Journal time! In our recent March 2012 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Journal there was an article “Additional Benefits of Reduction Mammaplasty: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” This is preaching to the choir for me on this one- I love breast reductions and think they offer a lot of medical benefits (in addition to being able to fit into normal clothes and jog again.) They state in 2009, 80,000 women had breast reductions. This was a review of the literature. The authors were specific about which studies met their criteria to be included. 
Findings?
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
- Improvement in neck and back pain. (35% lower compressive force in the lower spine, and 76% decrease in self reported disability. Another study found relief of pain the lower back, neck, and shoulders. Another study found improvement in upper body strength and posture after breast reduction, regardless of BMI)
- Improvement in chronic headaches. (50% reduction in headache symptoms after surgery)
- Improvement in lung function. (Improved peak inspiratory and expiratory flow rates follow breast reduction. ?Could this lead to improved exercise tolerance)
- Improvment in Oncologic Surveillance. In English: it is easier to find cancers. (Better to do self exams, there is less breast tissue since there is removal of breast tissue; and a dense breast on mammogram is associated with increased breast cancer risk)
EFFECT ON WEIGHT AND EATING BEHAVIORS, and AESTHETICS…
You must read the next blog. This one was getting too long. But good stuff! Go breast reductions! (Check out my shorter scar vertical breast lift.)