Breast reduction surgery has long been one of the most common plastic surgeries performed worldwide and it has become increasingly popular lately with the new push to be smaller and more natural (New York Times).
Meet Dr. Brian Bassiri-Tehrani, breast specialist in NYC
Brian Bassiri-Tehrani is a double board certified plastic surgeon who specializes in breast reduction in NYC. He operates in our office in the Upper East side and local surgery centers.
What is a breast reduction?
A breast reduction is a surgical procedure that removes excess breast tissue to create breasts that are smaller, more shapely, and better proportioned to the rest of the body. At the same time, the breasts are lifted to achieve a more youthful appearance.
This procedure is especially beneficial for patients who experience neck, back, and shoulder pain due to heavy, sagging breasts. After surgery, many patients experience significant relief from these symptoms while also enjoying a more lifted, youthful breast shape. Breast reduction in NYC is consistently one of the procedures with the highest satisfaction rates among our patients. The best part is, insurance can cover the entire procedure.
Who is a good candidate?
Anyone who has excess, sagging breast tissue who wants to be a smaller size is a great candidate for breast reduction surgery.
Patients With Chronic Pain
Patients who suffer from severe neck, back and shoulder pain due to the extra weight enjoy the best benefits.
Often, physical therapy, bigger bras, and chiropractor visits can help alleviate some symptoms for a short period of time. However, ultimately, the extra weight over time will continue to affect patients.
Sometimes, wearing multiple bras does not even help with the symptoms and eventually the straps from the bras dig into the shoulders, leaving indentations, commonly referred to as shoulder grooving.
Some patients find it difficult to exercise consistently or to engage in aerobic activity entirely since the breasts get in the way. The breasts pull down on the neck, shoulder and upper back area, making it even more difficult to correct posture. This cycle only perpetuates itself by using the wrong muscles to compensate for this imbalance. Over the course of months and years, this can lead to an unhealthy pattern overload that can cause spine problems, scoliosis, and other serious, complex medical problems.
Patients With Chronic Rashes
Another common concern is recurrent rashes beneath the breast folds, referred to as intertrigo. Excess moisture and sweat can lead to skin irritation, fungal infections, and chronic rashes that often require prescription treatments such as topical antifungal creams or powders. These issues can further limit physical activity and negatively impact overall health and quality of life.
Patients Who Struggle With Their Confidence
People with very large breasts can sometimes be self-conscious about the size of their breasts. This can be due to their size or if there is a big size mismatch between the two breasts.
The best candidates for surgery are non-smoking, active patients who eat healthy and have a stable weight for a period of time. Smokers are at a very high risk of major complications after surgery that include infections, bleeding, wound openings and pneumonia.
If you are not sure if you are a good candidate for a breast reduction in NYC, call to schedule a consultation to see if this surgery is right for you.
What are some benefits to breast reduction surgery?
The biggest benefit of having a breast reduction is the immediate physical relief. For some, there is constant pain without relief despite various bras, physical therapy, and chiropractics. Removing the extra weight will allow the body, and more specifically, the spine and back, adjust to a normal posture and position. Patient often will get a lift at the same time of a breast reduction. Patients notice their posture improves effortlessly since they do not have to use extra muscles to compensate and carry around extra weight in the front of their body.
Because there is not as much pull on the upper part of the body and back, patients are better able to exercise and do aerobic activity. Patients feel lighter, more agile and active. Patients fit better in their clothing and overall feel much better about their body, boosting their self-esteem.
What age can a patient get a breast reduction?
While there is no exact age cutoff for undergoing a breast reduction in NYC, there are some guidelines.
Younger Patients
For example, performing a breast reduction during adolescence may not give long lasting results because if the breast continues to grow after surgery, then the patient may need another surgery later to correct the size and shape of the breasts again.
That said, breast reduction during adolescence can be appropriate in select cases. If the breasts are extremely large, heavy, and sagging, and symptoms significantly interfere with daily activities, exercise, or quality of life, surgery may be reasonable. This is particularly true when physical discomfort or social distress, such as teasing that affects self-esteem, is present. In these situations, it is important for both the patient and family to understand that future breast growth may occur and that additional surgery could be needed. These decisions are highly individualized and based on the patient’s symptoms, goals, and overall development. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to breast reduction, or to any plastic surgery procedure.
Elderly Patients
Older patients may also be excellent candidates for breast reduction in NYC. As metabolism slows with age and activity levels change, weight gain can occur and may disproportionately affect certain areas of the body, including the breasts.
Over the course of years, this excess breast weight can contribute to neck, back, and spinal discomfort, poor posture, and limitations in physical activity, especially when it interferes with maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Ultimately, there is no upper age limit for breast reduction surgery; age alone is not the determining factor. Overall health and surgical fitness are far more important than chronological age.
A quick way to assess surgical fitness is if the patient is able to walk several blocks or climb a flight of stairs without significant difficulty. Preoperative laboratory testing, medical clearance, and a thorough evaluation by your surgeon are also required prior to surgery.
A younger patient with multiple medical conditions may be at higher surgical risk, while an older patient who is active and medically healthy may be an excellent candidate. Simply put, age is just a number.
Does breast reduction surgery affect breastfeeding?
Current data suggests that while breast reduction surgery may affect the ability to breastfeed, most patients who undergo breast reduction are still able to breastfeed successfully after surgery [1]. It is important to note that many factors influence breastfeeding success beyond prior breast surgery.
Hormonal imbalances, underlying medical conditions, nipple or breast pain, milk supply issues, and difficulties with latching can all affect a patient’s ability to breastfeed, regardless of surgical history. If a patient undergoes breast reduction surgery before having children and later experiences difficulty breastfeeding, it is often impossible to determine whether the issue is directly related to surgery or due to other organic or non-organic factors.
Approximately 12% of women (one in eight women) in the United States who try to breastfeed have issues with lactation and breastfeeding [2]. These challenges include:
- Breast pain
- Nipple pain
- Low milk supply
- Problems with latching
- Feasibility and logistics of breastfeeding/pumping
Surgical technique also plays a role. Certain breast reduction techniques may better preserve milk ducts and glandular tissue, potentially improving the likelihood of breastfeeding after surgery. Other breast surgeries, such as breast augmentation, tend to have less impact on breastfeeding since breast tissue is not removed. In breast reduction surgery, some milk-producing tissue is removed, which may reduce overall milk volume, though this does not necessarily prevent successful breastfeeding.
References:
[1] Koussayer B, Taylor J, Warner J, Alkaelani MT, Blount T, Wainwright D, Threet A, Le NK, Whalen K, Coughlin E, Mhaskar R, Kuykendall L. Breastfeeding Ability After Breast Reductions: What does the Literature Tell us in 2023? Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2024 Mar;48(6):1142-1155. doi: 10.1007/s00266-023-03690-8. Epub 2023 Oct 16. PMID: 37845550.
[2] Stuebe AM, Horton BJ, Chetwynd E, Watkins S, Grewen K, Meltzer-Brody S. Prevalence and risk factors for early, undesired weaning attributed to lactation dysfunction. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2014 May;23(5):404-12. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2013.4506. Epub 2014 Mar 21. PMID: 24655291; PMCID: PMC4011403.
Should I get a breast reduction if I am planning on having children?
This is a personal decision and depends on your family planning timeline, the extent of your symptoms, and if you plan to breastfeed.
If your symptoms are significant enough to interfere with daily activities or quality of life, it may be reasonable to consider breast reduction in NYC even if you plan to have children in the future.
On the other hand, if your symptoms are relatively mild and you plan to become pregnant in the near future, delaying surgery until after completing childbearing may be a practical option.
Furthermore, breast size dramatically increases during pregnancy and even more so during breastfeeding. If the breasts are so large before pregnancy, plan for it to become even larger, and thus more cumbersome to deal with during pregnancy and beyond.
Does insurance cover breast reduction surgery?
The short answer is yes! Depending on the insurance carrier, there are certain requirements that need to be met in order to be a candidate for an insurance breast reduction. Usually, this requires a letter from a primary care doctor who documents the symptoms and problems related to having large breasts.
Additionally, some insurance companies may also require a trial of conservative treatments, such as physical therapy or chiropractic care, before approving surgery. While these treatments can help temporarily reduce symptoms, they often do not provide lasting relief because they do not address the underlying cause: excess breast weight.
If you are unsure whether your insurance will cover your breast reduction in NYC, call our office at (212) 540-6868 to inquire about coverage options.
How much does it cost if I don’t use insurance?
The cost of a breast reduction in NYC without insurance depends on the extent of surgery needed, desired size/shape and if additional procedures are performed at the same time. For more information, call the office at (212) 540-6868
The Procedure
Breast reduction in NYC is performed as an outpatient procedure, meaning patients go home after surgery. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia and usually takes between two and four hours or more, depending on breast size and whether additional procedures are performed at the same time.
During surgery, excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are removed, and the remaining breast tissue is reshaped to create a smaller, lighter, and more proportionate breast. In most cases, the breasts are also lifted to achieve a more youthful contour.
How do I prepare for a breast reduction?
The best results are seen in patients who are physically and mentally prepared for surgery and breast reduction recovery. Prior to surgery, preoperative testing and medical clearance from your primary care physician are required. Any underlying medical conditions should be well controlled before surgery to minimize risks and promote optimal healing.
For example, patients with diabetes should ensure blood sugar levels are within an appropriate range, and patients with high blood pressure should have their blood pressure well controlled. Additional preparation steps include:
- Stop smoking and nicotine use well before surgery, as nicotine significantly impairs healing
- Review all medications and supplements with your surgeon, as some may need to be stopped before surgery
- Maintain a stable weight and healthy diet leading up to surgery
- Arrange for help at home and transportation on the day of surgery
Read more about details about breast reduction recovery.
Watch inside the operating room how a full reduction surgery in NYC is performed (viewer discretion advised).
Conclusion
Breast reduction in NYC is one of the commonest and highest satisfying procedures because it gives patients immediate relief while instantly improving the appearance of breasts. To see if a breast reduction is right for you, call or click for a consult.
If you are seeking a breast reduction in NYC, Long Island or New Jersey, call the office at (212) 540-6868, or, click here to Book a Consultation
