Physical, emotional distress signal need for reduction By Mario Diana, MD, FACS Do you suffer from headaches, tingling in the arms, or back, shoulder, neck or breast pain? In large-breasted women, these and other symptoms could signal breast oversize. Disproportionately large breasts can cause severe physical and emotional discomfort. Breasts can over-enlarge at puberty or during pregnancy, and sudden-onset breast enlargement occurs in rare cases. How large is too large? A well-formed breast is proportioned to the woman’s body type. A woman with a mesomorphic body (curvy, equally proportioned from limbs to trunk) can tolerate a C-sized breast, but a woman with an ectomorphic body (slender, limbs longer than trunk) cannot tolerate breasts larger than size B. Also, a woman might feel comfortable with larger breasts through her 30s and 40s, but less comfortable as she ages. Physical, emotional effects of oversized breasts Breasts are considered oversized when they cause: • Back, shoulder, or breast pain • Tingling in arms because of nerve pressure • Shoulder grooving from bra strap pressure • Rashes in the breast folds • Poor posture • Headaches • Spinal column shape change • Restrictions of daily living, such as inability to exercise or lost mobility in the workplace • Skin ulcerations These symptoms are most common in women with size D breasts or larger, but active women with size C+ breasts may encounter these problems, as … [Read more...]