How small can I go from a 36DD for a breast reduction?

Breast reduction surgery is designed to reduce breasts that are too large for an individual's frame or body type.  When breasts are too large, symptoms can develop over time such as neck or back pain, shoulder pain with grooves from bra straps, breast pain or heaviness, irritations or infections of the skin of the upper abdomen or lower poles of the breasts and with longstanding Macromastia, numbness can develop in the hands and fingers.  At your age, these symptoms have likely not manifested themselves yet.The ideal breast reduction surgery will reduce the breasts to alleviate these symptoms, but maintain ideal female appearances to the breasts.  In other words, the final size should be proportionate with your overall body size.  A board certified Plastic Surgeon can best advise you on the ideal size to maintain your feminine shape.

Congratulations on your decision to proceed with breast reduction surgery; this operation tends to be one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform.   
I would suggest that you communicate your goals clearly with your plastic surgeon and make sure that you have realistic expectations prior to proceeding with any type of surgery.  Ask to see lots of examples of his/her work so you feel comfortable that he/she can achieve the outcome you are looking for. In regards to breast size desired, also communicate carefully. In my practice the use of goal pictures are helpful in this regard; a discussion of cup size can be confusing and imprecise.  For example, “B or C cup” or “proportionate" may mean different things to different people,  and therefore may be a source of miscommunication.    In other words, I would not suggest that you communicate your goals and/or base your satisfaction with the outcome of surgery on achieving a specific cup size.  Also, keep in mind that removal of a certain amount of tissue does not necessarily correspond to the achievement of a specific cup size.
 I hope this, and the attached link (dedicated to breast reduction concerns) helps. Best wishes.

Hi,Since cup sizes are approximate and vary from bra to bra, it is impossible to guarantee a cup size. We can make the breasts as small as you wish, but generally the preferred result is in the B-C cup range, but this depends on your body type, height and weight as well as your preferences.Good luck!

Basically you can go too practically nothing, if you so choose.  However you are at a very important age in making this decision.  First have your breasts stopped growing? (NO change in cup size for 1 year).  In my experience I don't consider breasts full grown until age 18-20.  Second, do you ever hope to nurse a baby?  Nursing is impossible to very difficult for women after a major breast reduction.  You may want to wait until after you have your children to consider this surgery.Third, if you do get pregnant your breasts will probably change shape, and grow again, while you lactate.Please consider discussing these points with your parents, gynecologist or family doctor,and Board Certified Plastic Surgeron.

When we do a breast reduction surgery it is to create a more appropriate looking breast and more appropriate size to help reduce the discomfort, but we cannot make a specific size, even though we always have a goal in mind. From your information a breast in the C range should be easy to accomplish, and a B range is a possibility but it takes an exam to know.