How Common is Breast Reduction for Teens Who Are in Their First Year of College?

Question

Is a breast reduction procedure too much responsibility or too difficult for a freshman in college to deal with? Would they need someone to help them shower or dress during recovery?

Lewis Albert Andres, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question!  I hope that these answers help in making your decision.  You suffer from juvenile hypertrophy of the breasts, which is typically treated by breast reduction.  It is not uncommon to have the symptoms that you describe such as neck/back/shoulder pain as well as infections/rashes and shoulder grooving, especially in teenagers once her breasts begin to fully develop.  You may consider having the procedure performed during one of your breaks or the summer as you can have some assistance and more time to recover without other responsibilities.  Once one begins to have the symptoms that you state above, consideration for a surgical procedure to ameliorate your symptoms, assist with self esteem, and allow you to get back to physical activities in your youth should be done.  Given your symptoms,  you would be an ideal candidate.  You must first discuss with your parents and pediatrician, and then consulting with a plastic surgeon for evaluation and examination to assist you in deciding if this would be the right thing for you.  Your surgeon will also go over what to expect as well as the risks and benefits of the procedure.  Overall, your symptoms should be ameliorated almost immediately and hopefully give you more self confidence and an increased activity level.  Your breasts may still continue to grow over the next several years, but it is certainly reasonable to consider this at this age with the issues that you are having.  I hope that this helps!  Good luck with your decision!

Kelly Gallego, MD, FACS · Answer

Breast reduction continues to be one of the most commonly performed reconstructive surgeries by plastic surgeons in the United States. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons estimate that roughly 83,000 women underwent a breast reduction in 2010. Of those patients, approximately 4600 were ages 13-19. After a breast reduction, patients typically will have drains in place for a week, take pain medicine for 3-4 days, and are not able to drive for 5-7 days. I think it is usually best for college students to have the procedure done over a vacation or other school break to allow adequate time to recover.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

I would recommend that you have surgery during winter or spring break.  Patients do very well with the surgery but college is a serious endeavor and you should not have any major surgery during the academic semester if at all possible.  Patients do very well after the first 2-3 days and do not need assistance in showering or dressing.  Best of luck in school and in preparing for this surgery, which has a very high patient satisfaction rate.  Many of my young patients go on to lose weight as they are able to be much more physically active following surgery.  Dr. K

Steven Turkeltaub, MD · Answer

Having breast reduction surgery during the first year of college is not a rarity or a very difficult thing to do provided that you plan appropriately. If you are a good candidate for the procedure based on breast size and associated uncomfortable symptoms, then pursuing surgery would be reasonable. It would be prudent to plan this during a vacation, especially an longer one where you will have assistance for a few days and time off from school work. Vacation in December of even the summer would be the best bets though you could also have it performed during spring break.

	Anticipate discomfort to generally be fairly mild and you should be up and around the day of or day after surgery. Most women are able to return to work or school within 5 - 7 days as long as they don't engage in very exertional activities.

	Good luck!

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

It is quite common for college age women who need a breast reduction to have it done. I treat alot of women in their late teens and twenties.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD · Answer

Breast reduction in teenagers can be a very beneficial procedure but must be done with meticulous pre-operative evaluation and counseling. The teenage years are when a lot of adult personality and issues of confidence and self-esteem are being developed. Large breasts can impact that development. The psycho-emotional benefits must be weighed against any risks both medically as well as developmentally but age is not necessarily a deterrent to the positive experience of breast reduction.

	Robin T.W. Yuan, M.D.

Danielle DeLuca-Pytell, MD · Answer

I see many young women who are finishing high school or starting college to discuss breast reduction. Whether or not the procedure is too much responsibility really depends on the patient herself. For my patients in college, we generally plan for them to have their surgery during a break from school so that they can recuperate in the comfort of home and have their family around for support. I usually recommend that patients have someone available to assist them the first time they shower, especially if drains are in place, just to make sure they have a hand if they need it. I also recommend button down shirts to help avoid stretching overhead the first few days after surgery. I hope this helps!

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.

	Breast reduction surgery is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. It may help alleviate chronic neck back shoulder discomfort and other symptoms associated with breast hypertrophy.

	The procedure can suddenly be done turning your first year college. I would suggest that you schedule it such that the procedure is performed at the very beginning of a school break giving you at least 2 weeks of recovery time. You should have full time help available to you for the first week after surgery.

	I would suggest that you seek consultation with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons. You will find that every surgeon has a different routine in regards to showering and other postoperative activity.

	I hope this helps.

Lisa Lynn Sowder, MD (retired) - Account Suspended · Answer

Most of the college students I have operated on for breast reduction have it done during one of their breaks and arrange for at least a week off of classes.  I ask that patients have a responsible adult with them the first day after surgery and then most patients do pretty well on their own.  The surgery is not as painful as one would think it would be, but for young women, it can be very, very emotional.   It's important to have a good support system of friends and/or family with this surgery. 

	If you are really miserable with your breasts, don't delay.  So many of my older patients tell me that they wish they had had a reduction at a much younger age.

Sherwood Baxt, MD (retired) · Answer

look at Scarless breast reduction. liposuctionONLY. This is not for everyone But if you are a candidate There is no visible scar and recuperation is limited to your own discomfort. in other words you can do anything you want as soon as you feel comfortable doing it as there are no incisions to pop open.

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