Back Pain May Be Caused By Breasts that Are Too Large for Your Frame

Sometimes our breasts grow too large for the rest of our body. It’s called breast hypertrophy. They can get out of proportion, compared to the length of our spine, and the size and strength of our abdominal, back and chest muscles.

So over time, we develop backaches and neck aches, and maybe headaches. Those bra straps eat into our shoulders. Sometimes a large nerve in the arm is affected and we feel tingling or prickling down the arms. We might even have trouble finding a comfortable position for sleep.

The problems aren’t all muscular either. There can be irritation beneath the breasts, or in the cleavage, and this can lead to infections or rashes. We might have trouble finding clothes that fit.

This extra largeness can occur in teenage girls, or after a pregnancy, and isn’t necessarily related to any weight gain.

One thing to keep in mind is that after breast reduction, you may not be able to breastfeed. This is because the breast reduction surgery will relocate your nipples, to match the new contours, which means that some of the milk ducts will be damaged or severed.

However, breast reduction surgeons are increasingly able to move the nipple without impairing the milk production system. Also, techniques have been developed to maximize the remaining parts of the milk system that are functional.

Finding a good plastic surgeon

Before rushing into anything, choose a reputable cosmetic surgeon and ask a lot of questions.

Choose a plastic surgeon who’s certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), and preferably one who’s a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

The American Board of Plastic Surgery only certifies surgeons who have had at least five years of residency training in general surgery, at least two years of training in plastic surgery. Such certification is a prerequisite for membership in the ASPS.

Since cosmetic surgery has become so popular in the last 10 years or so, some doctors have taken some quickie training to get on the bandwagon. You want a properly trained and experienced surgeon, not one who might gain his basic experience on you!

By all means listen to your friends and acquaintances who may have had breast reduction, or some other cosmetic surgery, and want to recommend their doctor to you. But do you homework too, and check the doctor’s credentials.

Some questions to ask when interviewing plastic surgeons