Breast reduction surgeries have increased considerably in the last couple of decades. In fact, according to The Atlantic, “Despite the insurance difficulties, breast reductions increased by 157 percent between 1997 and 2013, according to statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery.” Jaclyn Voran of The Atlantic addresses the rise of breast reduction surgeries for teens in a recent article titled, “The Rise of Teenage Breast Reduction.”
Voran writes, “Together, my 34DDs weighed in at more than four pounds, a heavy burden for my five-foot-one frame. I knew long before I decided on surgery that I wasn’t built to carry around that much weight. And my body reminded me of that fact every day—with neck aches so painful I couldn’t turn my head; with the deep grooves my bra straps made in my aching shoulders; with the chafed skin that sports bras left under my bouncing breasts, raw skin stinging before scabbing over. Study after study names these as common discomforts among women with big breasts, but when you’re a teenager with DDs surrounded by As and Bs, the last thing these problems seem is common. How could I explain to my smaller-chested friends why I didn’t want to try out for the cross-country team? ‘My breasts bounce too much’ might seem laughable to someone who’d never experienced intertrigo, the fancy name for the painful, oozing infection that exercise caused in the skin under my breasts.”
As evidenced by the 157 percent increase between 1997 and 2003, more women, especially young women, are becoming less afraid to seek out breast reduction surgery. Once that hurdle has been cleared, the next major concern is finding a surgeon you can trust.
Rex E. Moulton-Barrett, M.D., is an internationally known and acknowledged surgeon who is board certified in two distinct surgical specialties, The American Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and The American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Moulton-Barrett stresses the importance of patient education to enable his patients to make informed decisions concerning their treatment options. After conducting a comprehensive evaluation, he provides patients with honest and detailed information about various treatments, techniques and procedures as well as educates his patients on the important subject of what to expect before, during and after treatments and procedures.
One of the many procedures Dr. Moulton-Barrett performs is reduction mammoplasty, which is often called breast reduction. This surgical procedure reduces, lifts, and reshapes the breasts. It can also reduce the size of the areolas. Breast reduction can alleviate back pain, neck pain, shoulder pressure, strap pain, rashes, or skin tags, as well improve the appearance of a patient’s breasts. We perform the procedure under general anesthesia and the operation takes about 3 to 4 hours. It usually requires an overnight stay.
If you’re looking into reduction mammoplasty, contact the office of Rex Moulton-Barrett, M.D.