When large breasts become a health burden for women

For Raquel, having large breasts was never simply a matter of appearance.

It was a source of persistent pain, embarrassment and restrictions that followed her from adolescence into adulthood.

The Argentine university lecturer remembers deliberately walking with her shoulders hunched to hide her body.

“I used to walk with my shoulders bent forward so I could hide my large breasts. I remember it because they caused me so much embarrassment,” she said.

In 2010, aged 36, Raquel decided to undergo breast-reduction surgery. Doctors removed about 2.5kg of tissue from her breasts.

She says the operation transformed her daily life, giving her a sense of physical freedom she had never experienced before.

Large breasts, medically referred to in some cases as breast hypertrophy or macromastia, can cause significant physical and psychological difficulties.

Medical sources associate the condition with back, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, skin irritation, poor posture, difficulty exercising and problems finding supportive clothing.

For her, the problems began when she was a teenager.

Despite being physically active and enjoying yoga, Pilates and gymnastics, the weight of her breasts eventually made exercise increasingly difficult.

Dr. Nora Nugent, president of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons, says heavy breasts can place continuous strain on the neck, shoulders and back and can interfere with physical activity.

Finding suitable bras was another challenge.

Raquel says she sometimes had to wear two or three bras at the same time to get enough support, while specialist bras for women with larger breasts were expensive in Argentina.

Research has found that the impact of breast hypertrophy can extend well beyond physical discomfort.

A study published in the medical literature identified back, neck and shoulder pain among the most troublesome symptoms, alongside exercise difficulties, poor posture and low self-esteem.

For women whose symptoms are severe, breast-reduction surgery can provide substantial relief.

The NHS says reduction surgery may be considered when very large breasts cause health problems such as back, shoulder or neck pain, skin irritation or an inability to participate in sport and exercise.

International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery data show that breast reduction remains a significant surgical procedure worldwide.

Its 2024 global survey recorded about 38,780 breast reductions in France alone, with the procedure ranking among the most common surgical treatments recorded by the organisation.

But surgery is not without risks.

Possible complications include scarring, changes in nipple sensation, wound-healing problems, bleeding and, in some cases, difficulty breastfeeding. Recovery can also take several weeks.

For Raquel, however, the physical relief outweighed those concerns.

She remembers bending down after surgery to pick something up and suddenly realising how different her body felt.

“Wow, it was like having another body,” she recalled. “I felt incredibly relieved.”

She says she has no regrets about the decision.

As awareness of the physical and psychological burden associated with very large breasts grows, doctors say women are increasingly seeking treatment not simply to change their appearance, but to regain comfort, mobility and quality of life.