CA
A 28-year-old member asked:
Who are good candidates for breast reduction surgery?
17 doctor answers • 32 doctors weighed in
Dr. Alan Larsenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Sml breast desire: All women that desire smaller breasts are candidates for a breast reduction. Limitations involve individual health conditions. This can be paid out of pocket or possibly covered by insurance if medically necessary though you must meet criteria required by your individual insurance contract. Make sure you research qualified plastic surgeons to perform your procedure.
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6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Alan Chenanswered
Specializes in Plastic Surgery
Most: Most healthy women with very large breasts causing back, neck, and shoulder pains are good candidates for breast reduction surgery.
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6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Lawrence Rufanswered
Plastic Surgery 54 years experience
Large sagging breast: We may determine that you are a candidate, but insurance companies (including private, medicare, tricare, etc.) use a formula to see if you qualify for coverage. It uses your height & weight to calculate your body surface area. This number is applied to a chart that shows how much breast weight must be removed to meet the 22nd percentile (the level determined to be necessary for improved function).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Lawrence Rufanswered
Plastic Surgery 54 years experience
Shoulder & neck pain: Some people have these muscle spasms & yet may not meet the insurance company qualifications. They may have more sag & a small amount of excess breast tissue, or there may be extreme breast size difference or both. These situations would be more difficult to prequalify. If denied, the operation can still be done as a cosmetic case. In these cases we give you a pre-operative price quote.
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6.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Karen Singeranswered
Plastic Surgery 46 years experience
Sml breast desire: Any woman symptomatic from the weight of large breasts is an excellent candidate. Sometimes this will be covered by insurance, and sometimes not. Symptoms include shoulder, back and neck pain, breast pain, rashes under the breasts and others. Scars may vary with healing and/or skin type. Always seek a physician certified by the american board of plastic surgery. Get all your questions answered.
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6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Joseph Perlmananswered
Plastic Surgery 47 years experience
If you are uncomfort: Many patients with large breasts will develop symptoms over time. These include neck and shoulder pain, back pain, and skin infections underneath the breast from moisture accumulation. In addition many patients are self-conscious about the large size of their breasts, had difficulty participating in certain sports activities, or have difficulty finding clothing that fits properly.
Insurance companies vary on what they consider medically necessary breast reduction. Most policies state that a minimum of 500 g (roughly 1 pound) should be removed from each breast in order to warrant the surgery.
The surgery is a trade-off, because there are long incisions in most cases , which will lead to noticeable scarring, although this fades over the years. In addition , there may be temporary or permanent numbness in the nipple and the patient will not be able to breast-feed in most cases , after the surgery.
That being said, every patient that i performed a breast reduction on, has stated that it was definitely worth the surgery, and they wish they had not waited as long.
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6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Shareef Jandalianswered
Plastic Surgery 18 years experience
Large breasts: Vanessa,
many women with large breasts can be considered good candidates for breast reduction surgery. Those who are symptomatic and have neck pain, shoulder pain, back pain, shoulder grooves from bra straps, rashes underneath their breasts, or difficulty findings bras that fit, are good candidates that will get a huge benefit from breast reduction. Also, non-smokers are much better candidates.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. David Yananswered
Plastic Surgery 22 years experience
Shoulder & neck pain: Generally, those who have symptoms such as upper back and shoulder pain, bra strap grooving, and skin irritation in their skin folds tend to have favorable outcomes with breast reduction. The goal of a reduction is improve upon symptoms related to large breasts. It should not be thought of as a cosmetic procedure.
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6.3k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Todd Sistoanswered
Plastic Surgery 39 years experience
Classically: Those with lower neck, upper back pain, bra strap dents, fungal rash under the breasts, kyphosis, and tingling of the fourth and fifth fingers.
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6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Lavinia Chonganswered
Plastic Surgery 35 years experience
BR criteria: Br (reduction) candidates should be at their ideal bmi, not smoke, have medical conditions well managed and have a realistic goals for the surgery. Occasionally insurance will sponsor, as long as specific criteria are met. A woman should consult with plastic surgeons who perform the procedure frequently, be honest about her expectations and factor adequate time for recovery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Bryan McIntoshanswered
Plastic Surgery 21 years experience
Medically Necessary: Women with large breasts that have pain in the neck, shoulders and/or upper back that is attributable to the size and weight of their breasts are good candidates for breast reduction surgery.
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6.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Annette Occhialinianswered
Plastic Surgery 38 years experience
Best candidates: The best candidates for reductions are healthy women who are at or near their ideal body weight who don't smoke. These patients have the lowest risk of complications.
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6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. ELizabeth Kinsleyanswered
Plastic Surgery 36 years experience
Large breasts: Anyone with large breasts who would like to make them smaller can consider reduction surgery as long as they are in good health.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. George Klauberanswered
Specializes in Pediatric Urology
Prolonged strapmarks: Breasts heavy enough to leave strap marks still visible in the morning after removing bra night before. Also when heavy enough to affect posture, or justifiable phobias about having huge breasts + women who have problems finding smart clothing due to large breasts. Also men with gynecomastia.
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6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Otto Placikanswered
Surgery - Plastics 36 years experience
CUr Surgeon: Best candidates are close to their ideal body weight with disproportionately large breasts in good overall health reporting neck, back, shoulder pain, arm numbness or tingling, shoulder grooving as well as problems with skin irritation in the crease fold and limited physical activity as a consequence of the breast enlargement.
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5.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Ricardo Rodriguezanswered
Plastic Surgery 43 years experience
Breast Reduction : You can have a breast reduction if you want to reduce the size of your breasts.
However, insurance will only pay when there is a history of back pain, neck pain, and the surgeon must remove in excess of 500 grams from each breast.
You can have less than 500 grams removed, but then it is considered a breast lift and not covered by insurance.
Ricardo rodriguez, md
baltimore, md.
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5.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Larry Nichteranswered
Plastic Surgery 38 years experience
BR Candidate: Also known as reduction mammoplasty, this is an operation intended to reduce the size of a woman’s breasts and improve their shape and position. Frequently, the areola (dark skin around the nipple) is also made smaller. Functional symptoms (medical disorders) caused by excessive breast weight may be relieved or improved by this operation.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
1.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Darryl Blinski commented
Plastic Surgery 48 years experience
ALWAYS best to seek IN PERSON consultations with private practice boarded Plastic Surgeons. To check if the PS is boarded search Am Board of Plastic Surgery(ABPS), Am Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), or Am Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons(ASAPS). )
Dec 28, 2015
Similar questions
A 31-year-old member asked:
After breast reduction surgery, how would firm up my breasts?
2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in
Dr. David Levensanswered
Plastic Surgery 41 years experience
No easy answer: Not sure what you mean by "firm up". Breast reduction is usually a very satisfying surgery for women that have long been bothered by disproportionately large, heavy and hanging breasts. It can be difficult to maintain fullness in the upper breast. Occasionally breast implants are indicated either at the same time or later.
Restoring some of the lost volume may help.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Alex Lechtman commented
Plastic Surgery 32 years experience
Breast reduction in and of itself won't "firm" up the breasts. Once the swelling goes away and the tissues relax they will be soft like they were, just higher, smaller and perkier. An implant will make them firmer but defeat the purpose of going smaller.
Jun 8, 2012
Last updated Mar 11, 2019
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