Do I need a breast reduction?

Photos would be helpful but based on the information you provided it sounds like your breast are causing you significant functional issues and likely large for your frame.
A reduction can help alleviate a lot, if not all, of your symptoms and improve your contours.
Seek out a few consults with board certified plastic surgeons. Not all surgeons take insurance for these procedures if that's important for you. Review their results and make sure they can achieve your goals.

Hi,

Thank you for the question.

Based on what you are describing, it does sound that you have large/heavy breasts causing physical symptoms, and breast reduction may be an option for you. However, it is difficult to tell without seeing the photos and/or in person consultation.

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 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