to their breast size. In fact, it is estimated that more than one million American women are encountering this.
Moreover, most women do not impulsively decide on this surgery. They perform their due diligence by researching it, finding the best board certified plastic surgeons, perusing before and after galleries on surgeons’ websites, and visit helpful online resources where potential patients can ask doctors questions such as RealSelf.com.
Despite being fitted for the right bra and undergarments, there still remains a direct link to pain and discomfort due to the heaviness. As mentioned earlier, women seek this breast reduction surgery because of the excess weight on their chest which can cause the following issues:
*Back pain
*Neck pain
*Headaches
*Shoulder pain
*Shortness of breath
*Numbness and tingling in the arms
Headaches may be derived from the tightness in the shoulders and neck.
It is also important to point out that the more excess weight on the chest a woman carries, the more her shoulders tend to lean and roll forward. This may cause anatomical changes to her frame. Her posture may be compromised to compensate for the cumbersome pounds she must carry.
A group of doctors, including Bethannie Snodgrass, MD who authored, “When Less Is More: The Complete Guide for Women Considering Breast Reduction Surgery,” clearly points this out in her comprehensive book.
Snodgrass wanted her readers to know that this position could potentially cause a compression located in the thoracic spine. A culmination of pressure in the shoulder blades, ribs, nerves may theoretically cause this.
Another area of discomfort which cannot be overlooked is the shoulders. By the end of the day, bra straps are embedded so deeply into the shoulders of women leaving red and painful indentations.
Like all cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures, the decision to learn more about a breast reduction should be made thoughtfully. And teaming up with the right board certified plastic surgeon can help answer questions and navigate a patient in their decision making process.
