What is the Average Amount of Grams Removed for a Breast Reduction?

asked 1 year ago by 2542anon in Indiana
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 756 times

Trying to find out what policiy various insurance companies have for determining coverage for a breast reduction. Most have some sort of chart for grams. I know it goes by height and weight. Female has a BSA of 2.06

11 answers to What is the Average Amount of Grams Removed for a Breast Reduction?

Breast Reduction and Insurance Coverage?

Thank you for the question. A good estimate for an “average” weight of tissue to be removed for insurance coverage of breast reduction surgery may be 500 g. It would be best for you to check with your specific insurance company for precise information. Best wishes.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Average breast reduction

There is not specific average number that I can quote you becuase this differs for each individual. I have done lifts with almost no breast tissure removal, and my largest reduction was 3.5kg( more than 7 lbs) per side! If I had to guess my average reduction is probably 700-1000 gms per side.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast reduction and insurance and costs

Probably the average that is "required" for coverage by the insurance carriers is 500grams or a little over two cup sizes. They have other criteria which varies by carrier. Watch my video.

Edward J. Domanskis, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

IT is a matter of your INSURANCE

You have received some very good answers to your question. Bottom line is the insurance company dictates the amount of grams required for removal. Some insurance companies use the Schnur scale to calculate your BSA and then reference a chart for grams needed for removal based on the BSA. Some other insurance companies use different scale that is more aggressive than the Schnur scale. It is up to your surgeon to guide you as to whether the require grams is... more

Earl Stephenson Jr., MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Average amount of grams removed for a breast reduction

For insurance coverage from 300 to 500 grams per side at a minimum. Best to see in person a boarded surgeon who can discuss in detail the issue and show you photos. From MIAMI DR. B

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reduction Amount

Most insurance companies if not all now do not simply use the 500 gm rule. Since height and weight matter, they use a sliding scale called the Schnur scale. This is based on your Body Surface Area. The heigher the ratio the more breast tissue that needs to be removed. The scale is amount per side. Precertification is often obtained for breast reduction to see if your plan covers it. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

"Average" weight that NEEDS to be removed by a Breast Reduction

For YOUR purposes, it does not really matter how much weight NEEDS to be removed by a Breast Reduction with insurance companies, A,B,C,D or E if your insurance is with company F. In your case, if you want your insurer (F) to partially pay for your Breast Reduction, you and your Plastic surgeon (who agreed to accept whatever company F pays, when it pays...) MUST play by the rules and weights imposed by company F. Although many companies still mandate removing 500 grams per side, many raise more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Breast Reduction Amount

In actuality, most use 500g, no matter what your size and weight are. Sometimes you ahve to fight with them to cover people under 500g, but as long as you can provide medical documentation to back it up, usually you are OK. I have had coverage on someone who was 5'0 and only had 300grams removed. It just depends on your insurance company. Some never even ask to see the pathology weights after, while others want to see the operating report and weights removed... more

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon

Schnur table lists the 'recommended' grams for breast reduction

The Schnur table was constructed by a surgeon using historical breast reduction patient data- its clinical validity has been challenged. Even the creator of the Schnur table has lamented its use by insurance companies to restrict payment for this very helpful operation. Based on your BSA- over 697 grams per breast would need to be removed. This is a substantial amount of tissue. A board certified plastic surgeon should be able to tell you if, after the removal of this much breast... more

Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Amount of grams of breast tissue to be removed for reduction

According to the Schnur sliding scale to estimate amount of grams of breast tissue to be removed per breast in an individual with a BSA of 2.05, it is advised to remove 697grams per breast. See link below.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

500 grams is often the magic number

While every insurance company has their own guidelines, for many the magic number of 500 grams. Some insurance carriers also utilize the Schnurr sliding scale, which utilizes your body surface area to determine how much must be removed before the insurance company will pay. Basically, contact your plastic surgeon or your insurance company to be sure that your surgery will not be rejected by your health insurance company. Good luck!