Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty , involves the removal of skin and tissue from the breasts, then reshaping them to a smaller size. This type of surgery has been on the rise since the pandemic. Cosmetic breast reduction surgeries—those that were not considered medically necessary and paid for out of pocket—increased by 54%, from 2019 to 2022, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) .
ASPS suggests several factors may have contributed to this trend, including an increased health and fitness focus, remote work and flexible schedules allowing for easier surgery recovery, and more time for reflection about personal comfort and well-being. Benefits of breast reduction surgery may include relief from upper back, neck, and shoulder pain, an increased ability to exercise and participate in physical activities, and an improved self-image. Dr.
Lynn Damitz, chief of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Director of Aesthetic Surgery at the UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, NC, and ASPS board vice president of health policy and advocacy, has seen an increasing number of women 65 and over pursuing breast reduction surgery. “I’ve definitely seen an increase in the last two decades,” she says. “My patients over 65 are highly motivated.
Often, they have been thinking about doing the surgery for a long time, and are ready to do something for themselves.” The cost of the surgery can be significant. According .