1444 grams of breast tissue removed from each breast - too much?

While that is a large amount, with your stated bra size it is not totally unreasonable. Many large breasts area also very dense, making the weight removed even larger. If you truly desire relatively small breasts, then this may be a good option for you. However, your surgeon should be able to guide you through what would be a reasonable and expected outcome given your build, breast size, and body type.

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.

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 2-3 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. Based on your height and weight, it is reasonable that the plastic surgeon needs to remove 1444 grams of breast tissue.

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

Absolutely, each breast is indeed unique in its composition, which can vary significantly from person to person. Factors such as the proportion of glandular tissue to fatty tissue, as well as overall breast density, can influence the weight and volume of the breasts.
For example, patients with a higher proportion of glandular tissue may have heavier breasts, whereas those with more fatty tissue may have breasts that weigh less but occupy a larger volume. This variation underscores the importance of individualized assessment and surgical planning to achieve optimal outcomes for each patient.
Additionally, it's crucial to consider the viability of the nipple and surrounding tissue during breast reduction surgery. The blood supply to the nipple must be preserved to ensure its survival, which can limit the amount of tissue that can be safely removed.
As a result, while the insurance requirement for a specific amount of tissue removal serves as a guideline, it's essential for surgeons to assess each patient's unique anatomy and take into account factors such as breast composition, nipple viability, and desired aesthetic outcomes when planning the surgery.
By taking a personalized approach and considering these factors, surgeons can tailor the procedure to meet the individual needs and goals of each patient while ensuring safety and optimal results.

Removing 1444 grams of breast tissue is the equivalent of removing approximately 3 pounds. Without photos and/or an examination, it is difficult to determine if this it "too much" to remove in your particular case. I have personally removed 2-3 pounds of tissue from each breast, but this is dependent on the patient's anatomy and their overall desired shape/size. Additionally, with large volume breast reductions, the need for a free nipple graft (i.e. removing the nipple and replacing it like a skin graft) increases, which means you would not have nipple sensation or be able to breast feed if the nipple is grafted. Insurance companies use a formula to calculate these amounts, which in reality may force a patient and surgeon to remove more tissue than is actually required or desired. For this reason, many Plastic Surgeons do not perform reductions through insurance due to these arbitrary rules for resection. You should discuss your care with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who will be able to provide more information. Thank you for your question!

Thanks for your question! That is a lot of breast tissue but without seeing your photos or your breasts, it's hard to say if its "too much". I would ask your plastic surgeon to show you or explain to you how much you'll be left with. One other suggestion might be to lose a little weight and then get re-evaluated. That amount per breast may go down. Good luck!

The scenario you described is not very common. Without knowing the details of your insurance plan and where you're located, starting with a second opinion from another surgeon seems like a reasonable next step.

It is impossible to estimate how much breast tissue you need removed without photos. However, 1400 cc from each breast is a massive amount rarely seen. I don’t know how your insurance company came up with that number unless it is calculated based on your weight

I have removed much more from many women. Please of your weight, your insurance company has adjusted the amount that need to be removed. Your surgeon has examined you and will be the best one to ask this question. However, with 1444 grams removed, you should go down at least 4 cups, which if you are a J cup, this will be very nice.

Removing 1444g of tissue is significant but it may be warranted. An in person evaluation by a board certified plastic surgeon is the best way to determine if this procedure would be recommended for you. Your surgeon will be able to estimate what you could expect in terms of results after an examination. I've included a video on breast reduction that I hope you find helpful.