I’m 5’2”, 170 pounds, with 36DDD breasts. What will my size be after taking out the minimum amount? (Photo)

Thanks for the question I find most patients go down about two sizes in their bra's that being said they typically have dramatic and significant changes in the size and shape of their breast in a breast reduction because we really try to get rid of the weight of the breast that is not providing any function to the patient

Dear gjasmine77,it is hard to tell for sure without an examination. 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

but for your insurance to cover this, you must have a minimum amount of tissue removed.  And you must be willing to accept whatever the outcome is from this.  You can certainly request that your surgeon remove the 'minimum' amount that will still qualify you for coverage if you want to keep as much volume as possible.  But what if this still leaves you with symptoms and discomfort???  Whenever I do insurance reductions, my patient can request that I do the minimum, do the procedure as I normally do, or be very aggressive to achieve the smallest cup possible.  You should be able to do this with your chosen surgeon as well.

Thank you for the question and congratulations on your decision to proceed with breast reduction surgery; this operation tends to be one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform.
 There is no direct correlation between the amount of tissue removed and the ultimate cup size that a patient will wear after breast reduction surgery. There is simply too much variability among bra cup manufactures to make it a useful metric when it comes to preoperative communication and/or post operative predictions.For example, I do not think that the generalizations of "200 cc equates to 1 cup" hold any validity or are helpful in any specific or practical way.  In my practice, I ask patients not to communicate their goals, or evaluate the outcome of the procedure performed, based on cup size references.
 Before undergoing the breast reduction procedure it will be very important to communicate your size goals with your surgeon (who you should choose very carefully). Most patients wish to achieve enough of a reduction to help with their symptoms while remaining proportionate with the remainder of their torso. 
With the goal of improving communication with my patients I find the use of photographs of “goal” pictures (and breasts that are too big or too small) very helpful. For example, I have found that the use of words such as “natural” or “B or C cup” means different things to different people and therefore prove unhelpful. Also, as you know, cup size varies depending on who makes the bra; therefore, discussing desired cup size may also be inaccurate. 
Once you have communicated your goals carefully, your plastic surgeon will be able to provide you with an estimation of how much tissue will need to be removed, in order to achieve your desired outcome.
Best wishes with your breast reduction procedure; hopefully you will be very pleased with the outcome of the procedure performed.