How Breast Reductions May Help Mental Health

Following her Lyme disease diagnosis, supermodel Bella Hadid had her breast implants removed, and her sister Gigi did the same.  The Hadids are among the many celebrities who have have had breast augmentations to increase their bust size, but doctors may have discovered a surprising benefit to actually reducing one’s cup size.

Two South Australian researchers discovered that women can actually benefit mentally from having a breast reduction procedure. Tamara Crittenden and Nicola Dean conducted a 12-year study including over 200 women who had breast reduction surgery.

The pair cataloged the feedback from the women, proving how the procedure can be beneficial in all aspects of life. Not only were these women relieved from years of back pain, but their mental health also soared.

“Both of the studies indicate breast reduction surgery is undervalued by health systems, significantly improving health-related quality of life to levels comparable to those in the general population,” Associate Professor Dean said.

According to Crittenden and Dean’s research, obese women benefit greatly from breast reduction surgery, stating that they “found obese participants gain a similar, if not better, improvement in the quality of life after breast reduction, despite a slightly higher rate of minor complications.”

While big breasts may be praised by society, some women do not like having big breasts, as it can bring unwanted attention. From catcalling to groping, a woman’s self-image can take a serious hit. Still, this is may not be enough to qualify for a reduction procedure. Unless you are experiencing pain due to your breast size, it is difficult to get cleared for breast reduction.