I have a 36F cup size, am I eligible for a Breast Reduction if I'm only 17?

Juvenile Breast Hypertrophy is a real entity and should be addressed if the symptoms are bad enough. The exact criteria for breast reduction do differ from one insurance company to another. When you call the office for an appointment, our staff can certainly verify your medical benefits and eligibility for this operation.

It is very possible that you would be a candidate for breast reduction surgery if you have finished developing and you have parental consent. However, most insurance companies will not cover the surgery until you are 18 years of age. Good luck.

I have treated several young patients that have unusually large breasts for their age. If you are out of proportion to your body habitus and are having back and neck pain, you certainly can get insurance coverage. You will need to find your insurance policy and see what the exact specifications and requirements are for you. Most insurance plans will want you to document long standing back and neck pain that affects your daily activities. This can be documented by your family physician, OBGYN, chiropractor, physical therapist, etc. You should try to relieve the back and neck pain with NSAIDS, hot and cold application, use of adequate support bras, and should have a reasonable BMI. If you need to lose weight, try to do so before the surgery. There are risks with the procedure, but the benefits far outweigh the risks for most patients. Talk with a board certified plastic surgeon to see if you are a good candidate.

With
parental consent you can undergo a breast reduction at age 17. At size 36 F each 200 gram of tissue
corresponds to 1 cup size change.
Insurance companies frequently require a large volume removed (approximately
500 grams) under the assumption that neck, back and shoulder pain will be
relieved by weight reduction. However,
there is a new technique called The Ultimate Breast ReductionTM. This technique reshapes breast tissue
creating upper pole fullness, elevates them higher on the chest wall and more
medial to increase your cleavage while reducing your breasts to the size proportionate
for your body. This technique does not
require over reduction because the weight of the breast is transferred to the
underlying muscle resulting in immediate pain relief. This technique avoids the ugly vertical scars
of the traditional technique, maintains nipple sensation and the ability to
breast feed. The traditional technique,
Wise pattern, was developed in 1956 and in my opinion is obsolete because of
the complications and poor esthetic results.Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

You may Indeed qualify for a breast reduction covered by insurance.  You should consult a plastic surgeon who can start the preauthorization process for you.

Thank you for your question. While elective Plastic Surgery in teenagers is still a controversial subject, breast reduction for the correction of breast enlargement and back pain is more commonly accepted. Severe breast enlargement is associated with medically related symptoms including neck, shoulder and back pain. It can also contribute to headaches and arm numbness. Breast reduction is a very effective treatment to address this problem. Breast development is complete by age 16 making it an appropriate procedure in teenagers with significant symptoms. It may have an impact on future breast feeding but the improvement in symptoms outweigh the risks of the procedure. Your specific situation should be discussed with your parents. A consultation with a board certified Plastic Surgeon will give you additional information about this commonly performed procedure. Best wishes.

Hi. If you are having lots of symptoms and can't exercise/swim etc the a breast reduction is still worthwhile. If your breasts are still growing it is better to wait, but if they have stopped then you can go ahead at this stage. Regards Dr Charles Cope

In our
practice we normally only perform breast reduction surgery on people who are
over 18. The reason for this is that the
breasts continue to develop after that time and we generally wait until the
breasts are fully developed before considering surgery.



However in people with very large
breasts, suffering significant problems with neck and back ache it is possible
to consider a breast reduction at an earlier age and it would certainly be
worth talking to your plastic surgeon about the options regarding this.

In girls and teenagers breasts start growing at puberty and stop growing generally in the late teens.  So as you are now 17 an important question for you is weather your breasts have stopped growing. Generally if you haven't had an increase in breast growth for 6 months to year you have reached a final size.  At this point medically speaking you are ready to have a breast reduction done. In regards to having insurance coverage for this procedure, it is easiest when you are 18 years old, but it can be done on teens younger than 18.  For this to happen it is important to get recommendations from  your pediatrician who we will support you in this matter and be willing to write to your insurance company.  I have personally performed breast reductions in young women less than 18 years old and have had it covered by insurance.

Eligible:  1. If you are asking if a breast reduction will change your discomfort and body image immediately:  yes.  So are you eligible at 17, yes.2. If you are asking if a given insurance will provide financial benefits:  that is a real unknown.  Usually  that "eligible" is based on your "contract" not on the medical benefit to you as a young woman with uncomfortably large breasts.Good luck and remember:  only a board-certified plastic surgeon with expertise in breast surgery.