Bigger boobs are big these days (augmentation is still the No. 1 hit on the cosmetic surgery chart for women), but among my circle of friends—and a growing number of females—smaller breasts are coming in vogue.
I don’t know anybody who has had breast augmentation (at least nobody has fessed up to it), but I do have two friends who’ve had breast reductions—one just last year. Breast reductions, also called mammoplasties, have risen to the top five cosmetic surgical procedures for women, with 153,087 in 2007, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.
And no wonder: Women who are overendowed tell terrible tales of bra straps that bite into their shoulders, knockers that knock them in the eye when they jog, backaches, ugly industrial-strength brassieres, the inability to sleep (breast-reduction patient Sheila Graham had to individually hoist each boob in order to turn over at night when she was pregnant)—not to mention decades spent with people who carried on conversations with their chests instead of their faces.
My friend, a petite woman, was tired of all of that. “The surgery definitely reduced the aching in my back and between my shoulder blades,” she told me. “And my clothes fit better—I can even go without a bra around the house!” She went from a DD to a C cup. “I would have gone smaller but I guess the surgeon had to be careful not to make them look too unnatural,” she says.
Her operation went well, but some women may not realize that booby-shrinking is major surgery. “The first few days with the incision drains was a little gruesome,” warns my friend. Scarring was also an issue. The many incisions (under her breasts and around the nipples, which were repositioned) were large and swollen and itched terribly. During her first few months of recovery, she received several shots of cortisone to ease the itch.
Those kinds of side effects—itching and discomfort—and the whole notion of someone cutting into your breast tissue have turned off some women who could really benefit from breast-reduction surgery, says board certified plastic surgeon Gregory A. Buford, MD, FACS.
That’s why he’s been trying something new in his Denver clinic. Instead of invasive surgery with the usual anchor or lollipop scars around the nipple and on the lower half of the breast, Dr. Buford uses a liposuction technique (the VASER Assisted Breast Reduction) to suck out the fat that weighs larger breasts down, allowing the breast tissue to shrink, lift, and reduce in volume.
“Liposuction-only breast reduction leaves scars as little as two to three millimeters in length, which are easily hidden,” Dr. Buford says. “Fatty tissue is effectively liquefied, and recovery time may be as little as a few days.” Liposuction mammoplasty has been performed for a few years with good results, according to one small study in a plastic surgery journal.
But Dr. Buford says there are some caveats: Lipo is best suited for women who want to shrink their busts just one to two cup sizes and who have good overlying skin tone. Sounds to me that if you remove the fat inside and the skin doesn’t have the ability to tighten up, you could end up looking like you have two deflated balloons on your chest. In that case, the plastic surgeon might combine lipo with a breast lift, which would require more invasive cutting.
Now that the scars have healed, my friend is happy with the fact that she did her surgery the old-fashioned, non-liquefying way. She loves her new bustline and pain-free posture. I think she looks and feels younger. In fact, her attitude is now as perky as her new boobs, which is saying quite a lot.
(PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES)
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Comments (12)
Two years ago I finally deciced enough was enough. I went to my primary doctor, and was sent to a plastic surgeon. I was a 42/44 DDD and after surgery and recovery I ‘m down to a 38 C!! This was the best decision I ever made for myself, and I had the support of my family and friends. I no longer have back, neck, shoulder issues. I can roll over at night without lifting them up. I can shop for clothes and mainly bras that fit, no more ordering because of the size cup I needed. I feel like new, happier person. I wish I had done it sooner,but better late than never. Plus my health insurance cover it w/ a $250.00 co-pay. Can’t beat that, since the surgery was over $16,000. Anyone thinking about needs to look into. Recovery depends on the person, mine was easy-I did NOTHING!!! That’s what I was told to do, so I did. Plus I can tolorate pain, which I had none of. That’s right no pain. Make sure you do this for you, not because your spouse/partner wants you to. Do your research, and talk to anyone you can.
I had my breasts reduced in 1981. I went from a 38F to a 36C. I have never had cause to regret the surgery. No more back pain, no more shoulder seams hanging down to my elbows. I was even able to nurse. I’m fifty now, and I think that it was the best thing that I ever did for myself. Kelli is right – do your research so you know what to expect and do it for yourself.
I guess I’ll be the dissenting opinion here…I’m a healthy 36FF and have seen the results of a few reduction surgeries, both of personal friends and at the lingerie shop where I work fitting women for bras. I haven’t seen one reduction/lift that looks like a real breast. Because the nipple is relocated, they look like breasts with implants. Also, I find the scarring to be downright scary. The breast-feeding community highly discourages women who intend to breast feed from getting reductions prior to pregnancy because of the increased likelihood that the mother will not be able to breast feed. That having been said, my “reduced” friends are very happy with the results. Note to Kelli and Kat W: unless you lost weight, only your cup size will change with a breast reduction, not your back size.
HelenR, sometimes your cup size doesn’t change much because of the size of the base of your breasts. I had a reduction (36F to an undefineable size). My problem was that my surgeon took away too much tissue on one side. My breasts are only as full as a B and a C. but the base measurements are for a D cup. Therefore I am left with some very empty cups. I have to buy the D because that’s the only size where the bottom of the cup is wide enough. My options have been explained to me as prosthetics forever or implants. I’m not happy with either choice. I didn’t get a reduction to have to go have implants to make me look and feel normal again. My scars are horrible and my nipples are inverted and abnormally strectched. This is even after choosing one of the most renowned surgeons with many years of experience. If I had known I would end up this way I would never have had the surgery. I encourage you all to really think about it before you go through with it.
I had surgery about a month ago on the 10th of october- best early birthday present ever!!! I had it done at 19, and went from a 36F to a 36C. i’m in proportion and a perfect size 8 now- i can buy dresses!!!!!! and go for a run with my dog!!!!!! and buy matching bra and panty sets at stores without having to hunt for ugly granny bras. the recovery was super easy, and after using vitamin e gel and mederma religiously, i have only small, faint white scarring that is indented slightly. only sad thing is i can’t really feel my nipples yet :( but hopefully it will come back soon.
The scars are not pretty. It turns men off. Think hard about it before you do it. Many men like you the way you are. Save the money…
Had the surgery last spring going from a 38G or H to a 38C. No regrets whatsoever. I have scars that have faded mostly without the application of Mederma. I am surprised at how normal they look. My back and neck problems are mostly resolved (some residual neck damage remains from past auto accidents) and yeah, sleeping is so much more pleasant. I used to feel choked by the breast tissue swimming around my neck when I laid down. I can’t recommend this surgery enough – AND my insurance paid for most of it.
I had my surgery over five years ago and I still have very mixed feelings. I love that I can where a halter top and show off my shoulders and hunting for a dress that fits on the top and the bottom, is much easier. However, the scars will always be there to remind me of how beautiful my breasts were, without the scars. Would I do it again? I probably would. However, I would research my surgeon to know that he was as concerned about the final results as I was.
I am done with these even and extremely heavy breasts! I am 5′2 with 40Ds…I am desperate to have the surgery and my mind is made up…I cant stand the back pain, one breast much larger, strap indentations or the humiliation I have endured…am i considered too “small” for insurance to pay for this life changing surgery?
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I had a breast reduction surgery at the age of 18, just after I graduated from high school. A few months prior, I had my first bra fitting. I went in wearing a 40DD only to find out I really should have been wearing a 34I! I’ve never looked back. I went down to a wonderfully proportioned 34D which has grown back a bit to a DDD but still much better. My husband, who I met and married a few years post-surgery, doesn’t mind the scars at all and I feel my breasts are a normal shape. I don’t hate shopping for clothes. After the surgery, I was able to start running regularly and actually lost some weight and got active for the first time in my life. My only advice is to thoroughly research your surgeon. Make sure they’re certified with all the right places. Again, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
I am 25 years old and experiencing all the discomforts of having large breast. I am currently a 36 FF 5′6′ 155lbs and I am just really suffering. i am a college student and tried to get this done thru my insurance and was denied. Now I dont have any insurance I really need some help please contact me if any one has suggestions.