Breast Reduction: Q&A

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Breast Reduction from C Cup to A Cup

I am going for a consultation for breast reduction. I am 39 years old and have been wanting a reduction for some time. I have tried to lose weight as I was advised by my GP but this seemed to make little difference. I am a C cup at present but they are very heavy, causing me back pain and shoulder pain. Is it reasonable to request going down to a small B or A? I exercise a lot and at the moment this is very painful. I am going to a private clinic as the NHS will not assist as they say it is simply cosmetic.

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20 Doctor Answers | Asked by Georgina in Bristol in Bristol UK

Doctor Answers (20)
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An A cup is unlikely after breast reduction

There are many factors which must be balanced when considering breast reduction. Cup size is one important one, as is nipple position relative to the fold under the breast. Others are the amount of skin and laxity within the breast, the projection of the tissue (full or soft and long), and the base diameter of the breast. On average most patients will wear a D cup after a significant reduction, often over two thirds of the breast present, The reason is the geometry as it relates to the... more

C cup and back pain

Georgina, It is difficult to determine whether your back and shoulder pain symptoms are due to your breast size without examining you, knowing your body habitus and history. In general, C cup breasts do not cause significant back pain. Be sure that there is not another possible cause for the pain, e.g. spine or disc problems. If not, then seek the advice of a plastic surgeon. There may be some restrictions on the amount of tissue to be removed to be considered a medically necessary... more

Breast Size after breast reduction

There is no " ideal” breast size. It is very important to communicate YOUR size goals with your surgeon. In my practice, the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) is very helpful. I have found that the use of words such as “natural” or “C cup” or "fake looking" means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful. Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who... more

Breast reduction from C cup to A cup

Breast reduction is a popular and effective way to remove tissue that may be causing pain and symptoms and contour the shape of your breast. There are many excellent techniques that can help you recontour the shape of your breast and create a pleasing new breast mound. Many techniques will also minimize the amount of scars that are necessary to place on the skin. Be sure that you're working with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience in breast... more

Proportion

I advocate being proportionate. Now when you say you're a "C" this is somewhat arbitrary as all bras are different. However, if you are athletic it is not unreasonable to get, what I call, a sporty reduction. This means a reduction of 150-400cc that will help maintain a nice figure but at the same time allow you to feel more comfortable while exercising and reduce the strain on your neck and back. Unfortunately, there's no insurance company that will cover this reduction. ... more

Breast reduction from C cup to A cup

Are you having the Breast reduction because of pain or how the breasts look? If it is the pain, I would rule out other causes of pain, such as nerve root compression at the neck, or musculoskeletal strain that may be treated otherwise. A C cup breast would be unlikely to cause so much pain, unless the breasts were unusually heavy or glandular. As an aside, it would be unlikely you would be able to get insurance coverage for such a small reduction. Of course, anything can be done with proper... more

Is breast reduction indicated?

Bra sizes are inaccurate but if you are truly a C-cup, then breast reduction may not be the answer. Typically patients are at least a D-cup or larger who undergo breast reduction surgery. Now granted you could be larger and just wearing a C-cup. In that case a breast reduction may be warranted and help you. Going down to an A-cup is not a realistic expectation if you are truly a C-cup. There are limitations to the surgery. Sounds like you need to meet face to face with a board certified... more

It is easy to make you an A cup, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Hi! With good technique, you can literally be made any size, but it is important to have a good eye for esthetic balance. In Manhattan, we occasionally see a breast reduction patient who is sure she never wants to need to wear a bra again. And we make her an A cup, and she is happy, even if she looks a little bottom heavy. But this is the exception. It is so important to really listen to the patient. For most women, a B cup is small enough and ages well.

Breast reduction will acheive these results

Large droppy breasts can cause a variety of symptoms e.g neck pain, bra strap lines etc.... in general a D cup or more would cause these symptoms.It is uncommon to have a C cup causing these symptoms. However, a reduction could male you a B cup. An A cup might be difficult to acheive due to nipple blood supply related issues. Hope that helps!

Breast reduction

Reductions can be performed within reason. It is very difficult to make the breast an A cup from a C cup. More likely a B cup could be appropriate. The nipple areola complex has to be moved on a mound of tissue thick enough for it to survive. Same goes for the skin.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

C to B or A is possible, but will that help you?

If you truly are a C cup, then it would be very unusual to request a breast reduction operation. The back and/or shoulder pain you may be having could be due to breast size or several other conditions that may have nothing to do with your breast size. After a breast reduction, you will have a decrease in volume and a lift in the breast tissue. However, there are patients who have undergone a breast reduction for pain and still have pain after the procedure. Let a plastic surgeon examine... more

Have realistic expectations

With breast reduction surgery, it is possible to reduce the size of the breast - that is the intent of the procedure. However, to maintain a normal appearing breast, there are usually limits to how much the breast can safely be reduced. Good luck with your procedure.

Reduced breast size

Given the cup size you are and hope to be, volume may not be your only issue. A part of your surgery may be more of an elevation of the nipple position, than reducing breast tissue itself. This may determine the length of incisions too. Good luck

Breast reduction advice and cup sizes

Hi, you can certainly undergo a breast reduction to your desired size. However, whether or not an A or B cup would be attractive on you is something that cannot be determined without an examination. The goal in breast reduction surgery is to reduce and lift the breast tissue while providing you with a result that is harmonious with your body's frame. Also, as you probably know, different manufacturers use different criteria for cup sizing (for example, Victoria's Secret bras tend to run... more

Tough without examing you

To go from a C to a B cup would more likely be called a breast lift or mastopexy where with a breast reduction, more breast tissue is removed. A breast lift or breast reduction often times helps with upper neck and back discomfort be we can never promise that. In terms of the size you could expect, this can be better determined at your consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon. Best of luck. Dr Edwards

Breast reduction advise on going from a C to an A or B cup

Without knowing your age ,height, weight, reproductive and nursing history it is difficult to answer your question. How this will effect the balence, equilibriumand harmony of your torso is the KEY question. In my 37 yrs. of practice it is unusual to have a patient request a reduction with a C cup. Howeve, if you are pendulous you may benifit from a breast lift AND a small reduction. You can see more information on some of my previous posts which may be helpful.

Diagnosis of pain

Breast reduction has two main components: symptomatology and aesthetics. If you are doing a reduction for pain, make sure the pain is related to your breast weight. Pain within the breast itself (mastodynia) is not an indication of reduction. If you have neck and back pain, Irecommend cradling your breasts in your arms when you have the pain and see if this relieves the pain. You can also walk around for a while with the breasts supported in your arms and see how you feel. If you still feel... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

4 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

You are a good candidate for a shorter scar

As stated, if your breast size interferes with your daily activities you would be a good candidate for reduction. A short-scar, (a.k.a. lollipop, LeJour, or or vertical lift) that uses a smaller scar would probably be possible for you. Remember that as you remove more tissue, you may lose some of the your shape and of course will have scars. Learn about the pros and cons before you decide.

Cup sizes cannot be predicted

You can certainly have a reduction based on your description but you are a smaller cup size already than most people wanting a reduction. Whether you could fit into a B or A cup after would depend on your anatomy, your base width, your surgeon and their technique and on how you chose to wear the bra. Good luck to you.

This is a small reduction

This is a relatively modest reduction. You're key word is "at the moment". Don't do a breast reduction for the moment. Do it for the rest of your life. Be sure that a small B or a is something you are comfortable with over the longterm. If the answer is yes, then you may consider it. I am not quite familar with the NHS guidelines for breast reduction but you may not meet the criteria for coverage. In any event seek a qualified surgeon and ask their advice regarding the feasibility... more