Large breasts (macromastia) can produce physical problems that interfere with a woman’s daily functioning, as I discussed in my earlier post. Symptomatic macromastia is a well-known medical disorder that requires treatment. Insurance coverage of reduction mammaplasty is just as suitable as coverage of cervical spine surgery, shoulder surgery, carpal tunnel release, or sleep apnea treatment because big breasts put constant strain on body systems. Non-surgical treatments should be attempted initially for some disorders, but there are no non-operative treatments for macromastia that are expected to provide long-term or permanent symptom alleviation.
If you’re thinking about having breast reduction surgery, make sure you read your insurance coverage first. If your insurer specifies reduction mammaplasty as a policy exclusion, you might not even be able to get coverage for a consultation to see if surgery is right for your symptoms.
In most situations, insurers demand that the surgeon produce a statement outlining the patient’s symptoms and physical results, as well as an estimate of the breast weight to be removed and a request for coverage. This should be done before scheduling surgery since if surgery is not preauthorized, the insurer may refuse to pay. If your insurer refuses to pay breast reduction surgery because it is considered cosmetic, your doctor must inform the insurer about symptomatic macromastia and the differences between breast reduction and its aesthetic cousin, the breast lift. Traditional Medicare and Medicaid plans may not offer preauthorization.
Current insurers should be aware of the current standard of care for treating macromastia and should accept coverage based on reasonable criteria and medical necessity verification. Unfortunately, too many insurance companies have yet to study the medical research from the last two decades demonstrating the usefulness of breast reduction surgery in alleviating macromastia symptoms independent of a woman’s body weight. Many of these businesses employ a chart based on the Schnur Scale of 1991, which correlated a woman’s reasons for breast reduction with her body weight. Because of their position on the chart, many women are denied coverage. The use of such a chart to discriminate against overweight women by refusing them coverage regardless of their symptoms has no medical validity, according to recent medical research, but insurers continue to do so.
Your doctor’s report of your symptoms and physical changes caused by your breast weight should be utilized to determine medical necessity. Even though non-surgical therapy trials have a low chance of success, they may be required before surgery is covered by insurance. Although it is reasonable for an insurer to require that a certain amount of breast tissue be removed, there should be a mechanism in place to ensure that special circumstances (such as a small-framed woman or a woman with a medical condition made worse by even moderate breast weight) are given special consideration.
You have the legal right to appeal a denial if you believe breast reduction is important for your health and well-being. The denial letter should include information about the appeals process. Multiple levels of appeal are available in most circumstances, and you should take use of them. A family doctor’s letter, an orthopedist’s letter, a physical therapist’s letter, a chiropractor’s letter, or a massage therapist’s letter can all help support an appeal. You should create your own letter in which you describe your symptoms and how they have hampered your life (focus on your physical problems rather than your difficulty finding a bathing suit). Request that your doctor attach your personal letter, supporting letters, current scientific information on the standard of treatment for treating symptomatic macromastia, and a list of medical literature references to your appeal.
How big do your breasts need to be to get a reduction?
According to Dr. Bernard, the surgery is an outpatient procedure that takes roughly three hours. Women usually return home the same day or the following morning. However, you’ll most certainly be exhausted and hurting afterward, so take a few days off work or school to recover. You’ll be encouraged to get up and move around on a daily basis, but any strenuous exercise should be avoided for about a month, he advises.
You might not be able to get the exact cup size you want
The extent to which your breasts can be lowered is determined by your size, breast composition, and desired results. Your plastic surgeons will assist you in determining the best course of action throughout your consultation. According to Dr. Bernard, most breast reduction patients lose one to two cup sizes.
You’ll get a breast lift, too
Your surgeon will remove superfluous tissue and skin from your breasts to make them smaller, and then relocate your nipples up in place to give them a lift.
You’ll have scars
For a period, the incision wounds (which commonly resemble lollipops and loop around the nipples before going straight down to the bottom of the breast) will swell. “Scars improve dramatically in most people within a year of surgery, but they’re always there,” Dr. Bernard explains.
“It’s just as much genetics as anything else when it comes to scars. Every plastic surgeon can close a wound well, but it all relies on the individual.”
There’s a chance you’ll have decreased nipple sensation
Your nipples may feel numb immediately after surgery. “Almost invariably, some sensation in the nipples returns, although it may take a month or two,” Dr. Bernard explains. Certain surgical approaches are more likely to retain nipple sensation, so if this is a concern for you, make sure to discuss it with your surgeon.
How much does a DD breast weigh?
For both of your breasts, DD cups can weigh up to 4.2 pounds. Each of your breasts may weigh around 950 ml or 2.09 pounds if your bra size is a DD cup. Your bra size can also help you estimate how much they weigh.
Is breast reduction surgery painful?
It’s common to feel some pain and discomfort in the days following your surgery. It’s possible that your breasts and the areas around them will be bruised and swollen. This is due to the stretching of the breast tissues and muscles.
The first few days after surgery are the most painful for most women. Your doctor may prescribe pain relievers if necessary to alleviate the discomfort.
Additionally, drainage tubes may be inserted on your breasts as part of the recuperation procedure to help reduce swelling. These are frequently removed after a few days of surgery.
Women recovering after breast reduction should wear specific surgical bras to protect the tissue during this time, according to medical specialists. Finally, throughout this time, it’s critical to avoid overly vigorous activity.
Do breasts grow back after reduction?
Breast reduction is a surgical technique that involves the removal of skin, fat, and tissues from the breasts in order to contour, lift, and reduce their size. Breast reduction is getting more popular as women with huge breasts realize they don’t have to be self-conscious about them “Just live with it” is no longer an option. Breasts that are too big can hurt your self-esteem, lower your quality of life, and even cause physical issues like persistent back and neck pain. People considering breast reduction may question if it’s a permanent treatment, if it interferes with breastfeeding, and if there’s a best age to do it.
Breast reduction is permanent since the skin, fat, and tissues removed during the treatment are permanently eliminated and cannot grow back. Gaining weight, on the other hand, might cause additional fat to be deposited in the breasts, causing them to grow dramatically in size. Furthermore, pregnancy and breast-feeding can greatly increase the size of the breasts, and the aging process is well recognized to induce changes in breast size and shape. A second surgical treatment to reduce breast size or elevate aging sagging breasts into a more perky, young position may be required if necessary.
Because glandular tissue and milk ducts may need to be removed or damaged during the procedure, breast reduction surgery may make it difficult or impossible to breastfeed. However, some breast reduction surgical treatments have been created expressly to retain the capacity to breastfeed, so if you believe you might want to do so in the future, talk to our surgeon about it before the procedure. Breast reductions without any effort to retain breast feeding ability have been reported to result in just 4% of women being able to nurse, compared to 75 percent to 100 percent after a gland-preserving breast reduction. Unfortunately, the only way to know if you can breastfeed after a breast reduction is to try it and see if it works. If it doesn’t, don’t worry; human milk banks exist, and while it’s widely accepted that human milk is the best way to feed a baby, many infants survive on formula.
Mammograms, ultrasounds, MRIs, and physical examinations used to check for breast cancer will not be affected by breast reduction surgery. Some doctors may advise you to get a second opinion “About six months after breast reduction, get a “baseline” mammogram to get a record of what the scar tissue looks like in the post-surgical breast tissues, which can be compared to any future mammograms to see if there are any changes in the breast tissue that could indicate the development of breast cancer.
From the surgeon’s point of view, “After a woman has finished her family, she is at her “ideal” age for a breast reduction. She has no intention of becoming pregnant or breastfeeding in the future. The woman, on the other hand, sees the situation differently “The “ideal” time is usually in your late teens or early twenties. Procedures performed on younger teenagers before their breasts have fully matured may necessitate a follow-up procedure later in life to maintain the intended results, but many teenagers and their parents believe the numerous advantages of early breast reduction are well worth it.
While the media may glorify huge breasts, they can also bring a slew of issues. Finding comfortable, well-fitting bras that give adequate support can be difficult; some women develop deep grooves in their shoulders as a result of their breasts dragging their bra straps into their flesh. Fitting dresses and blouses are also difficult to come by, and many women with huge breasts wind up needing to wear clothing that is several sizes too big to accommodate their breasts, which is neither flattering nor professional. Women with enormous breasts may give the impression of being overweight, even if they are not.
Large breasts can bring health problems in addition to cosmetic issues. Many women with large breasts find it difficult to exercise because their breasts bounce, even when wearing heavy-duty sports bras, which can be uncomfortable and even painful. Furthermore, huge breasts can physically obstruct the performance of some types of activity. As a result, women with large breasts are less likely to exercise, which is harmful and increases their chance of acquiring illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
In an attempt to counterbalance the weight of their breasts, women with enormous breasts frequently acquire chronic neck, back, and shoulder pain by adopting abnormal positions. The area beneath the breasts is prone to chronic rashes and infections. Most insurance companies do not consider breast reduction surgery to be necessary due to the numerous medical problems associated with large breasts and their considerable influence on quality of life and self-esteem “cosmetic” and will pay for the surgery.
Before the treatment, it’s critical to have an honest and open conversation with our physician about your goals and desired breast size. Most surgeons nowadays have software that can display photos of the patient with various breast sizes to help them make decisions. You may be requested to have your blood tested to confirm that you are healthy enough to undertake a major surgical surgery, and you should cease taking anti-clotting medications like aspirin or ibuprofen for several days before the treatment.
The treatment itself takes a few hours and is conducted under general anesthesia; in many cases, the patient can go home the same day rather than remaining overnight. The precise surgical procedure is determined by the size of the breasts and the final size sought. The incisions will be made in places where they will not be seen, such as around the areola, in the crease under the breasts, and occasionally even in the armpits; nevertheless, an incision from the areola straight down to the crease under the breasts is frequently required. Liposuction is used to eliminate fatty tissues; tissue and skin are shaved away, and the areola is frequently pushed upwards as the breasts shrink. The areola and nipple may need to be fully removed and then reattached in a new position if the breasts are exceptionally enormous. After the surgery, the breasts will be smaller, perkier, and elevated.
Although complete recovery takes around four weeks, most women are able to return to work and normal activities within a few days. The breasts will be tender, bruised, and swollen, and you may need to wear a compression bra to help them heal. During this time, physical activity, particularly heavy lifting and anything that promotes significant breast movement, should be avoided. The altered size and form of the breasts will become obvious when the swelling subsides. After the procedure, many women report losing sensation in their nipples, but this normally recovers within a few months.
Many women are concerned about scarring prior to surgery. It’s true that scars will appear along the surgical incision lines. Modern treatments, on the other hand, place the incisions in places where the scars will never be seen while wearing clothing, even if you’re wearing a very low-cut blouse or a minimalistic bikini. Over time, the scars will disappear into very thin pale lines that are barely apparent. Scars are rarely a source of concern for women following surgery.
Unfortunately, there is no way to reduce breast size without surgery. For this purpose, creams, tablets, and herbal supplements simply do not function. If a woman loses a large amount of weight, she may see a reduction in breast size, but some women may not see any changes in their breast size as a result of losing weight. The breasts are a complex structure made up of glands and fat; some women have a lot of fat in their breasts, while others have very little. The effect of weight loss on breast fat is similarly unpredictable; some women’s bodies, even if they have an unhealthy low body fat percentage, severely oppose fat removal from the breasts. A major disadvantage of attempting to reduce breast size by losing weight is that the skin around the breast does not shrink in tandem with the breast, resulting in sagging flaps of skin that may require surgical removal.
Patient satisfaction with breast reduction surgery is among the greatest of any technique “Costume” procedure Patients are frequently amazed at how easy and quick the recovery is, and, more importantly, that their unpleasant symptoms associated to their huge breasts are entirely gone following surgery. The neck and back pain disappears, as do the recurring skin infections and rashes, and the bra strap grooves heal quickly. Many patients are required to purchase an entirely new wardrobe, but they are usually overjoyed to be able to finally wear comfortable bras and flattering apparel that fits. Women who have never been able to do anything more athletic than walk are now taking up soccer and training for marathons.
What are the symptoms of needing a breast reduction?
According to the American Society of Cosmetic Surgeons, breast augmentation is the most popular surgical operation, but breast reduction, another plastic surgery procedure that modifies the breasts, can have equally life-changing benefits for those who require it. Although it may appear that everyone is wanting to grow their breasts bigger, women with huge breasts frequently suffer from physical and emotional anguish as a result of their breasts. Women with enormous breasts, especially those that droop and hang, suffer from physical and emotional problems such as neck, shoulder, and back pain, low self-esteem, and a lifetime of suffering. People without large breasts may find it difficult to understand that having a huge breast may affect your daily life, yet ladies with large breasts will tell you about their difficulties exercising, sleeping, and more. Breast reduction surgery allows women with enormous breasts to eliminate the pain and inconvenient aspects of their figures, but many women are unaware of the signs that suggest the necessity for surgery.
What are the symptoms of needing a breast reduction?
Breast reductions are done for a variety of reasons, including physical and emotional discomfort. Breast reduction surgery may be beneficial if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms as a result of your large breasts:
Several of these symptoms are common in women with big breasts. Some health insurance companies may cover the cost of breast reduction surgery depending on the severity of the problems.
What are the benefits of breast reduction surgery?
The weight of a patient’s enormous breasts can be both actual and symbolic. Daily tasks such as exercise, sitting straight, and sleeping can be difficult or impossible. Breast reduction surgery relieves a lot of the physical pain that comes with having large breasts, such as back, neck, and shoulder pain, as well as discomfort while exercising and shoulder grooves. Many women report feeling more confident about their bodies and wearing specific ensembles in public as a result of breast reduction surgery, and this boost in confidence is a significant emotional benefit. Breast reduction surgery also has a number of cosmetic advantages, including:
Finding stylish and comfy bras, swimwear, sports bras, and clothes is simple.
Who is a good candidate for a breast reduction?
Women who suffer from the physical pain or emotional symptoms linked with large breasts and desire to alleviate these concerns are the greatest candidates for breast reduction. Breast reduction surgery can be done at any age, but teenagers who undergo it before their breasts have fully matured may require a second procedure later. Breast reduction surgery should be postponed for women who are expecting to have children until after their last pregnancy, as breasts grow and shrink during pregnancy, and breast reduction may affect a woman’s ability to nurse. Breast reduction surgery should be postponed for women who plan to lose a large amount of weight, as weight loss can alter the size and contour of the breasts. Breast reduction surgery should be avoided by patients who smoke, have specific medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, are extremely obese, or do not want scars on their breasts.
Does your stomach look bigger after breast reduction?
Breast reduction surgery can promote weight gain, according to a popular belief among Beverly Hills women. The truth is that perception differs greatly from reality. The basic answer is that there is no link between breast reduction surgery and increased weight. Breast reduction has a direct impact on a woman’s overall proportions, and it can appear as if she has gained weight as a result of the procedure. A woman’s torso and hips appear smaller when her breasts are larger. When breasts are reduced, the hips and torso can appear to be larger. It’s worth noting that the proportions of the breasts, hips, torso, and waist have fundamentally changed after breast reduction surgery.
In fact, many women lose weight after having their breasts reduced in Beverly Hills.
This is due to the surgery relieving strain on the neck and back, allowing patients to engage in more physical activity.
Women with excessively big breasts are frequently obliged to reduce their physical activities due to neck and back pain.
Breast reduction in Beverly Hills removes the excess tissue and weight of the breasts, allowing women to become considerably more active.
Women may notice a difference in their posture after having their breasts reduced.
Because the pressure on the neck and back is relieved, women’s posture frequently improves after surgery, allowing them to stand higher.
This allows them to keep their shoulders up and back, preventing the “hunched-over” impression that many women with enormous breasts suffer from.
Because the main culprit is dimensions, which can make women feel as if they’ve gained weight following the treatment, some women choose for further plastic surgery procedures to improve their overall appearance.
A stomach tuck and liposuction are two operations that can be used to create a smaller, firmer torso.
In many circumstances, these treatments can be done at the same time to yield incredible outcomes in a single therapy.
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Raffi Hovsepian if you’re thinking about breast reduction surgery but aren’t sure if the proportions will make you look heavier.
He talks with each patient one-on-one to assess any unique conditions that may have an impact on the final outcome.
Does breast size affect BMI?
Obesity and breast cancer are becoming increasingly popular topics of discussion (BC). Obesity has been linked to an increase in BC incidence and mortality, especially in postmenopausal women, according to epidemiological data1. The prognosis of BC is influenced by a few well-known anthropometric variables. In both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, a high BMI is linked to a worse prognosis. 2,3,4,5,6,7.
Obese postmenopausal women have a worse BC prognosis (more axillary involvement and shorter disease-free survival) than nonobese postmenopausal women, according to certain studies.
5,8. It’s still unclear whether a greater BMI is linked to BC that’s positive for either estrogen receptor (ER) or progesterone receptor (PR). Some studies10,11 have revealed that obese postmenopausal patients have a larger percentage of ER (+) BC than nonobese people.
The abdominal (waist) circumference is a measurement and diagnosis tool for central obesity, which is linked to the prognosis of BC. As a result, a large waist circumference is linked to a poor prognosis for BC in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women12,13. A big waist circumference has also been linked to a higher histological grade in postmenopausal patients and larger tumors in premenopausal women12,13.
After correcting for BMI, a link between a larger waisthip ratio (WHR) and a worse prognosis of BC has been found in premenopausal BC patients, but not in postmenopausal BC patients14. After controlling for BMI15, some authors have described a greater WHR as an independent poor prognostic factor in ER-positive postmenopausal women. In women, a high WHR can be utilized as an indirect predictor of insulin resistance and high fasting insulin, pro-insulin, and C-peptide levels16,17,18, as well as a high testosterone/estrogen ratio. Hyperinsulinemia has also been linked to a worse prognosis in patients with advanced BC19,20,21.
The size and volume of the breast have been linked to more aggressive tumor characteristics at the time of diagnosis in pre- and postmenopausal women22,23,24,25,26 in some studies. Despite the fact that breast size is substantially linked to BMI27, only one-third of the genes that determine breast size have been linked to BMI28. During the follicular phase, breast size was significantly positively related with insulin-like growth factor-129 in young women who did not take oral contraceptives. Furthermore, even after correcting for BMI and WHR30, a big breast size at age 20 has been reported as a predictor of type 2 diabetes mellitus in middle-aged women. Patients with ER-negative BC and type 2 diabetes have a greater risk of metastasis and mortality than those without diabetes, but not in ER-positive BC31.
Bra cup size (A, B, and C) has frequently been employed as a reference measure in studies that explore the size of the breast in connection to BC24,28,32. Varied manufacturers, on the other hand, have different bra cup sizes33. On the other hand, even when BMI is taken into account, using cup size alone without taking rib cage circumference into account is a poor surrogate for true breast volume33. Breast volume is measured with plastic cubes by plastic surgeons doing breast reductions and reconstructions, resulting in more consistent results34. This methodology, which is based on Archimedes’ method, has only been utilized a few times but allows us to better assess whether the breast volume has an impact on the tumor’s type or growth pattern. Identification of prognostic factors allows for improved treatment adaptation and can also aid in the discovery of pathophysiological pathways and therapeutic breakthroughs in this field.
The purpose of this study was to see if BC tumor biology is more aggressive in women with greater breast volumes, obese women, and especially women with central adiposity at the time of BC diagnosis than in women without these features.
Does breast size affect weight?
According to Daniel Maman, MD, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Manhattan who sees several patients for breast surgery every day, weight increase or decrease has no effect on cup size. However, it varies. Gaining or losing 20 pounds will cause some women to go up or down a cup size; for others, it will be closer to 50 pounds.
So, what’s the plan for yours? Doris Day, MD, a New York City dermatologist and author of Beyond Beautiful, emphasizes that you know your body. “Do you lose weight first in your breasts or last in your breasts?” Different parts of the body gain and lose weight more quickly for different people. Furthermore, the composition of breasts varies from person to person. “Parenchyma, a layer of fat that varies in thickness, and skin make up the breasts,” explains Dr. Maman. “If your breasts are dense with tissue, you’re less likely to gain and lose weight there since the breast tissue doesn’t alter in size; if your breasts are fatty, their size will fluctuate with your weight.” However, he claims that the reality is that “Breasts that are huge will always be large, and breasts that are little will always be small.”
Should you lose weight before breast reduction?
It’s a good idea to lose weight before your surgery if you’re not at your ideal weight. It’s possible that having your reduction before decreasing weight will affect the outcome of your surgery. If you lose a lot of weight following a reduction procedure, you can end up with smaller breasts than you want.