Do I have tuberous breasts? Can this be covered by Medicare? (photos)

Hi & thanks for your question!
Health insurance does not typically cover any breast augmentation surgery, even if they are tuberous. You can call your insurance carrier and check if this is a covered benefit under your plan but I would not count on it. Best wishes!

Unfortunately, surgeons have created the term tuberous breasts, a fact which causes unnecessary concerns for women. Many women just have different sizes and shapes and in my opinion shouldn't be labeled. I recommend an in person consultation with a plastic surgeon to discuss your goals and be measured. After I measure and discuss goals with my patients, we then look at pictures of women (my patients) with similar measurements with different size and style breast implants and they choose what looks right for them. They also get to see what they would look like when the breasts have fully dropped and fluffed and in clothes. You get to see actual results and the surgeon's experience and not a virtual idea of what can be achieved. Women tell me that this process is very helpful in determining what size and style breast implant is right for them. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Hello, thank you for your question. Certain private health insurances in the states will cover this type of surgery. Especially if it causes discomfort such as difficultly finding supportive bras that fit the breast shape. I would consider consulting with a plastic surgeon, they would have take photos, submit it to the insurance company for approval. It maybe partially covered but something to consider. Certainly in Canada the universally funded health care system would not cover those costs.

Hello. I can't appreciate the photo well, it's a bit dark. But most plastic surgery is not covered by Medicare or other heath insurance .However, plastic surgery that is performed for reconstructive purposes, rather than cosmetic, may be partially covered insurers. Breast augmentation for a patient with tuberous breasts may fall into this category. I'm going to suggest that you have a proper consultation with a plastic surgeon.

Your breasts are not tuberous just low on the chest wall and hanging downward. The technique I recommend is a lift using The Bellesoma Method. This will reshape your breast tissue creating upper pole fullness without implants, elevate them higher on the chest wall and more medial to increase your cleavage. Vertical scars are avoided, nipple sensation (in 95%) and the ability to breast feed are maintained.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

You appear to have sagging breasts not tuberous. If you were in the United States I think there is no chance of any insurance covering the breast lift that you need. I assume it would be the same in Australia. Good luck.

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs. It does not appear that you have tuberous breasts, rather larger breasts with some natural sag to them. Improvement would require a lift +/- an implant for shape and size. Hope this helps.

Dear gentle112233,
tuberous breasts are not simply small or underdeveloped breasts. The appearance of the breast can range from mild to severe, and typical traits include: enlarged, puffy areola, rather wide spacing between the breasts, very little breast tissue, sagging, higher than normal inferior breast fold, and narrow base at the chest wall.The type of surgery best for you will depend on the severity of your condition.My preferred technique for tuberous breast correction involves a multistep procedure where the breast tissue is released in a radial pattern to prevent herniation into the areola and placement of a custom implant size is in the breast to allow appropriate expansion of the breast in the restricted dimensions. This can often be done in a single procedure but sometimes may require two surgeries.That said, it is best that you visit a board-certified plastic surgeon for an in person examination. 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

No, you do not have tuberous breast, but do have some sagging. No, Medicare will not cover elective cosmetic surgery.

From your photos it does not appear that you have tuberous breasts. If you have concerns about the shape you can consider a breast lift with or without implants. Insurance does not cover tuberous breast correction.