If you are wondering, “What can I do about deep grooves in my shoulders from bra straps?” I metaphorically feel your pain. Having large breasts comes with several negatives that seldom get discussed. One of these drawbacks is the physical toll large breasts can take on your neck, back, and shoulders.
If you are experiencing deep grooves in your shoulders from the weight of your breasts pulling your bra straps down, getting breast reduction surgery might be the solution you’re searching for.
What causes the deep grooves in my shoulders from bra straps?
While shoulder grooves from bra straps can happen to anyone with an ill-fitting bra, the most common reason you have deep grooves in your shoulders from bra straps is large breasts. Larger breasts are heavier and exert downward pressure on the straps of your bra. If your bra is not supportive enough — or the straps are too narrow — that pressure is focused directly on your shoulders, causing grooves in your skin. Bra strap grooves can become increasingly painful and irritating over time and can even lead to problems with your back, neck, and shoulders, so it’s important to correct this problem now.
What Can I Do About Deep Grooves in My Shoulders From Bra Straps?
If you have deep grooves in your shoulders from your bra, there are some steps you can take right now to alleviate your discomfort.
If you have tried different, well-fitting, and supportive bras, and none of the temporary options to relieve your pain have helped, it is time to consider a more permanent solution to get you out of pain and back to living a life where you are comfortable.
For individuals with large breasts causing pain, breast reduction surgery can be a life-changing procedure. The good news is, if you have tried other solutions and are still in pain, breast reduction surgery could be considered a medically necessary procedure and, therefore, be covered by your insurance.
Breast Reduction Surgery to Alleviate Pain and Discomfort From Large Breasts
Plastic surgeons perform breast reduction surgeries to give you relief from your pain while also providing an aesthetically pleasing and natural-looking breast after the excess tissue has been removed.
A breast reduction, also called a reduction mammoplasty, is a surgical procedure where excess breast tissue, fat, and skin are removed using well-placed, easily hidden incisions around the nipple-areolar complex and lower pole of the breast.
Depending on your unique anatomy and desired outcomes, a breast lift may be completed simultaneously with the breast reduction. Consulting with your plastic surgeon will help you determine the type of incision for your surgery, your recovery time, and what results to expect.
Another decision to make with your plastic surgeon is how much tissue to remove to get the best results. The Schnur scale for breast reduction surgery is a measurement calculator used by plastic surgeons and insurance companies to determine if the amount of tissue removed during surgery constitutes a medically necessary procedure.
Getting a breast reduction can help reduce painful shoulder grooving by reducing the weight and pull of your breasts on your bra. Breast reduction surgery can also help alleviate other symptoms and conditions associated with large breasts, including:
- Chronic Pain in your neck, back, or shoulders.
- Skin Conditions like intertrigo — a red, itchy, inflamed rash in the skin folds under your breast.
Harris Plastic Surgery - Your Breast Reduction Experts
With decades of experience in breast reduction surgery, providing patients with results they love, and coordinating insurance, Harris Plastic Surgery can give you the best breast reduction experience from start to finish. If you’re ready to take the next step and never have to ask, “What can I do about deep grooves in my shoulders from bra straps?” again, call or text today to schedule your consultation.
Stephen U. Harris, MD FACS
Dr. Stephen U. Harris is a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and recognized expert in breast reduction and reconstruction surgeries, having performed thousands in his career. When it comes to patient care, his philosophy is that every surgery should improve his patient’s overall quality of life, not just their appearance. Dr. Harris stays up-to-date on all the latest advancements in breast augmentation, reconstruction, and reduction and is a recognized innovator in the field. In fact, he was the first surgeon at Good Samaritan Hospital to offer primary prepectoral implant breast reconstruction, as well as secondary prepectoral revision surgery.
Dr. Harris also serves as Chief of Plastic Surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, New York and is an active staff surgeon (and former Chief of Plastic Surgery) at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, New York.