What Happens if You Estimate More Tissue Removal Than You Can Take out in Surgery?

Hello. I am 5'10", 195lbs and currently measuring 34" rib cage and 42-43" at the fullest part of my bust (somewhere DDD-F?In the last 18 months or so I have lost almost 70 pounds. I do have excess tissue and volume. At consult, surgeon told the nurse to submit to insurance for 600 grams. Ins. sent a pre-authorization approval. My question is - if during surgery, the surgeon finds that he cannot remove 600 grams - what happens to the insurance approval? Is it revoked and I am stuck w/bill?

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by Love_Gardening in Iowa

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Breast tissue weight requirements for breast reduction surgery

Most insurance companies use an arbitrary amount of breast tissue that needs to be removed to differentiate between a breast lift and a breast reduction. There was a time when If the patient had symptoms related to large breasts then insurance coverage was never questioned. In 25 years of practice I have never had an insurance company retroactively deny coverage. We try to give a fair estimate of the amount of breast tissue that will be removed during surgery but this is... more

Grams removed low - will insurance still cover?

Insurance companies have tables indicating the grams that have to be removed for you height, weight, and BMI. These are different for each insurerer. As long as the resected weight is adequate according to that table, they will still cover the procedure. If your doctor is a provider, he may have access to that table, and some are published on line. You can also call and ask for it, and they will often give it to you. A lot of the time, however, as surgeons we don't know. The resected grams... more

Lisa B. Cassileth, MD

3 reviews

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Gram weight removal in breast reduction

If you are still a DDD-F cup, I do not think your doctor will have difficulty reaching the 600 gram threshold. However, you raise a great question. Many insurance companies now require that we submit the post op pathology report which lists the gram weights. They have become wise to borderline cases and, especially when the patient begs to be a big C or small D cup and the plastic surgeon obliges, it can create a situation in which they will retroactively deny the case, sticking you with... more

Breast Reduction and Insurance

Coverage will depend on your insurance's criteria. Most require a minimum of 500 grams to be removed from each breast. For most women that would be DD or larger. If it is less than that, they may not cover it. However if you are DDD or larger you should have no problem. But you should discuss this with your surgeon so you know where you stand. Good luck. see video

Amount of breast tissue removed and insurance payment

Thank you for the question. It is really hard to tell what the insurance company will do. They may pay the claim and sometimes they will deny it. Therefore, it is the experience of the surgeon that you and the insurance company are relying on when the procedure is approved. Good luck.

Insurance and breast reductions

Insurance companies often want an estimate of the amount of tissue to be removed before giving approval for the surgery. Often times I under estimate the number for my personal comfort to obtain at least the amount that they require. I have never had one denied in retrospect after initial approval..