Candidates for Breast Reduction Surgery

Whether you are experiencing physical pain as a result of having extremely large breasts or you simply want to bring your breasts into improved proportion with the rest of your body, breast reduction surgery offers a potentially ideal solution. Chances are that if you wish to have smaller breasts for any reason, you are a suitable candidate for breast reduction. At our plastic surgery practice in San Francisco, breast reduction candidates are carefully evaluated by Dr. Kimberly Henry, one of the nation’s most celebrated and highly esteemed plastic surgeons. She takes the time to explain the procedure to each patient, making sure that the patient understands the risks and benefits of breast reduction and helping her to establish proper expectations before committing to undergo surgery.

Are you a good candidate for breast reduction? The only way to know for certain is to meet with Dr. Henry in a personal, one-on-one consultation at her state-of-the-art plastic surgery office. Until then, please take a moment to read some of the basic criteria for patients who wish to undergo breast reduction surgery.

About Breast Reduction

The purpose of breast reduction is to make the breasts lighter and smaller through the removal of excess fat and other tissues. Breast reduction differs from breast lift in that the goal of the latter is to rejuvenate and improve the profile of the breasts rather than to make them smaller. In fact, many people who undergo breast lift combine the procedure with breast augmentation in order to have larger breasts. The goal of breast reduction, on the other hand, is to bring the breasts into proportion with the rest of the body by reducing their size.

Candidacy for Breast Reduction

The possible reasons for wanting to undergo breast reduction are many and varied. Some women experience intense back and shoulder pain as a result of carrying excess weight on their chests. Others are tired of receiving unwanted attention as a result of their large breasts. In many cases, women simply want to have more proportional figures so that they can participate more easily in sports and other activities and find more clothing that fits properly.

Whatever your unique reasons for considering breast reduction, there are several traits that unify suitable candidates for the procedure. Good breast reduction candidates:

• Are in basically good health, as breast reduction is a major surgical procedure
• Have realistic expectations for the outcome of the procedure
• Are willing to follow all of Dr. Henry’s pre- and post-surgical instructions to the letter
• Understand the risks and side effects associated with the procedure, including inevitable scarring at the incision sites

As with all procedures she performs, Dr. Henry uses her keen artistic eye and finely honed surgical skills to produce results that look natural and beautiful. Despite the fact that patients who undergo breast reduction experience many cosmetic benefits, it is one of the forms of plastic surgery that is often covered by medical insurance as a medical necessity. If your disproportionately large breasts are causing you to have posture problems or physical pain, including neck and back pain and pain from bra-strap indentations, you will want to contact your insurance provider to find out if part or all of the cost of your breast reduction will be covered.

Learn More about Breast Reduction

To learn more about breast reduction surgery, or to schedule a consultation to find out whether you are a good candidate for the procedure, please contact our plastic surgery practice today.