How Breast Augmentation or Reduction Can Affect Your Posture

Do you believe your larger breasts are causing you to round your shoulders when you sit or stand? Are you struggling with chronic pain in the neck, shoulders, or lower back? It may surprise you that changes in breast size can impact posture and spinal alignment. Many individuals seek breast augmentations or breast reductions to not only change the appearance of their large or heavy breasts but also to improve the physiology of their posture.

If you believe you have neck, shoulder, or back problems caused by large breasts or smaller breasts, you may consider exploring plastic surgery options. The first step is to schedule a consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss the different procedures.

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the impact of breast augmentations and look at how you can relieve chronic upper back pain from large breasts.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Anatomy and Physiology of Posture

Larger or asymmetrical breasts can impact a woman’s physical appearance, posture, and musculoskeletal system. The musculoskeletal system’s main job is to help you maintain balance and support the body. If your breasts are too large or not symmetrical enough, it causes a misalignment and a constant muscle strain.

Women with larger breasts may develop a slouch. Heavier breasts can pull the shoulders down and cause a rounded or hunched appearance. You may also have additional neck and shoulder pain, as well as upper back pain.

Smaller breasts can lead to a more forward-leaning appearance, which can cause problems with posture. When left untreated, a forward-leaning appearance can impact self-esteem and cause muscle tension in the shoulders and neck.

To minimize postural changes and to reduce back or neck pain, you’ll want to consider either a breast augmentation or a breast reduction. A plastic surgeon will explore the different procedures with you and find the best option for your unique concerns.

Breast Augmentation and Its Implications on Posture

Smaller breasts can cause slouching, rounded shoulders, and overarching. The main reason for this is that women with smaller breasts don’t require as much support. This can lead to a lack of self-awareness throughout the day and the development of habits that cause poor posture.
A breast augmentation procedure is used to help increase your breast size or correct asymmetrical breasts. The procedure is designed to help improve weight distribution and keep your position more balanced, reducing the strain on your neck and shoulders.

However, a breast augmentation can also negatively impact your posture and cause back pain. If you go to a plastic surgeon who doesn’t have your best interest at heart, they may recommend a breast size that can lead to issues with posture and chronic back pain.

If you want to enhance the size or shape of your breasts, it’s always best to schedule a consultation with a board-certified surgeon like Dr. Thomas Bell. He will discuss your options with you and provide expert recommendations based on your body shape, size, and goals.

Postural Benefits of Breast Reduction

One of the most popular procedures for women with heavier breasts is breast reduction. This procedure can help correct the weight distribution and improve your posture. Some of the benefits you can look forward to from a breast reduction procedure:

• Relieve Stress in the Spine and Neck: A breast reduction can help improve your posture, leading to less strain on your spine and neck. Once the excess fat and tissue are removed, you’ll have less strain on the musculoskeletal system, thus, bad posture and shoulder pain caused by large breasts will be gone.
• Improve Posture: Reducing the size of your breasts removes excessive fat and tissue from the chest area. Once removed, you may find it easier to achieve a more natural postural position when sitting and standing.
• Reduce Headaches: Individuals with poor posture are more at risk of developing chronic headaches because poor posture causes extra strain on the neck and shoulders. When left untreated, it can lead to throbbing pain and headaches.
• Improve Appearance: A plastic surgeon will work with you to help you achieve an elevated appearance that aligns with your aesthetic goals.

A breast reduction is an ideal treatment if you have problems caused by larger breasts. A plastic surgeon will discuss the potential risks and benefits of the procedure with you to ensure it’s an ideal choice that will address your concerns.

Augmentation vs. Reduction

So, what’s the difference between breast augmentation and breast reduction? The main difference between the two procedures is that a breast augmentation is used to increase the size of your breasts, while a breast reduction decreases the size of your breasts. Both procedures are among the most common plastic surgery procedures but are used to address different concerns.

Here’s what you’ll need to consider when exploring the two options with your plastic surgeon:

Breast Augmentation

A breast augmentation procedure is used to correct asymmetry or enhance breast size. During the procedure, a plastic surgeon will insert an implant or use a fat transfer to adjust the size of the breasts. The two most popular breast implants are saline and silicone. While there are potential risks of rupturing, the other risks are relatively low. Breast implants typically last around 10-20 years, depending on the type of implants. Most patients can also return to regular activities in four to six weeks.

Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reductions are used to decrease breast size or correct asymmetry. It’s often the recommended procedure to help correct problems caused by larger breasts. During the procedure, a plastic surgeon will remove breast tissue and excess fat from the breast area. They will shape and contour the remaining tissue to achieve a natural appearance. Most patients can return to regular activities in just two to four weeks. There are potential risks of scarring, fluid buildup, or fat necrosis. However, these risks are rare and can be avoided if you go to a professional plastic surgeon.

Lifestyle Modifications and Exercises

Before your procedure, you’ll want to start prioritizing exercises that can help strengthen the musculoskeletal system. This can help improve the procedure results and address your postural concerns. If you struggle with constant back pain issues, consider scheduling a consultation with a physical therapist for a treatment plan. With a custom physical therapy treatment plan your doctor will provide lifestyle modification recommendations you can use to improve your posture and learn how to relieve back pain from larger breasts.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Ready for a breast reduction or breast augmentation? The team at Toronto Plastic Surgeons is here to help. For years, we’ve been helping women get relief from heavy breasts, asymmetrical breasts, or smaller breasts. Our team is here to help develop a custom treatment plan that aligns with your needs and goals. We’ll provide expert recommendations to ensure you get the best possible results from your procedure. With our expert recommendations, you can address your postural concerns and get one step closer to your aesthetic goals.

Schedule a consultation today to get started.