According to a London hospital which has been offering “bra checks,” not one woman tested is wearing the right cup size in her bra. This leads to neck, shoulder, and back pain. Sometimes the pain is so bad that the women seek surgery. A “leading breast surgeon” claims women tend to over-estimate their cup size when buying a bra.
Days of Yore
Let’s back up here. There were days, maybe in the not-so-distant past, when young girls were stuffing their bras in an attempt to have breasts. Then came the all powerful boob job, wherein these young girls, after they’d grown up and earned a bunch of money, could get those breast sizes they had dreamed about. And there was much rejoicing.
What is missed in this story are all those young girls whose breasts grew and didn’t seem to stop. Back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain were not something down the road. This pain was real and it was now. While we continuously hear stories about teens who want breast augmentation for their high school graduation present, we almost never hear about girls who would prefer breast reduction surgery.
Unlike gynecomastia (male breast reduction surgery) female breast reduction surgery (reduction mammoplasty) is performed to lessen issues that impact the health of women. Besides the physical pain, women may also experience breathing problems and irritation or rashes under the breasts. And, yes, they may problems with bra straps which cause pain, as well as difficulty finding clothes that fit. In a reduction mammoplasty, excess breast tissue is removed, and the skin is tightened. This gives a natural shape that is appropriate for the size and shape of the body.
Back to Britain
Nearly 10,000 women seek breast reduction surgery every year in Britain. As with any cosmetic surgery, the cost can be great. Dr. Alex Clarke, a clinical psychologist who works with the Royal Free Hospital, believes that these women could save their money by simply getting a bra that fits. Prof. Kefah Mokbel, a breast surgery consultant with St. George’s hospital agrees, and has called for bra-fitting clinics routinely available with National Health Service.
Though this news comes from the UK, there are thousands of women in this country that are going through the same situation. Breast reduction surgery was one of the top five reconstructive procedures performed in 2007 with nearly 106,000 performed. This number has gone up a little from the previous year. Perhaps American women, like their British counterparts, simply need a better bra.
If you are interested in finding out more about breast reduction surgery, please contact an experienced cosmetic surgeon in your area.
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