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Breast Reduction Recommended if Overweight?

asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 10,465 times
Tags: breasts, overweight

there is some hestitation on my part to get breast reduction. would a good candidate for breast reduction surgery be overweight?

30 answers to Breast Reduction Recommended if Overweight?

+2

Breast reduction in patients overweight.

This is a very common question from women considering breast reduction surgery.  Many times insurance companies use a scale to determine the minimum amount of breast tissue (per breast) to be removed in order for them to consider it medically indicated.  This scale is based on Body Surface Area (this scale is called the Schnur sliding scale and can be found online).  Obviously, if a patient looses weight then the BSA drops and therefore the minimum amount of breast tissue... more
Peter Ashjian, MD

Bakersfield Plastic Surgeon
+2

Overweight patients can have breast reductions

Both overweight people and those of normal weight may have breast reductions with good outcomes. A breast reduction is an option for anyone in good health whose breasts are larger than they'd like them to be or whose breasts cause them health issues such as back or neck pain, among other things. If a patient's breast tissue has a major fatty content to it, then weight loss would decrease the breast size. In general, about 1/3 of women have breast tissue which doesn't have major fatty... more
Deason Dunagan, MD

Huntsville Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast reduction if overweight

Not all breast reduction patients are overweight. In the patients who are, I advise them that if they have a breast reduction, then loose a significant amount of weight after surgery, their breasts may or may not get significantly smaller. Most people know if their breasts change much with weight loss or weight gain. If your breasts are large and do not get much smaller when you loose weight, then considering a breast reduction would benefit you in many ways. Good luck!
Amy T. Bandy, DO

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon
+2

Breast Reduction

Thanks for your question - Breast reduction is a procedure that can be covered by insurance. It is designed to reduce the size of the breasts to help with back pain, intertrigo (severe rashes under the breasts), shoulder grooving from bra straps and appearance (though the insurance companies do not recognize this concern when evaluating coverage). There have been several studies demonstrating that breast reduction surgery ranks very high in terms of patient satisfaction. Breast reduction is... more
Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+2

Thinking about a breast reduction?

The proper candidate for a breast reduction is simply one whose breasts are larger than they want. Reductions can come in large or small amounts. Enlarged breasts may also be causing symptoms and limiting exercise and clothing choices if they are large and heavy enough. These symptoms commonly include upper back pain, neck pain, shoulder grooves from the bra straps, and occasionally irritation between the breasts and the upper abdominal skin. The candidate should be in good physical and... more
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Reduction

For patients experiencing pain in the neck, back, and shoulders, bra strap grooving, rashes underneath breasts or some combination, breast reduction can help provide relief by reducing the side/weight of the breasts. Whether insurance will cover depends on the specifics of the case and the requirements of insurance.
Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Reduction - Recommended if Overweight?

Breast Reduction is normally recommended when the excess weight of the breast tissue is contributing to, or causing, neck, back and shoulder pain, bra strap grooving, intertrigo (rashes) underneath the breasts, or some combination of symptoms that can reasonably be expected to be relieved if the breasts are reduced in size (weight). Whether or not it is covered by insurance is a separate (but important) question and, in general, insurance companies are reluctant to pay for procedures... more
Alan Engler, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Reduction and Weight Loss?

Thank you for the question. At some point you will be an excellent candidate for breast reduction surgery; it will be in your best interest to reach a long-term stable weight prior to proceeding with the surgery. This recommendation is based on safety of the procedure as well as predictability/long-term outcome of the surgery. Insurance company coverage likelihood will also be improved. Best wishes.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction surgery in overweight patient

There are a number of factors to consider before deciding on breast reduction surgery.  Is the patient contemplating weight loss, what is the patient's weight history, etc.  Then of course there is insurance coverage consideration which is a separate topic in itself. In my practice I see a number of overweight patients that request breast reduction.  If I determine that their weight has been stable for some time and the likelihood of weight loss is small,... more
Boris M. Ackerman, MD

Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.doctorackerman.com

+1

Best to have a breast reduction when you have reached your target weight

Breast reduction surgery is a very popular and effective way to remove tissue that may cause symptoms such as pain or discomfort and to contour the shape and position of your breasts. For your best results, it is recommended that you receive your breast reduction surgery when you are at your target weight. This will allow your surgeon to assess your tissues, determine how much tissue to remove, and create a long-lasting result  
B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction if you are overweight

I'm not sure if you are asking what makes someone a good candidate for breast reduction, or  what makes someone a good candidate for getting their breast reduction covered by insurance. Payment issues aside, what makes someone a good candidate for breast reduction is having large breasts and desiring a smaller size due to unwanted symptoms related to the large breast size. Examples of symptoms include shoulder grooving from bra straps, neck and back pain related to the breasts... more
Anita Patel, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Reduction when overweight

As mentioned by many of the prior posters, you can have a reduction anytime you want as long as certain criteria are met to satisfy the insurance company. The insurance company will stipulate a minimum weight that must be removed and your doctor has to meet this (or get very close) for your procedure to be covered. In the ideal world, you should be at a weight you can maintain easily because weight fluctations in the future will affect your overall appearances and weight loss almost... more
Curtis Wong, MD

Redding Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Reduction and Weight Loss

If you are planning on losing weight then Breast Reduction surgery is not highly recommended unless it is medically necessary. What I mean by medically necessary is if your breast size is causing serious problems with your back or harming anything else on your body. The reason that it is not recommended is if you lose weight your breasts will become smaller than you previously had intended on them being.
Siamak Agha, MD, PhD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction is best when weight is stable

Your absolute weight is not the most important issue, it is your weight "change." You want to consider breast reduction when you are at the weight you feel you can maintain. Losing or gaining much weight after the procedure risks changing the result. Best Regards.
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction and weight

A good candidate for a breast reduction is someone who is having symptoms of pain in the neck and upper back from excessively large breasts. Other issues such as skin irritation or infections under the breasts are also common indications. Being overweight is often the case in women seeking a breast reduction. My recommendation for a woman who is overweight and consults for a breast reduction is to lose the weight first. Reasons for this include: Being overweight puts you at greater... more
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Reduction in the Overweight Patient

Deciding when to have your breast reduction can be a challenge but the answer depends on your expectations. Breast growth may or may not follow body size but in general, the heavier the person, the larger the breasts. An individual usually knows how her body responds to changes in weight. For instance, someone who is moderately overweight may tell me that even when they weighed 40 pounds less, they still had large, heavy breasts. Another person may tell me their breast size changes quite... more
Barry Stuart Handler, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction and weight loss

If you are overweight, it is best to get your weight down to within 15-20 pounds of your ideal (or at least realistic) weight before having a breast reduction. However, there is often a problem losing weight if your large breasts are impeding your ability to exercise. Certainly do everything you can to lose as much weight as you can first. Consider a nutritionist or other professional if necessary. Then after your breast reduction, you can refine your look with exercise and further weight... more
Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

www.pacificplasticsurgery.com

+1

Breast reduction and weight

It is always better to get down to your desired goal weight before undergoing breast surgery. However, I have seen some patients present who want the reduction to motivate them to lose weight. It is a delicate balance.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction and weight

You should be at your ideal weight before you get a reduction. That said, I know it is hard to exercise and lose weight when you have large breasts. Many women know insurance mandates we remove a certain amount to get the surgery covered. It is true. But insurance will make us take out more tissue the more overweight you are. Why try to lose weight before breast reduction? 1. Breasts are about proportion to your body. If you are going to make your body smaller, do so before I reduce the... more
Lauren Greenberg, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction for someone overweight

When patients are overweight and desire to have a breast reduction and also lose weight we discuss two issues. First, weight loss which I feel requires nutrition, eating healthy, and exercise. I like to get my patients into this routine prior to surgery, see them lose some weight and then address breast reduction. Some patients will also say they cannot exercise due to the large size of their breasts. If we can initiate a routine of nutrition and exercise if we have to take a time out to... more
Roger J. Friedman, MD

Bethesda Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction is a rewarding procedure

Breast reduction is done in general for symptoms of neck, shoulder pain and other skin manifestations. Breast reduction is one of the most rewarding procedures as the goal is clear. The presence of scars has to be properly discussed to avoid any miscommunication. Insurance coverage is a different issue and depends on the specific policy. Hope that helps!
Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast reduction for an overweight woman

In my experience, women experience a significant improvement in their symptoms of back pain, etc. after breast reduction surgery, no matter what their weight is. Being overweight at the the time of surgery has several issues. First, your insurance company may not cover the procedure if you are overweight. Second, the risks of the surgery are increased if you are overweight. Third, if you lose weight after the surgery, it may affect the aesthetic result of the surgery if you lose weight... more
Tracy Pfeifer, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

drpfeifer.com

+1

Breast reduction can be great for overweight women.

Hi. 1)  If your large breasts bother you, you should absolutely have a breast reduction, regardless of your weight.  These are some of our happiest patients. 2)  I have also noticed that in some women, having smaller perky breasts can be a real incentive to lose weight, which is so hard.
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes, an overweight patient is a good candidate

Many patients who have breast reduction loose additional weight after the procedure. I discovered this in a study I did on my patients for presentation at the Southeastern Society of Plastic Surgeons several years ago. When we asked the patients (who lost on average about 14 pounds after the operation) why they were successful at weight loss, they stated that with the heavy breasts out of the way, they were able to be more active and exercise more. Breast reduction can be a useful... more
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Losing weight will make your breast reduction operation easier

Losing weight prior to surgery will make the entire process easier for you. In particular, the anesthetic-related co-morbidities (i.e. complications) are usually less frequent in patients you are closer to their ideal weight. When you lose weight, you will also lose volume in your breasts. However, simply losing weight does not guarantee that your breasts will get smaller, so you will still likely need a breast reduction.
Kevin Brenner, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Being overweight can lead to large breasts

Since the breast is composed of fat tissue as well as breast tissue, partients who are overweight often suffer from large breasts. Weight loss can often reduce the problems associated with large breasts. However, even normal weight patients can have overly large breasts. In either case, if the patient has significant symtpoms associated with large breasts and if attempts at weight loss are unsuccessful, breast reduction surgery can be very helpful. Hope this helps.
Robert B. Pollack, MD

La Jolla Plastic Surgeon
+1

Do you have symptoms related to overly large breasts?

When I analyze a candidate for breast reduction surgery I look for tell tale signs of overly large breasts. Bra and cup size are a great place to start. Patients with a bra and cup size that are too big for their frame may be candidates for breast reduction surgery. Problems associated with overly large breasts may include breast pain, bra strap grooving, rashes, back/neck pain, need for muscle relaxants/pain relievers, difficulty finding bras/clothes that fit, difficulty with engaging in... more
Manish H. Shah, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

You should know if you are a good candidate for breast reduction

There are no absolutes here. This is somewhat of a subjective determination. Ultimately, you need to decide if your breasts are too large and cause you significant discomfort. If you are asking if the insurance company will agree, that is entirely a different matter. Some companies, like Blue Cross, use reference guides such as the Schnur scale to determine elegibility for the procedure. To review this scale, click here: http://www.bcbst.com/mpmanual/The_Schnur_Sliding_Scale_chart.htm more
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Candidate for breast reduction

Breast reduction patients are the happiest plastic surgery patients. If you are bothered by breasts that are disproportionately larger than your body, back and neck pain and have difficulty exercising, then you may be a candidate for the surgery. Seeking out a board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation is the best place to start. You always want to be near your ideal body weight before surgery as to avoid breast size changes with weight loss after surgery. Some patients, however, do... more
Bahram Ghaderi, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

The breast reduction procedure is beneficial to women...

The breast reduction procedure is beneficial to women who suffer from problems related to their large and heavy breasts. If you experience back pain, shoulder pain, muscle spasms or rashes under your breasts, your insurance provider may cover this procedure. In order to relieve pain and improve overall appearance, breast tissue is removed and the breasts are lifted to their appropriate position.
Jennifer Walden, MD

Austin Plastic Surgeon

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