For breast reduction, what is the best size to go to from a current 36DDD?

Hi VipergirlThe most important factor is choosing the appropriate breast size is to have an adequate reduction to treat your back, neck, and shoulder pain. To achieve adequate volume loss would generally require that you reduce your breasts to a small D cup or less. How much less would depend on you aesthetic goals. This is something that should be discussed during a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. I hope this is helpful. Good luck on your surgery.

Honestly, this is the kind of question that requires an in person exam. It is up to your surgeon to look at your body type and assess how much breast volume to remove to give you smaller breasts that are still in proportion to your body. So, I would advise you to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area (link below) to discuss your options. Best, Dr. Nazarian

It sounds as if you are a medium frame and average height and are experiencing the classic complications associated with larger breasts.  Most women with larger breasts also experience a host of medical issues related to the size of their breasts. These problems may include neck pain, back or shoulder pain, hygiene difficulty, and breast pain.
Fortunately, when the excessive breast size causes functional problems, insurance will generally pay for the operation if more than 400 – 500 grams are removed from each breast. Of course this is dependent on your individual insurance company requirements. By reducing the size of the breast tissue, you can eliminate some of the medical complications listed above, reduce sleeping difficulties, increase your likelyhood of finding clothing that fits and improve self image. Ultimately the size you choose to reduce your breast to, is up to you! The best palce to start is by making an appointment with a Board Certified plastic surgeon. They will be able to advise you and guide you through the process. Good Luck!#plastic surgery #breast reduction #breast size

The best way to determine your final size is to review hundreds of before and after photos with your plastic surgeon and choose several of the ones that you like the most. Best of luck.

following a reduction.  I consider myself a decent surgeon and will never tell a patient what size they will have post-op.  I can only guarantee that their breasts will be smaller and perkier.  My patients guide me by requesting an aggressive excision (usually a small C cup), a standard resection (C/D cup), or a minimal excision, just meeting the minimums for the insurance company leaving an even larger cup.  If you are large framed, larger breasts would look more proportional.  But if your pains are truly they motivating factor here, shouldn't you focus on that rather than your final outcome?

Congratulations on your decision to proceed with breast reduction surgery; this operation tends to be one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. Based on your description, it sounds like you may be an excellent candidate for the procedure. In my practice, I ask patients to use as many “visual aids”, such as goal photographs, during the communication process. Avoid the use of subjective terms; for example, "C or D cup”, “too small" or "proportionate"… these terms can be confusing, since they may mean different things to different people. 

I hope this, and the attached link (dedicated to breast reduction surgery concerns), helps. Best wishes for an outcome that you will be very pleased with.

Since you're suffering from years of back pain, you want to be pretty certain that enough tissue is removed to afford you a significant improvement in symptoms.  On the other hand many of my patients still want to maintain adequate breast size to fit clothing comfortably.  I usually advise aiming for approximately a lower D cup for most patients so that they get a combination of both symptom relief and shape maintenance.  There are never size guarantees however since the cup size is near impossible to accurately determine at the time of the surgery.Let your plastic surgeon know whether you plan to lose weight in the future or possibly gain weight as this may be a factor of note as well.  Good luck and look forward to "standing taller" and having a nice reduction in your breast related back pain.  Jon A. Perlman MD FACS

The best size is a size you would be mentally and physically comfortable with. No surgeon can honestly tell you they can make an exact size, and I fail to see how "a lot of people" can give you any worthwhile advice at all. Also you have to be realistic. A C or D look would be realistic, A would not. Take photos to your surgeon indicating the look you think would work for you. To be of any value the photos would need to be post surgical and unclothed,