The procedure decreases severe back, neck and shoulder pain and allows women to participate in sports, find clothes that fit well and improve their self-image. Perhaps because these benefits are becoming better known, more women are choosing to have it done. The meta-analysis authors reviewed 29 studies in five languages involving more than 4,000 patients between 1985 and 1999. This review, carried out by non-plastic surgeons to reduce the likelihood of bias, examined all the literature available on the procedure and concluded that breast reduction surgery positively helps patients both in improved physical symptoms and quality of life.
Insurers often claim the operation is performed for cosmetic rather than therapeutic reasons.
With this Proceedings review, there is now ample evidence to support the health benefits of the procedure. Subsequently, two ASPS studies presented in 2000 support the findings of the meta-analysis. Evaluations after surgery showed participants had significant improvement in all categories. In our study, we very clearly described the burden of having large breasts, illustrated the surgical benefit of breast reduction on physical symptoms and defined new measures for insurance carriers to assess the need for covering the procedure. The second study also reported significant improvement in muscle strength, postural measures and pain reduction following breast reduction surgery.