Breast reduction - 38H to C. Would I need to lose weight first? (Photo)

Hello and thank you for your question.. It is best to be at your goal/stable weight prior to having surgery. Currently your BMI is to high to proceed safely. Your BMI is 40-41 and you should be at or close to 32. Consult with a  board certified plastic surgeon to get a plan in place. Good luck!

Dear margaretg37,
generally speaking, you want to reach your goal weight before you consider a breast reduction, otherwise your results will be suboptimal if you continue to lose weight after the surgery. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD 

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

The best way to determine what your breast size should be with respect to your anatomy and give true advice would be an in-person exam with a board certified plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of breast procedures annually. Not only does proportion depend upon the aesthetic balance of your breasts with your shoulders, waist, hips, and buttocks, but also upon your objectives, active lifestyle, soft tissue quality, muscular anatomy, and long-term concerns. There is also a limit to how small you can go due to tissue that needs to be retained for the nipple/areola to maintain a good blood and sensory nerve supply.
No direct correlation exists with cup sizes. A PS cannot guarantee that a breast will be a specific cup size after reduction.  Very large breasts rarely are reduced by more than two or three "cup" sizes. With a BMI of 40.7, losing weight to place you in the range of the lower 30s would enhance the results of your surgery and also reduce the risks of complications during and after surgery.

Optimal candidates for surgery are healthy and have reached a stable weight with which they are content (preferably with a BMI < 30).Based on the weight and height provided, you have a BMI of approximately 40. This places you at significant risk of surgical complications. Thus I would recommend weight loss prior to considering elective surgery.A second, less significant consideration, is that of the compromise of your result by post op weight loss. Significant changes in the post op period can undo much of the tightening and lifting which is part of the aesthetic result of a reduction.As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS).Donovan Rosas MD
Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member: American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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For safety reasons you need to lose weight before considering surgery. If you are looking to have insurance cover your surgery it will most likely be a requirement that you lose weight first. Losing weight after surgery will cause changes in your breasts and probably you would need another procedure. See a board certified plastic surgeon to learn what options are available to you. Good luck.