Is 200 Grams of Fat in Breast Reduction a Large Amount?

Breast Reduction is a complicated procedure that is best done by those with the most training and experience. It is very difficult to determine the resultant cup size and shape based solely on the number of grams that are removed from your breast to best match your ideal breast image without an examination by a board certified plastic surgeon. Not just any board certified plastic surgeon, but one with many years of frequently performing breast reduction and lift surgeries, including different approaches, techniques and even fat transfer and implant choices if you are lacking superior breast fullness.This is because several measurements—not to mention breast characteristics such as density—are needed to determine how much and where to remove breast tissue to meet your goals. Without knowing your existing breast shape, dimensions, and the density of your breast tissue, it would be difficult to make this determination. For example, the same volume of breast tissue will weigh different amounts (measured in ounces or grams) in different people depending on its density. The existing base width of your breast and what you will ultimately want to look like will determine, in many cases, the maximal volume and weight that will need to be removed for the best result.Please click on the link below for more information!

It is very difficult to say if 200 makes that much of a difference. It all depends on how much your start with. I can say that 850 grams is a very big reduction to begin with so if you have a lot of breast tissue the 200 may not be that much.
However, as the other doctors mentioned, there is no guarantee as to how much breast tissue needs to be removed. We can only estimate the amount, and if it fall just below the required amount some insurance companies will not cover it.
So, if there is ever an issue then the recommendation is to turn the case into a cash account.
Good luck.

Thank you for the question.

200 g of breast tissue can make a difference with your level of satisfaction ( regarding breast size)  after breast reduction surgery. In my opinion, this  potential dissatisfaction is not worth the risk. You will be better off finding a way to self finance a procedure or find another insurance company (with different policy).

Best wishes.

This is one surgery that really gets me going. There is nothing more aggravating than having some pencil pusher tell me how I have to do my surgery. Breast reduction is just this surgery. By setting an arbitrary amount of breast volume to be removed only to, in the end, make the stock holders happy is outrageous.
Get your surgery done in the best cosmetic way possible. Your insurance company will raise their excision amount more and more just so they don't have to pay for it. You're lucky they'll pay anything. I know money is often the issue but never compromise the appearance for the rest of your life for the sake of some over paid insurance company.

Breast reduction volume can vary a great deal.  While 200 gms may be a 'spit in the bucket" for very larger breasted women, in others it may be all that they have. It would be hard to tell without examining you first.  Taking out too much may make your breasts look too small.

The difference between 650 and 850 grams all depends on the body shape and breast size you start with. If you have a small frame and your breasts are large, but not enormous, then going up to 850 grams could make a big difference in how you look. However, if your frame is bigger and your breasts are very large, then it may be ok.
One option you may have (depending on your insurance company) is to pay for the procedure out-of-pocket initially, and if the surgeon takes off sufficient weight, then bill your insurance company retroactively.
Good luck. I hate insurance companies!

Dear Philly
One thing I never do is guarantee how much tissue I will remove in a breast reduction. My concern is the overall shape and appearance of the breast. The amount of breast tissue needed to be removed is based on height and weight. If all you are concerned with is the insurance covering the reduction then advise your surgeon that this is your concern and you are willing to accept smaller breasts as long as they are covered, but as always, be careful what you wish for, you might get it.
Good luck on your surgery
Steven Schuster MD FACS

The best way to determine what the additional weight of 200 grams would do is to go back to your plastic surgeon and have him show you something like 400 cc breast implants. That will give you some idea as to what a total of 800 grams would remove.
The difference that 200 grams would make will depend upon what amount opf breast tissue you are starting with.

It is very difficult to determine exactly how much will be removed prior to surgery. Of course most experienced plastic surgeons can gauge the range of tissue to be removed but no one can be exact until the tissue is weighed on a scale. Insurance companies use inaccurate formulas to determine the amount of tissue to be removed so they can deny the claim. They list breast reduction as a covered benefit but don't tell you that there are sometimes 20 or more criteria to meet before it is paid. And one of those criteria - amount of tissue removed - is not even known until after surgery. That is the unfortunate reality if you wish to have your insurance company involved. Some companies/plans are better than others. However, definitely having a good outcome is more important than satisfying an insurance company criteria. So discuss the financial liability with your surgeon. If you have high deductibles, then it may be even better to prepay and generally those charges are lower than you think. Just because insurance covers the surgery does not mean that you will not be paying anything. Be careful, and make sure you understand your insurance deductibles and copays. 200 grams can be a lot and you may not be happy with the size of your breasts after surgery. Follow your surgeon's advice.

A few comments:
Depending on and dealing with ANY third party payer (Government (Medicare,Medicaid,Champus) or private (BlueShield, Aetna,Cigna,UnitedHealthcare etc) is a Faustian deal with the Devil. They got you and you must play by THEIR riles.
Insurance companies remain profitable by holding as long as possible on to the money they were paid in premiums - NOT by paying everything back. Over the past decade, each company in my area and, from talking to colleagues, across the country has tightened its breast reduction requirements. They mandated longer waiting periods (aka "trials of conservative therapy"), shunted women to useless therapies (chiropractic massages and x-rays) and raised the amount of breast tissue to be removed (hoping to scare women away).
If you have huge breasts - 850 will not make a difference. BUT - if indeed 650gm is the most that would be needed to be removed for a good result - then the extra 200 gm taken from is breast is quite likely to take a good result and turn it into a sub-par result or worse.