As a culture, when it comes to breasts, we tend to think that bigger is better. However, for many women with larger chests, this just isn’t true. From chronic back and neck pain to spinal damage, sometimes larger breasts are a major problem.
The obvious solution? Surgical breast reduction. But not every woman is ready to jump into surgery. That’s why many try exercise to reduce breast size first.
I Must Decrease My Bust!
Chances are you’ve heard about exercises that supposedly increase breast size — though in truth, they just build up the pectoral muscles, which isn’t a bad thing but also isn’t the same. But what about exercises that reduce breast size?
You can find anything on the internet, and that includes guides for workouts that claim to reduce your breast size. Sorry to say, these don’t work as they claim.
To understand what this means, you need to understand what breasts are composed of glandular tissue and fatty tissue. Exercise cannot impact the amount of glandular tissue in the breasts. However, it can shrink the fat cells there to a degree.
But there are some catches to this. First of all, no exercise can specifically target fat in the breasts. When you reduce fat, you reduce it all over the body. Second of all, at some point, your breasts will be as small as they will naturally go; even very slim women sometimes have rather large breasts.
To put it simply, exercise will only decrease breast size if you are carrying around excess weight, and even then, the impact could be minimal. Regular exercise is always a good idea, but don’t expect it to replace breast reduction surgery.
What about Creams, Machines and Pills?
Where there is a market, there will be products. And there are lots of companies looking to make a buck off of women seeking relief from larger breasts. However, you should steer clear of the following so-called solutions:
- Breast Reduction Pills: These pills claim that if you take them regularly, your breasts will be reduced, usually by 1-2 cup sizes. However, these pulls are typically nothing more than diuretics, pulling water out of your body and deflating your tissues in general. Not only are they not making an actual difference in your breast size, but they can dehydrate you and put your overall health at risk.
- Breast Reduction Creams: Typically, these are actually just firming creams, and the idea isn’t that they reduce volume but the visual perception of size by perking up the breasts. However, they don’t do much in this department either. While not dangerous, they aren’t useful either.
- Breast Reduction Machines: Yes, there are at-home massaging machines that claim to reduce breast size and increase firmness. While there is nothing wrong with breast massage, don’t anticipate any noticeable difference with use.
- Breast Reduction Teas: Just like the pills, these are diuretics. Avoid them for the sake of your health.
How to Actually Reduce Breast Size
It may not be the answer every woman wants to hear, but it’s the truth: only breast reduction surgery is guaranteed to work. The good news is that if your breast size is harming your health, your insurance might cover this procedure. Take the time to learn about your options, speak with your insurance, and consult with cosmetic surgeons. You might discover that getting a breast reduction isn’t as intimidating as you thought.
Dr. Joseph J. Castellano is a native Floridian who grew up in the Tampa Bay area. During medical school and his 5 years of training in General Surgery, Dr. Castellano developed a strong interest in Cosmetic Surgery. He followed his residency training with an elective year of specialized training with the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. From 2010-2011, he completed a fellowship in Indiana focused entirely of cosmetic surgery of the face and body. During his fellowship, he received specialized training in facial rejuvenation, breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, and body contouring. Dr. Castellano received his board certification from the American College of Surgeons in 2010.
Dr. Castellano focuses on breast augmentation, abdominoplasty, liposuction, facelift, and eyelid rejuvenation. Additionally, he operates on numerous skin cancers, scar revisions, spider veins, and specializes in the management of aging skin with chemical peels and laser resurfacing.
Request a consultation to meet with Dr. Castellano and learn more about all his practice has to offer.
