I am 5’2" (almost 5’3") and weigh around 180. How much weight should I lose before getting a breast reduction?

Hello and thank you for your question.
You will want to lose between 10 and 20 pounds to be in a healthy BMI prior to surgery. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

Dear sage_0101,

Thank you for you question. According to the information that you have provided, your BMI (body mass index) is about 32.9. This number is the ratio of your height to your weight, and may help your surgeon to determine potential risks associated with surgery, which may include infection, wound healing complications, etc. You may potentially be a good candidate for a breast reduction surgery with your current BMI, also considering any health issues that you may have. A breast reduction surgery may help to reduce the weight and size of your breasts, and may help alleviate symptoms such as shoulder and back pain, which may potentially be associated with the weight of your breasts. I suggest at this current time, you schedule an in-person or virtual consultation with a board-certified Plastic Surgeon to discuss your specific goals and to develop a plan that may help you best achieve them. Best of luck and stay safe!

Your BMI is around 32 1/2 which is acceptable for surgery. The technique I recommend is The Bellesoma Method. This will reduce and reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. The weight of the breast is transferred to the underlying pectoralis major muscle resulting in pain relief without excessive reduction. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Dear sage_0101,
generally speaking, you want to reach your goal weight before you consider a surgery, otherwise your results will be suboptimal if you continue to lose weight after the surgery.If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery looked at the number of complications after breast reduction in 675 patients. They noted a significant association between body mass index (BMI) and complication rate. This complication rate increased significantly when BMI was 35.6 or larger; yours is 31.9. So if you were planning to lose weight do it before having the breast reduction; it will probably alleviate some of the shoulder and back pain.

It's best to be as close to your ideal weight as possible and able to maintain it when considering a breast reduction. Some women will notice changes in their breasts with weight loss or gain so it is best to have your weight stable before surgery. Big fluctuations in your weight in the future could impact your surgical results. See a board certified plastic surgeon near you to learn more.