Will Getting a Breast Reduction Make Me Look Larger Around The Middle?

I'm 5'4 and 172 pounds. I carry most of my weight in my chest, arms, and my middle area. However, having large breasts has always given the illusion of my gut being smaller and less round than it actually is. I'm a cumbersome 36 H, and I'm getting a reduction within the next month. My surgeon said he would take me down to a D/C. Would the drastic reduction in my chest area fit with my body? And mostly, could it actually make me look larger in my middle?

Tags:

final result proportion

Comment on this

11 Doctor Answers | Asked by Shelby222 in Kentucky

Doctor Answers (11)
Community Comments (0)

Breast reduction will change your proportions

In general you are correct that your proportions will change after breast reduction, and your mid-section may appear more prominent. However, as already pointed out, many women go on to lose weight after breast reduction and this will hopefully restore a nice proportion. In addition, there are other benefits from the breast reduction which will most likely outweigh the potential adverse impact on your proportions-such as reduced neck, back and shoulder pain, improved ability to... more

Breast Reduction and body proportions

In general breast reduction patients are exceedingly satisfied with their overall results. After a breast reduction, your breasts are smaller and people frequently ask if you have lost weight! The surgical goal includes making your breasts more proportionate to your body. Additionally, you should be able to exercise more efficiently hopefully leading to weight loss. But with the breasts lifted off the abdomen, the stomach may be visualized more. ... more

Breast reduction and body

It is not uncommon for some large patients to not see their abdomen too well with the large breasts. Not uncommonly, once the breast are reduced, they notice their protuberant stomach.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction can change body appearance greatly, but usually for the better

Your question is a very interesting one. Reducing the breasts can change all sorts of things in body appearance. Patients are often able to stand up straighter, hold their shoulders up better, and overall move more comfortably. Exchanging a hunched over, round shoulder appearance for one that is more square shouldered and upright is a nice change. I did have one patient ask me postoperatively what I had done to make her belly bigger. I was puzzled, because I had not... more

Breast Reduction necessarily alters proportion between breasts and abdomen

Hi there- Because a breast reduction results in a smaller breast profile, without any change in the rest of your torso (abdomen), there will always be a change in the relative proportions of the bustline and abdomen. If you are already concerned that your abdomen is larger than you would prefer, it is indeed likely that making your breasts smaller will leave you feeling even more so. This is not to suggest that you should not proceed with reduction- only that it would be wise for... more

Breast reduction and abdominal fullness

There is greater risk in the crease incision separating when a reduction is done on a patient with a fuller abdomen because the belly can rub on the new incision and irritate it. Also, suddenly you can see the actual size of the tummy and this might surprise you. Believe it or not, a patient years ago in Georgia actually tried to sue their doctor "for making them fat."

Getting a breast reduction will actually make you look like you've lost weight

Hi Shelby, Reducing your breasts and lifting them off your abdomen does make your mid-section more apparent. However, having a breast reduction does give patients an overall slimmer 'look'. Many have commented that because they fit better in smaller tops, they actually are perceived by friends and family to have lost weight. Having the weight of the breasts reduced allows patients to stand straighter and taller helping with this illusion. This is what my patients tell me all... more

Breast reduction procedure can reveal more abdominal contour than some patients want to see

A good breast reduction will reduce the size, weight and length of your breasts - your abdomen will be more visible after this procedure. To date, I have had several patients comment on this fact, but nobody has regretted doing the breast reduction procedure because of the aesthetic and funtional benefits that they derive from it.

Breast Reduction and Appearance of Abdomen?

Thank you for the question and congratulations on your decision to proceed with breast reduction surgery. It is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. No doubt you will find that there will be many benefits to rid yourself of “cumbersome 36 H” breasts. It will be important to communicate your goals with your plastic surgeon. You should communicate your concerns that the “chest area fit with my body”. The use of goal pictures may be helpful given... more

Appearance of abdomen after breast reduction

Many women have exactly this concern. Given your weight and height, the proposed reduction would greatly improve your appearance and proportions. Breast reduction has one of the highest satisfaction rates of any surgery I perform. Some patients do go on to have tummy tucks at a later date but this is dependent on many factors including the condition of the abdomen and one's finances as the abdominoplasty is not covered by insurance.

Abdominal appearance after breast reduction

Breast reduction surgery is one of the more common reconstructive procedures performed in the United States with roughly 95,000 women undergoing the operation each year. Frequently overweight patients will comment that their abdominal area appears to protrude after a breast reduction procedure. The good news is that most patients can increase their level of activity, and hopefully lose unwanted pounds alleviating the situation.