After my breast reduction surgery last year, I was unhappy — unhappy that I hadn't done it 15 years earlier. Unhappy that I'd believed (erroneously) that I'd have to lose every extra pound before insurance would cover the cost. Unhappy that I'd put off doing something that was relatively painless, left me with minimal scarring, and turned my pendulous DD's into perfectly perky C's.

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2002 more than 100,000 American women had breast reduction surgery — officially known as reductive mammoplasty — a 20% increase from 2000. Celebrities such as Drew Barrymore, Queen Latifah and Janeane Garofalo are all on record as having surgery to get smaller breasts.

Garofalo is a big advocate of the procedure. "Don't hesitate! There's no point in lugging giant breasts around," says the comedian, who longed to be "flat as a board" during adolescence before undergoing reduction surgery while in college 20 years ago. "I'm one of those women who got breasts early. I loathed them; they made me look fat, and I hated the undue attention. The surgery was such a snap — I only had mild discomfort, and I was so thrilled with the results. You actually get what you pay for and achieve your dream of smaller boobs. How many things can you say that about?"

Lisa, 44, an editor from Denver, had breast reduction surgery in 1980 and has never looked back. Like many women, Lisa had suffered self-consciousness because of her generous cleavage. "I got a lot of messages as a teen about covering up. We shouldn't be evaluated or judged — or judge ourselves — by the size of our busts, but we are and do," she says. "[After the procedure,] I could do things like run and swim. I spent my whole young womanhood behaving like I was fat, but there was really just one part of me that was out of proportion."

Self-consciousness can lead large-breasted women to avoid exercise, which can contribute to weight gain and even larger breasts. Exercising without discomfort (and without having two sports bras digging into your shoulders) is only one of the benefits of more moderate-sized mammaries.

Overly large breasts are also linked to poor posture, back and neck pain, and even nerve damage and restricted breathing, according to Armando Soto, M.D., a surgeon at the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Center at Baltimore's Mercy Medical Center. "For many women, this procedure is life-changing," Dr. Soto says. "In addition to the physical benefits, there can be a significant improvement in how they feel about their body. Insurance companies are increasingly recognizing the health benefits of reductions for women with overdeveloped breasts."

Surgical techniques vary, but in essence, fat, glandular tissue and skin are removed from the breasts while the patient is under general anesthesia. Often the nipple circumference is made smaller and the nipple repositioned higher on the breast. An overnight stay in the hospital is routine, but some patients feel well enough to be discharged the same day (as I did).

As with any surgery, complications can arise. Some women experience decreased nipple sensation, and breast-feeding may no longer be possible, depending on how much milk-producing tissue is removed and whether or not the nipple is severed. Physical activity is restricted during the healing period, usually six to eight weeks.

In my case, the health benefits of breast reduction were great. In 2000, I'd lost 30 pounds — and four pants sizes — with only a quarter-inch reduction in bust size. As a result, I still felt bulky, and, discouraged, I wound up regaining most of the weight. Having a proportional bust size motivated me to take off the pounds and increase my physical activity. My almost daily headaches evaporated. And I discovered the joy of buying cute, flimsy lingerie instead of the concrete-and-steel-reinforced brassieres I'd relied on since junior high!

Saying ta-ta to my ta-tas was something I wish I'd done sooner. If you think breast reduction surgery might be right for you, consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. You can find more information at the Web site of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.