For many patients, breast reduction surgery is a life-changing experience. Symptoms such as back, neck, and shoulder pain seem to improve almost overnight. Patients note that clothes fit better and over time, their self-esteem and self-image improve as well.Patients who are overweight do not differ from other patients in this regard. They note similar improvement in quality of life and significant improvement in symptoms.
When patients who are overweight undergo breast reduction surgery they often experience additional benefits. They note increased exercise tolerance and subsequently become more physically active as they adopt a healthier lifestyle. In many cases, this results in significant amounts of weight loss.
Attempted weight loss prior to breast reduction surgery can be very difficult because severe breast enlargement can make exercise almost impossible. This exercise intolerance becomes a major impediment to weight loss. In addition, even when patients experience weight loss, it often doesn’t affect the size of their breasts.
For all these reasons, breast reduction can significantly benefit patients who are overweight. The procedure has multiple advantages, which result in improved quality of life. One of these is enhanced exercise tolerance, which has the added benefit of causing weight loss. It’s quite possible that breast reduction is more likely to result in weight loss; than weight loss is to lead reduced breast size.
If you are considering breast reduction, consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon that has experience in this area would be helpful.
