How to Lose Weight before a Breast Reduction

While the general perception is that breasts with generous volume are a real asset of female attractiveness, they are a source of physical and emotional discomfort for many women with overly large breasts. 

Breast size can be disproportionate to the rest of the body and can cause back, neck, and shoulder pain, skin irritation, and difficulty breathing. 

For some women, breast size can prevent them from exercising and practicing certain sports, which can lead to frustration and, most of the time, weight gain. 

Suppose you are dealing with excess weight gain but would also like to undergo a breast reduction procedure. It is best to know that losing extra pounds is necessary and mandatory before surgery for several reasons that we will look into in this article, one by one. 

When and why is breast reduction surgery indicated?

The reasons why a woman may opt for breast reduction surgery are varied, but the most common are:

·       Significant improvement in physical comfort

Oversized breasts are heavy and lead to neck pain, back pain, skin irritation, and postural problems.

• Improve shoulder posture and eliminate back pain

Heavy breasts create constant tension on the bra straps, which leaves deep marks on the shoulders and can contribute to severe back pain. These symptoms are significantly relieved following breast reduction surgery, which is why this procedure has the best post-operative satisfaction rates of all plastic surgery procedures.

• The possibility of participating in sports activities

Enlarged breasts prevent many women from participating in various sporting activities that require mobility and aerodynamics. In addition, visible breast movements create a source of psychological discomfort and prevent many women from relaxing and enjoying sporting activities. 

• Avoid embarrassment and shame

When breasts are disproportionately large in relation to the rest of the body, especially in young women, they create image problems, and it is difficult to choose clothes that blur their dominant appearance. This creates emotional discomfort and even feelings of shame for some women.

How is breast reduction surgery performed?

Breast reduction surgery takes about 3 hours and generally requires 1-2 days of hospitalization. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. 

The reduction procedure involves excising larger or smaller portions of the mammary gland and moving the area formed by the areola and nipple to a higher and more elevated position on the breast. The areola may also be reduced to a size that gives a proportionate appearance in relation to the rest of the breast.

Sometimes large breasts are also "saggy," and a breast lift procedure (mastopexy or breast lift) may be performed as part of the same operation.

Depending on the anatomy of the breasts, the type and amount of tissue to be removed, and the patient's expectations for the final result, Dr. Yates will choose one of the reduction mammoplasty surgical techniques.

Why do I need to lose weight before breast reduction surgery?

It is recommended for all patients who wish to undergo breast reduction surgery to reach their ideal weight before the procedure for several reasons:

• Do not sabotage your own breast reduction results

If you resort to breast reduction surgery before losing weight, this may affect the results of the surgery. If you lose a large number of pounds after breast reduction, your breasts will look much smaller than you would have liked. Losing weight can also affect the skin and shape of your breasts. The best option is to reach your desired weight and maintain it for a few months before scheduling breast reduction surgery.

• Reduce the risk of complications and poor wound healing

Obesity and excess fat tend to put more pressure on the body, increasing the overall post-surgery wound healing time. This also increases the risk of infection in the recovery stage. 

• Reduce the risk of complications associated with anesthesia

In the case of obese or overweight people, finding the correct anesthesia dosage is more complicated. Sometimes, a few extra kilos dropped can do wonders. 

Easy Weight Loss Tips 

Before surgery, you should be in a good health condition. Starting a weight loss program based on a healthy, balanced diet, drinking more water, and starting gentle exercise are excellent ways to prepare for breast reduction surgery.

1. Healthy Dieting

A painless weight loss starts with a nutritionally balanced diet:

• Protein 15-25 %

• Carbohydrates (sugars) 50-55 %

• Fat 20-30 %.

These macronutrients should come from:

• Protein from both animal and plant foods: meat, fish, eggs, legumes, quinoa, nuts, raw almonds, brown rice, soya

• Carbohydrates from slow-absorbing foods: fruit, vegetables, brown rice, beans, lentils, chickpeas, peas

• Good fats from fish, olive oil, seeds, nuts, raw almonds, avocados, white meat, eggs, and fresh dairy products

2. Low-impact exercise

If you do regular physical activity, you will burn off stored fat, develop muscle mass and have a good mental tone. 

Aim for half an hour of moderate activity daily. Or take a 20-minute walk every evening. Or you can get the same benefits by doing an intense activity for 75 minutes. 

3. Semaglutide weight loss injections 

A global study of more than 2,000 participants showed that curbing appetite by injecting 2.4 mg of the diabetes drug semaglutide every week can lead to a decrease in body weight.

Semaglutide has been used in the US and other countries as an anti-diabetic treatment for years. Recently, evidence has shown that semaglutide works, in varying doses, as an effective appetite suppressant and has been approved by the FDA to be administrated for weight management in obese or overweight patients.

Semaglutide injections are administrated once a week, delivering the hormone GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1), which makes the patient feel fuller and thus helps them eat less.

However, as good as it may sound, these revolutionary weight loss injections need to be correlated with a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Semaglutide injections are prescription-only medicine; if you are interested in starting a medical weight loss program, please reach out to Dr. Yates from Yates Institute of Medical Weight Loss in Fort Lauderdale for further information and medical advice. 

Final words

Reducing weight is essential in overweight patients who want to undergo breast reduction surgery. 

The breast reduction procedure has a high patient satisfaction rate. In most cases, the breasts will keep their result for several years. Weight fluctuation occurring due to a new pregnancy may affect the appearance of the operation. 

An easy way to lose weight is to start a weight loss program consisting of healthy dieting and regular exercise. If you are obese or overweight and need medical help, semaglutide injections may be the solution you are looking for durable results.