Breast reduction describes several related procedures, all of which decrease the size of the breast by reducing the amount of skin and glandular tissue.  Though breast reduction is not a weight reduction procedure, it does tend to decrease the weight of the breasts and can relieve back neck, and shoulder pain.  It also may help improve a patient’s posture, reduce shoulder grooving from undergarment straps, and in particularly large breasts can address problems with rashes beneath the breasts.  Breast reduction surgery requires general anesthesia.  It typically takes three to four hours, and patients can usually go home the same day.  The level of discomfort is usually mild.  Patients leave with a post-surgical bra and have a follow-up appointment one week after surgery.  While there is typically a recovery period of two to three weeks after breast reduction surgery, many patients report that they feel lighter immediately after surgery.