Breast reduction with possible lift. Thoughts or advice? (photos)

Hello and thank you for your question!
Based on your photos , you appear to be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

Dear LeiaD, Thank you for your question. While it does seem possible for you to be a candidate for a Breast Reduction, at my practice I do not perform surgery on anyone with a BMI greater than 30 due to safety reasons. Your BMI is currently around 42, which means you would have to lose about 75 pounds to qualify for surgery. I suggest losing weight and if you are still interested in a breast reduction, to find a Board Certified Operating Surgeon and setting up a consultation with him or her. Best of luck to you!

Candidates for breast reduction will typically have documented evidence of neck/back and shoulder pain as well as rashes and bra strap grooving attributable to the increased breast weight. They will often demonstrate that these symptoms have been resistant to more conservative measures like therapy, weight loss and pharmacologic intervention.
In addition to establishing a case for medical necessity, there are also requirements for resection weight. This may be a standard "500 gm per side" stipulation or a more variable standard based upon body surface area/Schnur scale. 
With regards to your specific questions, reduction and lift are intimately intertwined procedures. A reduction will result in a lift as well. With this in mind, insurance providers have weight requirements to ensure procedures are performed for medical and not cosmetic indications.
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
RealSelf Top 100
RealSelf Hall of Fame

From the info you’ve provided it sounds like you’re a great candidate for the surgery.  Removing about half of your breast tissue should give you an excellent result. In order to get a qualified, ethical, and expert opinion on your surgical options and expectations, always schedule an in-person office consultation with a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.


Keith M. Blechman, MD
New York, NY

Perhaps NC criteria are more flexible than those in NY but here you would be denied based on BMI criteria.The asymmetry can be corrected during reduction surgery. Review your insurance rules to assess whether this is a covered service.