I’m 19, 5’7, weigh 155 lbs, and wear a 34D. Am I a good candidate for breast reduction?

Hi, thank you for your question. It is difficult to say whether you are a good candidate for a Breast Reduction without photos or a physical exam. Typically, the presence of heavy breasts that causes symptoms in the upper back & neck or rashes under the breasts would warrant a reduction. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to review your options. I hope this helps. Best of luck! 

Hello and thank you for your question.
The best thing to do is to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best of luck!

You need to determine if the back aches are the result of the size of your breasts.  The best way to determine what your breast size should be with respect to your anatomy and give true advice would be an in-person exam with a board certified plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of breast procedures annually. 
Not only does proportion depend upon the aesthetic balance of your breasts with your shoulders, waist, hips, and buttocks, but also upon your objectives, active lifestyle, soft tissue quality, muscular anatomy, and long-term concerns. There is also a limit to how small you can go due to tissue that needs to be retained for the nipple/areola to maintain a good blood and sensory nerve supply.
No direct correlation exists with cup sizes. A PS cannot guarantee that a breast will be a specific cup size after reduction.  Very large breasts rarely are reduced by more than two or three "cup" sizes.

Without photos or an exam, I can only speak in generalities.  It all depends on how comfortable you are with your present breast size and shape.  If you would like to be smaller and lighter, so there would be less weight and bulk up top, then a reduction will be appropriate.  Whatever weight is removed will reduce the strain on your shoulder, chest, and back.  However, with "only" a D cup and not larger, the amount of breast tissue removed (which depends on your desired final size) may not be enough to make a significant change in any back symptoms.  But I would expect at least a moderate symptom improvement.

Hi.  If you are larger breasted then you would like to be and are otherwise healthy then you would likely be a good candidate for breast reduction.  Of course, you need an in person evaluation.  I would recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon with good experience with breast reduction to be able to examine you and go over the specifics and the options with you.  I have included a link to some typical before and after photos if that is helpful.  Good luck and take care, Dr. Howell

Hello, thank you for your question !Without an examination it is hard to give a definitive yes or no answer.A great way to find out if your breasts are the cause of your back pain is to hold the weight of your breasts off of your chest to see if this alleviates the pain. If it does, it is more than likely your breasts that are causing your pain. D breasts are usually not dramatically large on someone who is 5'7. You may want to consider buying a more supportive bra before resorting to surgery. 

At size 34 D, I do not believe you would be a good candidate for breast reduction.  However, if you are having pain, you can determine whether the pain is associated with the breasts by simply holding up the breast with your hand to see if it alleviates your neck, shoulder and back pain.  If it does then the technique I recommend is a breast lift using The Bellesoma Method.  This will 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 and long term stability.  Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained.  As stated by others, you may benefit from an orthropedic evaluation for your back pain.  Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Dear Imaginative00700,
breast reduction is best suited for women who wish to decrease the size of their breasts. While there are different techniques used to perform this surgery, I prefer the vertical incision (lollipop pattern) breast reduction technique instead of the anchor scar pattern, which reduces more noticeable scarring than usual. I also use a SAFE liposuction technique to reduce additional fat around the stubborn axilla area and bra line. This way, my patients are achieving beautiful results with minimal incisions which reduces downtime and delivers an overall better breast shape long term.If you are considering breast reduction surgery, you should consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options and make sure your surgeon understands your goals. 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

Thank you for your questions. An in-person exam or photos would be helpful. The easy answer is that if you want smaller breasts, then you may be a good candidate for a breast reduction procedure. However, if you want insurance to cover the procedure, that is going to be much more difficult. At only a D cup, to meet requirements, you are likely going to have to remove 400-500 grams of tissue per side, which will likely leave you in the B cup range, which may be smaller than your goals and not fit your frame. If you see a plastic surgeon who is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, you could discuss paying out of pocket for the procedure and have much less restriction about how much tissue has to be removed.Hope this helps!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery

Based on the information provided it's difficult to say if you are a medical candidate for a breast reduction. If you feel your breasts are too large and want them reduced you can consider having the procedure for cosmetic reasons. There will be no minimum amount that has to be removed in this case. I've included a video on the procedure that I hope you find helpful.