Open any men's magazine and you'd be forgiven for thinking that when it comes to boobs - bigger is better. Yet contrary to the popular ideas of men across the world - an over-ample bosom is not always desirable, and indeed there are a growing number of women who are going under the knife to reduce, rather than enlarge their chest.

There are a variety of reasons to undergo a breast reduction due to oversized breasts (a condition known as breast hypertrophy): for some it's purely a cosmetic choice; unusually large breasts can make a woman feel very self-conscious and impede social interaction. For others, especially women with very large, pendulous breasts, there are a variety of medical problems caused by the excessive weight of the tissue. For example back and neck pain, skin irritation, skeletal deformities and breathing problems.

Other potential candidates for breast reduction include those with one breast larger than the other, women who are restricted in their physical activities due to the size and weight of their breasts or those who are developing semi-permanent indentions to their shoulders caused by excess pressure from their bra strap.

Also known as mammaplasty, the breast reduction procedure removes excess fat, glandular tissues and skin to achieve a breast size that is proportional to the rest of the body. Mammaplasty can be performed at any age, but most plastic surgeons recommend waiting until breast development has stopped.

The procedure normally takes place under general anaesthesia and involves a circular incision being made around the edge of the areola, followed by vertical cuts producing a keyhole shaped opening through which the excess tissue is then removed.

The incisions are then brought together to reshape the now reduced breasts. Sutures are layered deep within the breast tissues to help provide support for the new breast shape and after a few days, the swelling will reduce, and over time the incisions lines will fade.

There are of course some possible side effects that occur in some patients, for example loss of breast sensation and risk of permanent scarring in certain patients. This can be especially true for smokers as smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that is recieved by the body during the healing process - thus impairing the regeneration process.

However, the procedure is typically highly successful and most patients are very happy with the results.