I'm only 22, but I get back aches from the weight of my breasts. They are saggy and heavy. What can I do?

You need a formal evaluation by a licensed plastic surgeon and expert in breast reductions to determine what is best for you and your goals.
Breast reduction is one of my favorite surgeries as it allows me to dramatically improve a woman’s breast appearance as well as alleviate many physical symptoms of large breasts, such as back, neck and shoulder pain, bra strap grooving, and rashes under the breasts. When I perform breast reduction surgery, I generally use a superomedial pedicle to provide blood supply to the nipple while maintaining fullness in the upper and inner breast. Excess lower and outer breast tissue are removed. Breasts are often asymmetrical, so I remove more tissue from the larger breast. The final scar pattern is a circle around the areola, down the breast, and possibly under the breast, depending on the degree of skin excess.
For me, breast reduction is not a one-size-fits-all surgery. The size and shape of the breasts are customized to each patient depending on her goals and desires. Some women want a significant amount of tissue removed while others prefer to have a more limited reduction. Regardless of the amount of tissue removal, I perform the maximum safe amount of lifting and tightening for each patient.
I suggest consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon and expert in Breast Reductions. - Dr. Cohen

Hello and thank you for your question.I am sorry you are feeling this way. Breast reduction is one of our most popular surgeries, and the patients are very happy with the result. I recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best of luck!

If the size of your breasts is preventing you from what you want to do or a constant source of depression, it is not unreasonable to have the procedure done.  Consult either virtually or in-office with a board certified plastic surgeon who is an expert in breast reduction surgery so that you can discuss your ultimate goals, BR pros and cons, the best time to have the surgery, and whether your NHS medical insurance is likely to pay for it.
You mention back "pain" related to your large breasts which would likely be improved with a BR. The mass of the breasts will change very little with a breast lift as usually only a small amount of skin is removed.  However, the breast density can be altered by the tightening of the skin envelope and make the breast appear somewhat smaller.  This is usually only a significant factor in women with very loose skin and less dense breast tissue. 

Dear Rational6958,
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

Hello and thank you for your question. I am so sorry that you dealing with that. I know that can be very frustrating! Based on your concerns and current pictures, I think a breast reduction would be the best surgical fit for you. It will help reduce the size and weight of the breast. Most patients find a lot of pain relief after surgery. I would suggest setting up a consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to help assist you with this.

Dear Rational6958, Thank you for your question and I am sorry to hear about your concerns. It does seem that you could possibly benefit from a breast reduction. However, I suggest setting up a consultation with a Board Certified Operating Surgeon. At this time, he or she can screen you for safety and assess you in person to decide if this operation is right for you. Best of luck!

From your photos provided, you appear to be a good candidate for a breast reduction. Patients typically experience relief from upper neck and back pain that is caused by large, heavy breasts. I would recommend that you see a board-certified plastic surgeon for a consultation to discuss this procedure in more detail. The surgeon will perform a physical examination, discuss the surgery in detail, and you will be able to discuss timing and financial aspects of the procedure after the consultation. Best of luck!

Hi Rational6958,Kudos to you for beginning the process by doing your research! The symptoms you present with are similar to those of many breast reduction patients. Despite your young age, large breasts can cause these common symptoms since most women have been carrying around the weight for a number of years (since undergoing puberty) and the initial breast growth. I am not familiar with the intricacies of the NHS, but I would recommend meeting with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area to being the process and find out a bit more. Many patients find it helpful to review my before and after photos in the online gallery to gain an understanding of what they can expect post op, so finding a surgeon with a comprehensive online gallery is a good start. Best of luck to you!

Thank you for your question! I am so sorry you are going through this. A breast reduction or lift can help relieve back/neck pain as well as provide a boost in confidence. I recommend scheduling a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon so you can be evaluated in person and find out what you are a good candidate for. Best of luck! 

I am sorry to hear about the problems your disproportionately large breasts cause  you. Based on your description you may be an excellent candidate for breast reduction surgery.   However, much more information is needed to determine whether you should proceed with surgery, and if so when (timing).  In my practice, I individualize the “timing” of surgery based on a lot of information that is transmitted during the consultation process.
“Typical” patients who present for breast reduction surgery are women who have disproportionately large breasts, causing problems such as neck/back/shoulder discomfort, postural changes, bra strap grooving, skin irritation/rashes under the breasts, and/or difficulty with activities of daily living and/or exercise etc. There may be both physical as well as psychosocial “stress” caused by the disproportionately large breasts.
Reducing breast tissue mass and elevating the breasts on the chest wall tend to improve or alleviate many of the symptoms associated with the disproportionately large breasts.
Patients considering breast reduction surgery should also consider the potential downsides (risks/complications) associated with the procedure as well. Poor scarring, for example may be associated with the procedure.  Additional surgery may be necessary in the short or longer term for a multitude of reasons.
  When the time is right, I would suggest in-person consultation with board-certified plastic surgeons who can demonstrate lots of experience achieving the types of outcomes you would be pleased with.
Then, it will be important 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. 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.   Therefore, 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.  I also find that the use of pictures is more helpful than the words “natural” or "proportionate” etc., which can mean different things to different people.
Many of my patients choose to have enough breast tissue removed to help alleviate symptoms while retaining enough breast tissue to remain proportionate to the remainder of their torso.
I hope this helps.