Breast Reduction: Q&A

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Is 200 Grams of Fat in Breast Reduction a Large Amount?

My insurance company will not approve my breast reduction unless the surgeon takes 850 grams of fat. My surgeon has recommended 650 grams. Is the extra 200 grams too much?

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by philly123 in philly

Doctor Answers (15)
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200 grams for Breast Reduction

This is one surgery that really gets me going. There is nothing more aggravating than having some pencil pusher tell me how I have to do my surgery. Breast reduction is just this surgery. By setting an arbitrary amount of breast volume to be removed only to, in the end, make the stock holders happy is outrageous. Get your surgery done in the best cosmetic way possible. Your insurance company will raise their excision amount more and more just so they don't have to pay for it. You're... more

850 grams is a lot for most people

The difference between 650 and 850 grams all depends on the body shape and breast size you start with. If you have a small frame and your breasts are large, but not enormous, then going up to 850 grams could make a big difference in how you look. However, if your frame is bigger and your breasts are very large, then it may be ok. One option you may have (depending on your insurance company) is to pay for the procedure out-of-pocket initially, and if the surgeon takes off sufficient weight,... more

Breast Reduction And Insurance Company Requirements?

Thank you for the question. 200 g of breast tissue can make a difference with your level of satisfaction ( regarding breast size) after breast reduction surgery. In my opinion, this potential dissatisfaction is not worth the risk. You will be better off finding a way to self finance a procedure or find another insurance company (with different policy). Best wishes.

Breast reduction and weight of tissue removed

Although 200 grams of tissue is not a large amount in a breast reduction, the amount or weight of tissue should not be dictated by the insurance company. Forcing your doctor to remove a greater amount could compromise your result or even result in wound healing problems such as nipple loss.

Don't go too small with breast reduction just to meet insurance requirement.

Hi. I would not do it. Taking an extra two hundred grams of tissue during breast reduction can make your breasts too small, and you will not be happy.

Breast reduction volume

Breast reduction volume can vary a great deal. While 200 gms may be a 'spit in the bucket" for very larger breasted women, in others it may be all that they have. It would be hard to tell without examining you first. Taking out too much may make your breasts look too small.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reduction

It is very difficult to say if 200 makes that much of a difference. It all depends on how much your start with. I can say that 850 grams is a very big reduction to begin with so if you have a lot of breast tissue the 200 may not be that much. However, as the other doctors mentioned, there is no guarantee as to how much breast tissue needs to be removed. We can only estimate the amount, and if it fall just below the required amount some insurance companies will not cover it. So, if there... more

200 grams is not too much for breast reduction

Removal of 200 grams of fat on its own is not too much, but going from 600 to 800 grams can make a definite difference to the appearance of your breasts after surgery. This cannot be determined by an em but only by examing you in person and also determine how large or small you want to be after surgery.

Amount for breast reduction

Dear Philly One thing I never do is guarantee how much tissue I will remove in a breast reduction. My concern is the overall shape and appearance of the breast. The amount of breast tissue needed to be removed is based on height and weight. If all you are concerned with is the insurance covering the reduction then advise your surgeon that this is your concern and you are willing to accept smaller breasts as long as they are covered, but as always, be careful what you wish for, you might... more

Breast reduction weight

The best way to determine what the additional weight of 200 grams would do is to go back to your plastic surgeon and have him show you something like 400 cc breast implants. That will give you some idea as to what a total of 800 grams would remove. The difference that 200 grams would make will depend upon what amount opf breast tissue you are starting with.

850 Gram Breast Reduction

It is difficult to answer your question without knowing your present breast size, height, and weight. In general, a 850 gram reduction will reduce you 2.5-3 cup sizes. Your plastic surgeon can give you a good idea of what to expect in your case. If you feel an 850 gram reduction os too much, you always have the choice of paying for the procedure yourself.

Amount of tissue removed for breast reduction

It is very difficult to determine exactly how much will be removed prior to surgery. Of course most experienced plastic surgeons can gauge the range of tissue to be removed but no one can be exact until the tissue is weighed on a scale. Insurance companies use inaccurate formulas to determine the amount of tissue to be removed so they can deny the claim. They list breast reduction as a covered benefit but don't tell you that there are sometimes 20 or more criteria to meet before it is... more

Breast reduction of 850 gm

A few comments: Depending on and dealing with ANY third party payer (Government (Medicare,Medicaid,Champus) or private (BlueShield, Aetna,Cigna,UnitedHealthcare etc) is a Faustian deal with the Devil. They got you and you must play by THEIR riles. Insurance companies remain profitable by holding as long as possible on to the money they were paid in premiums - NOT by paying everything back. Over the past decade, each company in my area and, from talking to colleagues, across the country has... more

Weight reduction from breasts

Even the surgeon can't know exactly how much will be removed until it is done. The point is to give you enough reduction for symptomatic relief but to keep enough breast tissue for a great shape and result. The insurance companies want to get away from covering this at all so they set higher limits for the reduction. 200 more grams taken than you need could destroy the look of a nice result.

What is right amount of tissue to remove in breast reduction?

Your situation is very frustrating. 850 grams is a lot for an insurance company to require; however, that is the situation we are in. The best way to visualize these volumes is to ask your plastic surgeon to show you an implant that is approximately 650grams and one that is 850grams. He/she will most likely not have one implant of these sizes but can put several smaller ones together to show you what the volumes look like. This way you can visualize the volume, hold the implants up to... more