Breast Lift After Weight Loss Insurance Coverage

Unfortunately, insurance won't cover your surgery unless you have medical issues directly caused by your saggy breasts. But just to make sure, you can always ask your provider.

Hello! Thank you for your question! Surgical procedures for aesthetic
purposes, to improve appearance, are not covered by insurance.
Typically, these as well as complications resulting from such procedures
are the responsibility of the patient. Procedures that are meant to
correct functional issues and those which cause health-related issues
should be covered by your insurance as a medical necessity, with proper
examination and documentation. Some insurance plans have exclusion
criteria for certain procedures. Also, it is an obligation of the
surgeon not to attempt to authorize purely cosmetic procedures through
insurance.  This is not a covered benefit for this reason.Discuss your issues and
complaints with a board-certified plastic surgeon to discuss these as
well as to examine and assist you in deciding which procedure(s) will be
the best for you. A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages will
take place along with the risks and benefits. Insurance companies will
vary on coverage and is always reasonable to discuss your issues with
your surgeon and primary care. It would behoove you to get as much
information as possible and even call your insurance yourself.
Certainly, pay in advance prior to your surgical procedure and options
such as financing are available if you qualify. Hope that this helps!
Best wishes!

Cost is geography dependent. In Florida it runs $6000-8000. More important than price is safety and experience. Also, as an aside, breast lift, has never been a covered procedure with any insurance carrier unless it is to match a breast reconstruction for breast cancer.

Congratulations on your significant weight loss.

Patients who have had successful weight loss to the degree that you have experienced,  often benefit from breast augmentation as well as breast lifting surgery.  Neither one of these procedures are typically covered by health insurance plans.

I would suggest in person consultation with well experienced plastic surgeons who can demonstrate significant experience with patients who have had significant weight loss.

Best wishes. 

When bariatric surgery was a novelty, some carriers covered a variety of what would be considered cosmetic procedures after significant weight loss. However, now that lap banding and other procedures are much more common, they have cracked down. I know of no NY company that would pay for a lift even given that your weight gain was induced by medication prescribed for treatment of a medical condition. Best of luck!

Unfortunately, breast lift is usually not covered by most insurance companies for any indication. This is not considered "medically necessary". Breast reduction may be covered but a certain amount of tissue has to be removed and specific symptoms such as back and neck pain must be present. Most patients that have lost weight only need a lift and sometimes an inplant to correct sagging.

I am sorry to inform you that a breast lift is not a covered service under any health insurance plan. This is an elective cosmetic procedure. By definition there are no functional limitations related to sagging breasts even after massive weight loss. If your breasts are excessively large a D cup or larger then a breast reduction may be covered if there are related symptoms and you fulfill the prerequisites of you health insurance plan.

As you can see the expert panel of posters, all (100%) agree that breast lifts are a non insurance covered benefit. But if you still would like to try I would have an evaluation with a board certified plastic surgeon. Then ask him to write to the insurance company a pre-determination letter including photos. Maybe, just maybe, you will get an approval. But I doubt it. Regards and best of luck.

No insurance company that I am familiar with will EVER cover / Pay for a Cosmetic procedure REGARDLESS of the reason. Breast Lift is a cosmetic operation and you will have a very hard time finding any insurance that would pay for it, be it BCBS or others.
Sorry.
Dr. P. Aldea

Great job and keep up the good work. You need to have breast lift and insurance companies do not cover breast lift. This is more specific for the BC/BS, they do not cover breast lft or breast reduction.