'It's changed my life': The difference breast reduction surgery can make

This is sponsored content for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery.

When Kylie was told there was no longer a bra available to fit her 16K-plus breast size it was another devastating blow that edged her closer to what she had longed to do for 20 years - have a breast reduction.

"I took that really hard," she said. "I've been living with being so large busted for so long, and I was really struggling."

Today, after having breast reduction surgery in late May, the 39-year-old mum of two is so glad she finally took the step, and is looking forward to living the kind of active life that hadn't been possible before.

Kylie now wears a 16DD bra, is free of the lower back and neck pain that had been a constant problem, and the deep indentations in her shoulders are disappearing.

"A weight has been lifted, literally," said Kylie. "It was 1.64kg off the right and 1.72kg off the left. That's instantly gone off your shoulders and back.

"It's just changed my life, and I'm really happy for the first time in a long time."

For Kylie, and other women facing the challenges of living with overly large breasts, breast reductions are all about health, both physical and emotional.

Constant pain is just one of the symptoms women with macromastia - the clinical term for having big breasts - have to live with.

According to Newcastle plastic surgeon, Dr John Newton, who performed Kylie's surgery, most of the women who come to him for reductions do so mainly because of the pain.

"The real crunch is the weight; it's very uncomfortable," Dr Newton said. "They often have very sore shoulders, sore neck, and upper and lower backs.

"But they also end up with rashes and using anti-fungal creams and tissues to control it. They can't be physically active and the discomfort continues their whole life.

"There are emotional problems as well - the awkwardness and embarrassment and self-esteem issues that many women experience."

Dr Newton said breast reductions are a common and consistent part of his work.

"Right now there are probably an equal number of women having breast reductions as are having enlargements but, while augmentation waxes and wanes, I've never seen the demand for reductions drop in 30 years," he said.

A breast reduction involves a general anaesthetic. Incisions are made in the breasts, excess fat, tissue and skin are removed, and then they are sewn up. The procedure takes around two hours.

"Then it's a recovery of about 12 weeks," Dr Newton said. "The first four weeks are really looking after yourself. But you can be driving short distances in two weeks, and back to work in a week depending on the physicality of your job."

As with any surgery, there are risks of infection and other complications, as well as scarring. And there is the cost - from $10,000 to $20,000. Breast reduction surgery may be covered by some private health insurance when it is performed to relieve medical symptoms.

Now relishing simple things like being able to buy a dress off the rack without having to have it altered to accommodate a size 22 top and 14 bottom, Kylie said the difference to her life has been "unbelievable".

"I was really unhappy," she said. "I was at the stage where I didn't want to go out, I just felt that people were staring at me, I was so self-conscious. Plus I was taking painkillers every day and going to the chiropractor every four weeks because I was in so much pain.

"Then when the lady I've been buying bras from for 16 years said she couldn't help me any more with the size that I was that was just so hard to hear.

"Mentally and physically I couldn't handle it any more. I still felt terrible about spending this money on something for myself - I felt selfish - but my husband said, 'Come on you have to do this'."

Kylie said she is especially looking forward to taking up running again for the first time since she was a teen, playing soccer with her children, and shopping for swimwear for a family holiday to Fiji.

"It's the best thing I've ever done," she said. "I'm so happy within myself and happy when I look in the mirror."

This is sponsored content for Cosmetic Plastic Surgery.