Would Breast Reduction Make a Big Difference in Ease of Exercise?

My teenage(16 years) daughter finds that her very large breasts interfere with her performance in athletics. She is fairly short and slender, and her disproportionate breasts make running and jumping difficult which negatively impacts her love of soccer. Would breast reduction help her regain her confidence and speed? Would the weight difference be noticable for her? Have you ever done reductions on teens or athletes, and, if so, how have their lives improved? Also, do thinner and younger women handle the surgery well? Thanks so much for any help you can offer!

Tags:

Comment on this

12 Doctor Answers | Asked by julia9009 in United States

Doctor Answers (12)
Community Comments (0)

Juvenile Breast Hypertrophy?

Thank you for the question. I'm glad to hear that your daughter has your support; this this will be very helpful to her. It sounds like she is dealing with juvenile breast hypertrophy along with the physical consequences of this diagnosis. In other words, the breasts are too large for the frame causing physical (and possibly emotional distress). As she thinks about breast reduction surgery make sure she does her homework and... more

Breast reduction can make performing exercise easier

Breast reduction surgery is a very popular and effective way to remove tissue that may cause symptoms such as pain or discomfort and to contour the shape and position of your breasts. In our practice, many of our patients have told us that after their surgery they have literally felt as if a large weight has been taken off their shoulders and back. For this reason and because they have less tissue and weight, many patients have told us that it is easier for them to exercise and they... more

Breast reduction in a teenager

If your daughter has very larger breasts and is of adult size and menstruating regularly, then perhaps she is a candidate for a breast reduciton. However, I will caution you that this will not likely make her run any faster or play better. There may be other reasons that she wants this done other than playing better at soccer.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction for an athlete

If a young athlete is encumbered in her performance by large breasts, it is reasonable to consider a breast reduction. Make sure you fully understand the scars and all the potential ramifications of a reduction and go to the best surgeon in your area regardless of insurance.

Have breast reduction as soon as breasts stop growing.

Hi. 1) Your daughter sounds like an ideal candidate for breast reduction, if her breasts have not grown for a year. 2) Breast reduction will almost certainly improve her mobility and self confidence.

Breast Reductionon Teens

Breast reduction patients, when properly screened and counseled have been among the most grateful of my patients. Even at age 16 your daughter should be able to comprehend all of the information that your surgeon (hopefully a board certified plastic surgeon!) would impart to both of you. You should not be afraid to ask questions of your surgeon - what is his/her experience in reduction in teens, what are the potential risks and complications, can you treat the complications if they... more

Breast Reduction in Athletes

It is not at all uncommon for teens to undergo breast reduction. I cannot tell you that a reduction will make your daughter a better soccer player, but I strongly suspect that she will be very happy with the results if she is of normal weight with very large disproportionate breasts.

In the right patient reduction mamoplasty gives great results which make patients extremely happy.

The way you describe your daughters physical appearance, slender with disproportionate breast, she sounds like the ideal patient for reduction mamoplasty. If your daughter is unhappy with the size of her breast and they seem to limit her physical activity then i encourage you to take her to a board certified plastic surgeon who has a lot of experience with reduction mamoplasty. I feel certain that she will be delighted with the results. These are some of my happiest patients. They can... more

Great procedure to improve activity level

Breast reduction is a great procedure to help patients increase their physical activity. It is especially important in younger women before many of the negative effects of large breasts occur and take hold. The surgery is safer and with less complications in women who are in shape, thinner and nonsmoking.

Breast reductions in teenagers

Dear Julia, I wish I had an easy answer for you but I don't. When dealing with teenagers you are dealing so much with psychosocial issues that you must be part plastic surgeon and part psychologist. Is the reason she wants to have the surgery done because of exercise or embarrassment when exercising. If you daughter's breasts are still increasing in size then I would not recommend a standard type vertical or anchor breast reduction. In several of my patients I have done isolated breast... more

Breast Reduction in the young

Hello, The operation is well tolerated healing-wise, but younger patients tend to have issues with even modest scarring. Some patients do have improvement in athletic ability just by having their breast size reduced. The main issues would probably come down to the patient's maturity and motivation to have surgery. The weight difference tends to be small -- a few pounds in the usual case.

Yes, breast reduction is an excellent operation for athletes

Many young women are athletic these days and large breasts can interfere with their performance. I have done many reductions in young athletic women who enthusiastically approve of the change. Being young and healthy, the operation is safe and the recovery fast. Operating on teenagers is a delicate situation. The parent will take responsibility for the operation that the child will live with going forward. But if the situation is adequated vetted, the decision to proceed is always... more