17 Year Old Getting a Breast Reduction?

I'm sorry to hear about the physical and psychosocial problems your disproportionately large breasts are causing you. 
It is probable that you are dealing with juvenile breast hypertrophy along with the physical and psychosocial consequences of this diagnosis. In other words, the breasts are too large for your frame causing  both physical and psychological distress.
Based on your description you may be an excellent candidate for breast reduction surgery. It is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform.
I would suggest that you learn as much as possible  about  breast reduction surgery and the potential risks and complications associated with  the procedure.  Hopefully you have the support of your parents as you do your homework.
Unsatisfactory scarring is  one of the potential complications. Make sure you also understand that further surgery may be necessary in the future (for example if the breasts were to grow in size again).

On the other hand, breast reduction surgery is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform and I think that for the right teenager (enough symptoms) it may be an excellent option (regardless of the age).
Sometimes breast  reduction surgery is covered through health insurance. The best way to obtain insurance coverage for breast reduction surgery involves some “hoops” to jump through. The more documentation you have (for example, from your primary care doctor, physical therapist, chiropractor etc.) the better when it comes to obtaining insurance “authorization” for the procedure.
This documentation and letter/pictures from your plastic surgeon will help you obtain authorization.
 When the time is right,  seek consultation with well-trained/experienced board-certified plastic surgeons.




I hope this helps.

I'm sorry you have these problems at such a young age.  If you are otherwise healthy you could undergo a breast reduction but will need you parents to sign for you. 

You must be motivated enough to tolerate the post operative pain and mature enough to follow the post op instructions and limitations.  You might lose the feeling in you nipple or be unable to nurse afterwards. You need to be able to have the emotional stability to get through a complication.

 For most young women in my practice, that seems to be a good trade most of the time.  For some of them the procedure is life changing.

I am sorry to hear about the difficulties that your breasts are causing you.  You sound like a great candidate for a reduction because of your symptoms.  You are not too young for this procedure.  There are a few caveats.  First, you are a young lady and your breasts will change throughout life.  If pregnancy is in your future, they will engorge and get big again.  Nursing may be an issue because some patients are unable to breast feed following breast reduction.  If your weight remains stable, the odds of you needing another breast reduction is minimal. 

 

For some reason, lots of other physicians may try to talk you out of this.  I can see from your post that you are in pain, you have had to reduce your participation in activities that you enjoy, and you have some psychological apprehensions about being large breasted. 

 

All of this adds up to a breast reduction in my book.  In my practice, my youngest patients are often the children of mothers who have had a breast reduction.  The moms were told wait til you finish having children etc., so they suffered for years.  Now that they have daughters, they realize the benefits of a breast reduction and decided that they do not want them to have the same set of problems.

 

Your next step is to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon.  Please read up on this procedure and go in to the consultation with your questions written out so you don't forget to ask.  In my opinion, the only bad question is the one that is not asked.

 

Good luck.