Breast Reduction 31yr Old Size 34DD - San Jose, CA

I have known since I was ~14 years old and a 32C that I would someday need a breast reduction, and here we are! At 5'8" and 125 lbs I am carrying a full size 34DD/34DDD set of breasts, and ready for some relief! My shoulders ache daily from my bra straps, my neck/back worry me that I will be a hunchback old lady from having my center of gravity shifting my posture inward/over. I try to maintain regular workouts but know my limitations (no running) because of the weight of my breasts. Not to mention the psychological impact that having large breasts have had over the last decade of my life! I am ready to make this happen, I have really done my research in the last year and done a handful of virtual consultations and in person consultations to find the right plastic surgeon. I've been working with a plastic surgeon that I thought would be great since last June, 2014. They were helping me seek insurance coverage from Cigna, but it has been denied and the appeal also denied. Frustrated with the doctor's office's lack of response/follow up/follow through (I mean, we have been working on this for 9 months! Certainly not because Cigna takes THAT long!) I decided to seek another plastic surgeon's opinion. The doctor thinks I fall into this category that insurance will not recognize, because I am not "overweight" enough for the schnur scale. The doctor said that if I were shorter, coverage would be a no brainer. But because of my frame size, they think I am just in need of a lift and not suffering from the weight of things. Let's mention that the Schnur scale was invented in the 1980's, and is still in full play with ALL MAJOR INSURANCES today. So a decision tree invented 25+ years ago is what is determining my breast reduction coverage in 2015. Mind blowing, huh? In addition to this, we got the last doctors notes and discovered what was submitted to the insurance company was not comprehensive enough and so we are trying one last time, with an appeal to Cigna's external review board. I will let you know how that goes!!! I have done a lot of research before having this procedure. It is so important to do your research on something so big!! This site has helped me a lot. Something that I really can't get over is how the insurance companies have structured their determination of coverage. It is incredibly dated. Anthem BC BS, Cigna, etc are all following the same set of standards (hoops really) for covering the procedure. The #1 thing that I think is complete and utter crap from them is that they will not consider any mental/emotional turmoil in determining if you need this procedure. For me those are just as difficult things to deal with as the physical problems my large breasts present. How can they demean all that us women have been through by stating they won't even consider looking at that information - so don't even present it or mention it to your plastic surgeon? I can't understand why mental health is not important. As far as I can tell the insurance companies just go by the Schnur Sliding Scale and mark off that you have complaints of some back pain and then make a determination. For anyone who's body is unique and can't be well represented on a scale, well, tough cookies! You get to pay for your procedure out of pocket! I would love for a lawyer to take on these insurance giants and fight for new governing of breast reduction coverage to bring this decision tree up to 2015 and out of the dark ages!!!

This site has been so helpful for me, I don't want to hold back in sharing because I know how much we get out of hearing each others stories, so I am posting my "before" photos. Excuse the tan lines, wow they are bad! I'm 5'8" and in the pictures about 125lbs (Today I'm about 5 lbs heavier, how did that happen...). My right breast has always been slightly smaller, a 34DD, and my left breast is a 34DDD -- they get squished into a 34DD! I always have a little oozing over the top of my bra on the left side :) My initial plastic surgeon I thought I'd be going to said that they would also do a little lipo right at the breast/underarm area, where if my arms are down you can see a little fat on each side. I guess that is also in part breast tissue.

I really want to be a small breasted person, with little boobs! So done with big boobs! The worst part for me is always the shoulder/neck pain. At the end of the day my shoulders can't take the weight of my bra straps trying to hold all this up! Oh, anddddd....under boob sweat. It is incredibly embarrassing! I'm in the habit of powdering the area after a shower to keep it dry!!!

I have had "boob envy" for so long over friends who are small! However, it is so hard to imagine what it will look like on yourself, so I find myself searching on here to see if I can find someone of the same height/weight/desired bra size and get a visual of what it looks like! I told my PS I would like to be a medium sized B cup, which he said is possible!! Now could all the 5'8" 130lb 34 B cup ladies please stand up?? J/k :) If anyone has suggestions on how to decide what size is right for you, let me know! I really feel it is a B cup, but I haven't known what it felt like to have B's since my very early teens!

I received great news that Cigna is FINALLY approving my breast reduction! I had been denied coverage, and denied again after I'd appealed. I was working with a new PS on an appeal to Cigna's external review board when I got a surprise call from my employers benefits department.

Weeks ago my PS suggested that I contact my HR/Benefits coordinator and see if they have an advocate who works closely with our company's insurance provider that would persuade Cigna to cover my BR. I was shocked that they called me back, told me they had all my records from Cigna's denial and would review my request ASAP! Within a few days, my benefits director had agreed to overturn the denial & had contacted Cigna asking them to approve the BR in their system and reverse the denial! I am thrilled that my doctor suggested this path to me!!! This is the best news!!