Breast size is determined by a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Hormonal changes during pregnancy, when the breasts start to produce milk can also cause breasts to become bigger. 

Sometimes, large breast size can be the result of Gigantomastia disease, a rare condition that causes excessive growth of the female breasts. Only a couple of hundred cases have ever been reported.

The exact cause of Gigantomastia isn’t known. It can occur at random, but has also been seen to occur during pregnancy, puberty or after taking certain medications. The condition does not affect men.

While Gigantomastia is considered a benign condition, it can be physically disabling if not treated. Many women will need to undergo Breast Reduction surgery.

Gigantomastia is also known as breast hypertrophy or Macromastia.

For most people, Gigantomastia is not the cause of their large breasts. However, this doesn't mean that having enlarged breasts doesn't come with concerns of its own such as back pain, a loss of confidence or other concerns which are associated with big breasts.

How to Make Large Breasts Look Smaller without Surgery

While often desirable for health reasons, weight loss has been repeatedly shown not to be the most effective treatment for symptoms related to large breasts. This is because breast skin is heavy, and even when weight is lost it still contributes significantly to total breast size. Any increase in breast skin volume is permanent, i.e. not reversible with weight loss.

Breasts do contain a proportion of fat and regular exercise can help to reduce chest fat and strengthen the muscles underneath the breasts to reduce their size. Cardio and high-intensity exercises can help shed weight faster and target problem areas. Aerobic exercises can help lose all-around body fat as it speeds up metabolism. Eating a healthy diet can help with weight loss and reducing breast size.

However, a healthy diet and upping exercise will not be enough to help most women with very large breasts.

How Can Breast Reduction Surgery Help?

Breast Reduction surgery is a quick way, and often the only way, to reduce large breasts to a more comfortable size.

Women who have overly large breasts can find them an inconvenience, especially if they play a lot of sport or struggle to find clothes that fit around the chest area. They may find themselves excluded from certain physical activities because of the size of their breasts, causing them to feel self-conscious.

Very large breasts can also cause serious discomfort, including backache, neck pain and skin irritation, such as rashes under the breasts.

Breast Reduction can help to address all of these problems, improving quality of life and increasing comfort and confidence.

Can the Symptoms of Large Breasts Be Treated without Surgery?

Mild occasional symptoms may be relieved by anti-inflammatory medications, heat packs, massage, chiropractic, physical therapy, etc. Unfortunately, for women with more severe and persistent symptoms, such treatments rarely provide permanent relief. Ensuring you have a well-fitting, supportive bra, may help in the short term, but is not always beneficial as the weight of the breasts can still aggravate neck, chest wall, and shoulder symptoms.

How Long is Breast Reduction Surgery Recovery?

Most patients can resume full activities within six weeks, but final breast shape may not be apparent for many months. 

Also called a Mammaplasty, a Breast Reduction is a highly effective treatment for large breasts as it deals directly with the cause of the symptoms. Breast Reduction surgery is a standard part of plastic surgery training, although plastic surgeons do not all have equal experience performing the surgery. The more skilled your surgeon, the higher quality results, including the concealment of scarring and the positioning of the nipples.

Patient satisfaction rates after Breast Reduction are very high, and it is the rare patient who will not experience significant relief of her symptoms after surgery.

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