When young women grow up, society makes them believe that the bigger the breast, the better. However, they don’t consider some of the consequences that may come with having bigger breasts.
Dikeledi Mache shares her journey of the unbearable pain she experienced with big breasts and under-going a breast reduction operation, also known as reduction mammoplasty.
For Mache, having big breasts came with a great burden and health risks. It was also pricey.
For as long as she can remember, she has always had big breasts, but, when she was pregnant, they grew even larger. She had to make changes to accommodate her breasts, which eventually became costly.
Before the surgery, she was a size 44 F. Going bra shopping was a nightmare as it was challenging to find the right size. Outsize bras are also expensive.
Besides the cosmetic burden, Mache’s breasts affected her health negatively. These were the main reasons that led her to undergo breast reduction surgery.
Persistent and severe headaches, backache and aching shoulders were some of the pains she experienced. She says her headaches were once so severe that she was even admitted to the hospital. She was given different kinds of medication to treat her aches, but she never got a permanent solution.
“You feel the pain of carrying those melons. Even if I had the perfect size and shape and could show off their beauty to society; when reality hits, the pain is unbearable,” she said. She also experienced difficulties controlling them.
Her breasts were too heavy and she experienced sweating, heat rashes and painful nipples. Her sleeping patterns and daily life were negatively impacted.
One day, someone told her that her big breasts could be causing her persistent headaches. She did some research and consulted her general practitioner. She eventually contacted a plastic surgeon. After the consultation, Mache’s journey to reduce her breasts began.
On 25 November, she underwent surgery to reduce her breasts to a size 36 B. While she is still in recovery, she says it is so exciting. “I’m over the moon. This is the best birthday gift I could ever have had in my life. The joy of wearing a sports bra is over-whelming,” she said.
Mache highly recommends the operation to heavy-breasted women who may be experiencing similar health risks.
People discouraged her before the operation, but she chose happiness and encourages other women to do what makes them happy too, to love and appreciate themselves.
Dr Francois Mouton and Dr Pierre Venter, general practitioners from MooiMed Hospital, also recommend this type of procedure to women who may experience aches and pains due to the weight of their breasts.
Dr Mouton says breast reductions have lately become common. In most cases, they are done to alleviate to the health-related issues that come with having heavy breasts.
“Heavy breasts come at a price,” he said, explaining that large breasts can be difficult to conceal or control, especially during sports activities. They can also affect one’s posture, which results in women having a goose-neck appearance. This would lead to various aches, like the ones Mache experienced before the operation. Fungal infections may also occur underneath and in between the breasts of women with abnormally large breasts.
Dr Venter strongly advises these types of procedures in medical cases but warns that they should be conducted by qualified and experienced plastic surgeons. When the procedures are done correctly, the women feel better about their bodies, become more confident and happier. They have movement control and may perform better in sport. Overall, their health and posture also improve.
