Treatment for Breast Hypertrophy in Delafield

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is breast hypertrophy?
  Breast hypertrophy, or macromastia, is excessive enlargement of one or both breasts relative to a person’s body frame. It involves excess glandular and fatty tissue. The added weight commonly contributes to neck, shoulder, and back pain, skin irritation, and difficulty with physical activity.
• What are the symptoms of breast hypertrophy?
  Common symptoms include disproportionately large, heavy breasts; chronic neck, shoulder, and upper back pain; grooves from bra straps; and rashes or irritation beneath the breasts. Finding bras and clothing that fit can be difficult, and exercise may become uncomfortable or impractical.
• What causes breast hypertrophy?
  Breast hypertrophy can be influenced by hormones, including the breast tissue’s sensitivity to estrogen. It may develop during puberty, pregnancy, or breastfeeding, or with weight gain. A family history of large breasts can also contribute. Rare conditions may cause rapid, excessive enlargement known as gigantomastia.
• When should I see a doctor for breast hypertrophy?
  Seek medical evaluation if breast weight causes persistent neck, shoulder, or back pain, recurring irritation or infection beneath the breasts, numbness in the hands, or substantial limits on daily activities. Sudden or rapid enlargement or a new breast lump requires prompt evaluation.
• How is breast hypertrophy treated?
  Treatment depends on the severity of the enlargement and its symptoms. Supportive bras, physical therapy, posture exercises, weight management, and skin care can help manage discomfort and irritation. When symptoms persist or are severe, reduction mammoplasty removes excess breast tissue, fat, and skin to reduce physical strain.
• What does breast reduction surgery for hypertrophy involve?
  Breast reduction removes excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin, then reshapes the breast to a size more proportionate to the body. The nipple and areola are typically repositioned. Liposuction may be used when the excess volume is predominantly fatty. The procedure is usually performed under general anesthesia.
• Can large breasts be reduced without surgery?
  Supportive bras, physical therapy, posture training, and weight management can ease associated strain in the neck, shoulders, and back. These measures manage symptoms but do not reduce the underlying size of hypertrophic breasts. Surgery is the only way to remove excess breast tissue.
• Does Consona bill insurance for breast reduction?
  No. Care at Consona is private-pay, and no claim is submitted to any health plan. Breast reduction is quoted and paid for directly. Payment is the question raised most often about this procedure, and the answer affects what happens next. If insurance coverage matters more than where the surgery takes place, raise that before the consultation. The surgery itself does not change according to how it is paid for.
• Can breast reduction be done with liposuction instead of an incision?
  Sometimes. When the excess volume is predominantly fatty and the nipple remains in a reasonable position, liposuction alone can reduce breast size through very small incisions. Liposuction is listed as a standalone procedure offered by Dr. Boehm. If the excess is glandular, the skin envelope is stretched, or the nipple has descended, suction alone will not address it. The tissue must be excised and the breast reshaped through reduction mammoplasty. Aesthetic breast surgery is one of Dr. Boehm’s stated focus areas, and the examination distinguishes between these two approaches.
• Will a breast reduction relieve my back and shoulder pain?
  Frequently. Patients report relief from back and shoulder pain more consistently than any other outcome. Pain related to breast weight, bra-strap grooving, and the posture used to carry that weight tends to improve substantially. Pain caused by an unrelated spinal problem does not become breast-related simply because both are present. Only an examination that considers both can distinguish them. Include symptoms you have stopped mentioning, along with those that remain difficult, because long-standing functional limits can help show how breast weight is affecting you.