Women can avoid breast reduction surgery by being fitted for their bras

Jun 20 2007

Doctors in Britain are calling for women to be offered free bra-fittings on the National Health Service (NHS) in an effort to reduce unnecessary breast reductions.

According to the British Medical Association (BMA) if women wore the right size underwear the NHS could save the tens of thousands of pounds each year it currently spends on such operations.

Breast reduction surgery is one of the most common forms of cosmetic surgery carried out in Britain and a large NHS hospital may well carry out over 100 breast reductions a year, at a cost of around £4,500 for each operation.

The BMA says bra-fitting should be a precursor to a referral for breast reduction surgery as studies show that nine in every ten women do not wear the correct size of bra, and 22 per cent have never been measured at all.

An ill-fitting bra, apart from being uncomfortable, can cause wires to dig into breast tissue and chafing and pain in the neck and shoulders, all of which might encourage a woman to feel that a breast reduction operation is the answer.

At their annual conference later this month the BMA intends to announce that the services of bra-fitters should be made available on the NHS as the first step in the referral for breast reduction surgery.

Experts say cosmetic surgeons are often consulted by women who mistakenly thought they needed breast reduction surgery when a correctly fitted bra would have ended their discomfort.

One study found 100 per cent of women requesting breast reduction surgery were all wearing the wrong bra and had underestimated the back size and overestimated the cup size.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), say 3,219 people paid to have private breast reduction surgery last year, an increase of 19 per cent on the year before.

There does appear to be agreement with the BMA on the issue from consultant plastic surgeons and from bra expert working for underwear companies.

The major food and clothing chain Marks and Spencer, which sells more bras than any other high street retailer, does offer women a free bra fitting service carried out by trained personnel for any woman to take advantage of.