Very good question! In general, the red rash under the breast is a frequent complaint that we see in women seeking breast reduction. The term we use is intertrigo, and this is one of the main criteria for qualifying for a breast reduction from an insurance standpoint. Depending on The size of your breast now, and your ultimate ideal size of your breasts, a reduction may be able to keep most of the breast tissue from contacting your rib area. I often find that following a breast reduction most women want breasts that still “fit their body shape”, thus the chose to keep a fair amount of breast tissue that may still rest against the rib area. Every patient is different and every woman’s goals are unique, so while I do believe you would benefit from a reduction given what you’ve told us, you would certainly want to have an in-depth conversation with your plastic surgeon about your ultimate goals. Hope this helps!
That’s an excellent question! First, let me say that every patient is unique so for a definitive answer you’ll need to see a plastic surgeon in person. But in general, yes! Based on your symptoms, you would likely benefit from a breast reduction, or more accurately a reduction mastopexy. Technically speaking when we do a reduction we also do a lift which is called a “mastopexy”. Your symptoms are very common for women with large breasts, and the addition of back/neck pain usually completes the list of concerns for patients. When dealing with insurance coverage, in general these are the criteria I have found that they look for: 1. Back/Neck pain that doesn’t resolve with conservative treatment.2. Bra strap grooving in the shoulders3. Interference with your activities of daily living4. Recurrent intertrigo (red rash under the breasts) Hope this helps!
