Can I Have A Breast Reduction If I Am Overweight?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am currently 21 years old, and wear around a size 36 H. I am 5’1 and weight roughly around 210 pounds. The women in both sides of my family have large breasts. Both my aunt and my mother had breast reduction surgery. I do have discomfort while sitting which has caused me to have really bad posture. The bad posture has caused a pretty decent size hump on my lower neck/back. Would I be a good candidate for a breast reduction?

A: By your description I could not imagine a better candidate for breast reduction surgery. Your musculoskeletal symptoms and posture indicate that your breasts are too heavy and hung too low for your body frame to support it. You have already seen the benefits (and the scars) from breast reduction in your relatives so you are well aware of both the benefits and the trade-offs of the procedure. You age is not a limiting factor for having the surgery. While you are overweight for your height, that is also not an excluding factor in having successful breast reduction surgery. Weight loss will most likely make your breasts smaller but will not correct the sag which is often as much a culprit as their weight.