Is it possible to have a breast reduction and have implants? Could I get my insurance to pay for the reduction portion?

Hi there-

Generally speaking, and under very particular circumstances, it is possible to perform a limited reduction of breast tissue in conjunction with placement of implants.

It is very important to understand however, that the indications for this would be very narrow and your candidacy for this option would depend not only on your goal, but also heavily on your anatomy. In other words, whether this would be in your best interests or not is a much more complicated answer....

Your best bet is to find a surgeon you like and feel you can trust before spending much more time trying to identify the procedure you think you want... Going into a new Doctor/Patient relationship with firm ideas about the operation you think you want because of what you were advised on the Web (by people who haven't formally examined you) will only unnecessarily complicate your experience and possibly compromise your outcome.

The very best advice I (or anyone else) could give you would be to find a great surgeon, communicate your goals, listen to the options offered, and decide with them what is best for you. Only someone with the combination of our education, training, experience, and a thorough knowledge of your starting anatomy and your goals will be able to responsibly advise you on the best options for you.

A combination of a lift  and an augmentation is a very common procedure. A small reduction of the existing breast tissue can be performed at the same procedure when indicated. In that case, the implant is being used as a shape preservation device, not for increased breast size or volume. The implant preserves the upper pole fullness that is generally lost fairly quickly when lifts are performed without an implant. Insurance dose not cover these procedures. For a breast reduction to be covered by insurance, a very significant down-sizing of the breast has to occur.