Very large breasts often cause women back and neck pain, as well as limitations with certain physical activities. Breast reduction surgery can literally be life changing for the patient.
What is breast reduction surgery?
Breast reduction surgery, also known as reduction mammaplasty, reduces the size of the breasts. By removing excess breast fat, tissue and skin and then lifting the breast into a higher position, a plastic surgeon is able to give a patient more proportional breasts, with a more pleasing shape.
Will Health Insurance Cover A Breast Reduction?
Many insurance companies will cover the costs of a breast reduction. However, there is usually a list of criteria patients’ must meet in order to have the surgery authorized by an insurance company. The criteria differ for each insurance company, but usually it includes a documented history of pain and/or neck pain, as well as non-surgical treatments used to help alleviate it. They require that a patient to lose weight if obesity is seen as a contributing factor to large breasts. Insurance companies also require removal of a minimum amount of tissue per breast, based on a patient’s height and weight, to insure the reduction is not for cosmetic reasons.
What kind of scarring will there be after breast reduction surgery?
The size of your breasts, and the amount of tissue removal needed, will determine how the procedure will be performed and the size of the incisions that are needed. Our surgeons do their best to ensure that the incisions are as small as possible. We also provide patients scar treatment protocol to help insure that scars heal well and are less noticeable.
Should you get a breast lift with breast reduction?
A breast lift is part of a breast reduction. After the excess tissue is removed, breast will be lifted so that they are sitting in the proper place on the chest.
Can liposuction work for a breast reduction?
Some women can use liposuction as a form of breast reduction. However, this is only in rare cases where a small amount of fat is being removed and the skin elasticity is good.
If you are interested in a breast reduction or have more questions, schedule a consultation with our award-winning, board-certified plastic surgeons, Dr. Peter Butler and Dr. Jocelyn Leveque.
