Breast Reduction for Relief From Heavy Breasts in Colts Neck & Brick, NJ
Tried supportive bras, physical therapy, or pain relievers, but your neck and shoulders still ache by the end of the day? When the weight of your breasts is contributing to ongoing discomfort, temporary fixes may only do so much. In Colts Neck and Brick, NJ, plastic surgeon Dr. Louis Iorio performs breast reduction surgery to help relieve that physical strain and make everyday activities more comfortable.
I am almost 2 months post op from my breast reduction surgery and I couldn’t be happier with the results so far.
This procedure may not be suitable for every patient. All patients must be evaluated by a physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure.
The above testimonial represents the individual’s response and reaction to the procedure; however, no medical procedure is risk-free. Associated potential risks and complications should be discussed with the physician rendering this procedure.
Colts Neck (732) 780-9191 • Brick (732) 458-7400
Does This Sound Like You? Signs Heavy Breasts Are Holding You Back
Maybe it’s moments like these:
Your bra comes off at night, and your shoulders still ache.
Your straps leave grooves you can see.
Tops fit your shoulders but pull across your chest.
You reach for oversized tops to hide in.
You skip the run or the class because of the weight.
What Breast Reduction Surgery Can Do for Your Body and Your Days
A breast reduction, known medically as reduction mammaplasty, removes breast tissue, fat, and skin, then lifts and reshapes what’s left, so your breasts are smaller and in proportion with your body.
After a breast reduction, you may notice:
Relief from the weight: less neck, back, and shoulder pain, and no more bra straps digging grooves into your shoulders
Moving more easily, so exercise and everyday tasks don't feel held back
Clothes and bras that fit, with a smaller, lifted shape in proportion with you
Calmer skin, with less irritation and rash in the crease under your breasts
More comfort in your own body, and much higher satisfaction with your breasts
Across 12 studies, 90% of the 1,380 patients had significant relief of back pain after a breast reduction.
Some women also report easier breathing, and better sleep and fewer headaches.
How a Breast Reduction Takes the Weight Off and Reshapes Your Breasts
You may come for relief from heavy, uncomfortable breasts. Afterward, many women feel more confident and comfortable in their bodies: lighter, and more like themselves.
Here’s how the surgery works for you:
- Less tissue means less weight on your neck, back, and shoulders.
- Dr. Iorio lifts what remains and raises the nipple, still attached to its blood and nerve supply.
- Smaller, lifted breasts sit in proportion with your frame, so clothes fit differently.
- With less weight in the crease underneath, the irritation there eases.
I thought I would only be relieved of the extra weight. Yet 2 weeks later after surgery I was ecstatic and so happy with the results. They are perfect, I feel like myself again and I love the way my clothes fit me now. I don’t have to hide my body with oversized tops anymore.
This procedure may not be suitable for every patient. All patients must be evaluated by a physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure.
The above testimonial represents the individual’s response and reaction to the procedure; however, no medical procedure is risk-free. Associated potential risks and complications should be discussed with the physician rendering this procedure.
How a Breast Reduction and Lift Differ
| Breast reduction | Breast lift | |
|---|---|---|
| What's removed | Breast tissue, fat, and skin | Excess skin, with the tissue around it tightened |
| Your size | Smaller | Not much change |
| The lift | Lifts as it reduces | Raises your breasts |
| Insurance | Often covered for the symptoms of large breasts, with approval | A lift on its own is cosmetic, so usually not covered |
A reduction lifts as it reduces, but a lift alone won’t make your breasts smaller. Which you need, or both, you and Dr. Iorio decide at your consultation, from your size, shape, and skin. If a lift is all you’re after, see our breast lift surgery.
Men looking for a flatter chest can read about male breast reduction surgery.
Breast Reduction Recovery, From Your Consultation to the First Months
It starts with your consultation. Dr. Iorio asks about your health and mammograms, examines you, and talks through the likely result and the risks.
Next come the weeks before. You’ll have an exam and lab work, stop smoking or vaping, and avoid aspirin and some anti-inflammatory medicines.
Before surgery, Dr. Iorio will discuss your anesthesia options, which may include IV sedation or general anesthesia. Breast reduction is typically an outpatient procedure, so most patients return home the same day. You’ll need someone to drive you home and stay with you overnight as you begin recovering.
The first week is for rest, in a support bra, sometimes with a small drain for a few days.
Around weeks two and three, many women feel much better and go back to work, depending on the job. Lifting, driving, and housework wait about two weeks.
Exercise comes back after at least three to four weeks, and the swelling settles over a few months.
On the night of my surgery he CALLED me to make sure I was well !!!!!
This procedure may not be suitable for every patient. All patients must be evaluated by a physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure.
The above testimonial represents the individual’s response and reaction to the procedure; however, no medical procedure is risk-free. Associated potential risks and complications should be discussed with the physician rendering this procedure.
Dr. Iorio, the Plastic Surgeon Behind Breast Reductions in Colts Neck & Brick
After medical school at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and a general surgery residency at the State University of New York at Buffalo, Dr. Iorio finished his plastic surgery fellowship at Nassau County Medical Center in 1999. The practice opened that year, and he has cared for patients across Monmouth and Ocean counties since.
He is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and by the American Board of Surgery, both member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Other team members help with surgery too: Anna Qiu, a physician assistant, and Sherilyn Sloan, his medical assistant and surgical coordinator, who has been with the practice for 20 years.
The fact that this doctor spent quality time with me explaining the process and took so much time to educate me on what I can expect pre/post-surgery was so helpful and satisfying.
What Patients Say About Their Breast Reduction Results With Dr. Iorio
I had the best experience with Dr. Iorio about 10 years ago. He gave me a breast reduction and a lift. I love my boobs!!
He not only gave me a breast reduction, tummy tuck and Lipo but he made sure I was truly satisfied. My results and body is amazing….
This procedure may not be suitable for every patient. All patients must be evaluated by a physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure.
The above testimonial represents the individual’s response and reaction to the procedure; however, no medical procedure is risk-free. Associated potential risks and complications should be discussed with the physician rendering this procedure.
Read all our reviews on Google: our Colts Neck reviews · our Brick reviews
See real results in our before-and-after gallery. Results differ from person to person.
What Are the Downsides of a Breast Reduction? Scars, Breastfeeding, and Risks
It makes sense to ask about the downsides before anything else. Significant complications are rare, and the most common problem is slow wound healing.
Your consultation starts with your health, your medicines, and your plans for children, so you know your own risks before you decide anything.
Will I have scars after a breast reduction?
Yes. The incision lines don’t go away, but in most cases they fade and improve a great deal, after staying red or pink for many months.
Their pattern depends on your size and shape: around the areola only, for a small reduction; around the areola and down to the crease, a “lollipop”; or that plus a line along the crease, an “anchor”, for larger reductions, with the most scarring. A bra or swimsuit should hide them.
Dr. Iorio chooses the pattern for your shape with you. Not smoking, eating well, and following your aftercare all help the incisions heal.
Will I lose feeling in my nipples, or be able to breastfeed?
Feeling in the nipple can change, sometimes less and sometimes more, and most of the time it improves over time. Only in rare, very large reductions does the nipple have to be moved as a graft, and then it has no feeling.
Most women can still breastfeed after a breast reduction, though it may be limited. Across 51 studies, techniques that keep the tissue under the nipple attached had much higher breastfeeding success.
If breastfeeding matters to you, tell Dr. Iorio, so your plan takes it into account.
Who should wait before having a breast reduction?
A breast reduction suits healthy nonsmokers with clear goals who are bothered by the size of their breasts: neck, back, or shoulder pain from the weight, trouble staying active, or strap grooves and skin irritation.
It’s worth waiting, or talking it through first, if:
- your breasts are still developing
- you plan to lose a lot of weight (a stable weight comes first)
- you’ve had a recent abnormal mammogram, or have a lump that hasn’t been diagnosed
- you have diabetes, a healing or clotting disorder, or heart or circulation problems
- you smoke
Tell Dr. Iorio about your health, medicines, mammograms, and plans for children at your consultation, before any plan is made.
The whole experience was scary but him and his staff were amazing !
This procedure may not be suitable for every patient. All patients must be evaluated by a physician as to the appropriateness of performing the procedure.
The above testimonial represents the individual’s response and reaction to the procedure; however, no medical procedure is risk-free. Associated potential risks and complications should be discussed with the physician rendering this procedure.
Does Insurance Cover Breast Reduction?
Health insurance often covers a breast reduction, but your insurer may need to approve it first, which can mean a letter and photos. Each insurer sets its own criteria. After approval, copays and deductibles still apply, and if your plan won’t cover it, you can pay for it yourself.
Ask your insurer for its criteria, then call either office to talk through how a breast reduction works with your plan.
If it helps to spread the cost, see our payment plan options.
Colts Neck (732) 780-9191 • Brick (732) 458-7400
Questions About Breast Reduction Surgery
How small will my breasts be after a breast reduction?
No one can promise a cup size before a breast reduction. As a rough guide, each 100 to 300 grams of tissue removed is about one cup size. Dr. Iorio plans your size with you, setting the technique and the amount from your anatomy, your wishes, and his advice.
Should I wait until I'm done having children to have a breast reduction?
Pregnancy and weight changes can alter the result of a breast reduction, so some women who want to breastfeed choose to wait until they’ve finished having children. Most women can still breastfeed afterward, though it may be limited. If more children are in your plans, tell Dr. Iorio, so your timing and your plan take it into account.
Do I need to lose weight before a breast reduction?
Not always. If you plan to lose a lot of weight, Dr. Iorio may suggest reaching a stable weight before your breast reduction, since weight changes can alter the result.
Can I have a tummy tuck or liposuction at the same time as my breast reduction?
Yes. A breast reduction can be combined with other surgery, and patients here have received a breast reduction, tummy tuck, and liposuction together. Read more about tummy tuck surgery, liposuction surgery, and a mommy makeover.
Will a breast reduction affect my mammograms?
Before a breast reduction, you may be asked for breast imaging, depending on your age and history, often a mammogram if you’re over 40. Afterward, you keep having routine mammograms and self-exams. Dr. Iorio asks about your past mammograms and biopsies at your consultation, so any imaging you need is done before surgery.
Talk to Dr. Iorio About Breast Reduction in Colts Neck & Brick
Feeling lighter, and more like yourself, starts with a conversation. You’ll sit down with Dr. Iorio, ask everything on your list, and leave knowing what a breast reduction could change for you.
Questions about insurance or recovery first? Call either office.
Reach us in Colts Neck at (732) 780-9191 or in Brick at (732) 458-7400.
Ready? Book your breast reduction consultation.
Colts Neck (732) 780-9191 · Brick (732) 458-7400
Not ready to call? Send us your question.
Both our Colts Neck & Brick offices have on-site parking.
Iorio Plastic Surgery & Medspa
On-site parking at both offices
780 State Route 34, Colts Neck, NJ 07722
(732) 780-9191
1140 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick, NJ 08724
(732) 458-7400