Am I a good candidate for breast reduction surgery? (Photo)

It certainly appears that from the pictures that a breast reduction would help with symptoms of macromastia, which include shoulder pain, neck pain, and upper back pain. Predicting your postop cup size is still a fairly subjective intraoperative assessment. In my practice, we resect enough breast tissue to make the breast fit the chest in proportion to the breast footprint. In your case, your 34 inch band width would not look out of proportion but your abdomen and trunk may seem wider after the reduction. You will get used to the proportions after the reduction, but the overall goal is to reduce enough weight from the breasts that you feel better overall with resolution of symptoms, and this then motivates you to engage in your future activities and endeavors. Good luck!

Most if not all insurance companies have a minimum requirement of tissue removal to qualify for coverage. You can begin there and then try to estimate how small you would be after surgery. There is some guesswork involved and no surgeon can guarantee you would be a certain size. If you wanted more information on your anticipated size, you might consider seeking another opinion and see how close the estimates are.

Thank you for your inquiry! I recommend scheduling a consult with a board certified plastic surgeon like myself and we can create a surgical plan based on your goals!

I highly recommend seeing a plastic surgeon (like myself!) who can simulate YOUR post-op results using 3-D images of YOU. I use a software called Crisalix that allows me to simulate your reduction down to the gram, giving us an excellent idea of what to shoot for in the operating room.

Thank you for your question. A 1-cup size change occurs for every 100 grams eliminated from the breast tissue. Insurance companies demand that at least 500 grams of tissue be taken from each breast, which will end you up to a size B. However, in this instance, your trunk and abdomen may appear more prominent. Still, estimating your cup size during surgery is a highly subjective determination. Ultimately, the goal should be to reduce, and leave you with enough breast tissue to be proportionate and have a nice aesthetic outcome. A thorough consultation with a board-certified surgeon would help you understand what outcome you can expect.

Thank you for your question. A 1-cup size change occurs for every 100 grams eliminated from the breast tissue. Insurance companies demand that at least 500 grams of tissue be taken from each breast, which will end you up to a size B. However, in this instance, your trunk and abdomen may appear more prominent. Still, estimating your cup size during surgery is a highly subjective determination. Ultimately, the goal should be to reduce, and leave you with enough breast tissue to be proportionate and have a nice aesthetic outcome. A thorough consultation with a board-certified surgeon would help you understand what outcome you can expect.

It looks like your breast shape and nipple position are aesthetically optimal and you have relatively good proportion with your shoulders and hips. A breast reduction does not necessarily make your breasts “higher” on your chest wall. What it will do is remove their lower half of your breast leaving you with a new breast mound fashioned from the upper half of the breast resulting in less breast located below your inframammary fold, less skin on skin, and a smaller, yet still proportionate breast; usually a “C” cup. Best way to make sure your expectations will be fulfilled is to review many before-and-after photos of patients which look much like you so you will have a good idea of how things will lookz thank you, see attached.

Hi,

Thank you for the question.

Based on your photos, you appear to be a great candidate for breast reduction surgery. During breast reduction surgery, excess breast tissue is removed, the breast is lifted and nipple/areola is typically made smaller. It is easiest to think of breast reduction as including the breast lift.

Schnur Sliding Scale is a scale used by many insurance companies as a guideline for how much breast tissue should be removed in order to improve your physical symptoms. In addition, most insurances in order to approve the surgery, will require for 2-3 letters of medical necessity (from your chiropractor, primary doctor, OBGYN, Dermatologist, etc) demonstrating that your physical symptoms due to large breasts are not improving with conservative management.

The goal of breast reduction surgery it to make the breasts smaller and lifted, but also proportionate with the rest of your body. It is reasonable to to expect full C/small D cup breast size after the breast reduction surgery.

I suggest that you seek an in person consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon specializing in Breast Reduction surgeries to further discuss your options, specific techniques, concerns and expectations. Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.
I hope this helps.
Best regards, Dr. Karanetz

Dr. Irena Karanetz
Breast Fellowship-Trained
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Thanks for your question! I do think a B cup might look small on your frame. However, you always have the option to have a breast reduction done cosmetically and pay out of pocket. Of course the expense will be more, but you will have more control over the final size. Good luck!

At size 34, each 100 grams removed corresponds to 1 cup size change. Usually insurance companies require a minimum of 500 grams removed from each breast. You would end up a size B and it would look disproportionately small. The technique I recommend is The Bellesoma Method. This will reduce and reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. The weight of the breast is transferred to the underlying pectoralis major muscle resulting in pain relief without excessive reduction. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained. Insurance does not cover this technique.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.