I'm 58. My bra size is 44DDD. I have had back surgery , neck pain, rashes under my breast, and marks on my shoulders

Question

Would I be able to get breast surgery ?

Jimmy S. Firouz, MD, FACS · Answer

Based on your description it sounds like you may be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery. If the size of your breasts is causing back and neck pain, as well as painful bra strap marks and skin irritation, undergoing a breast reduction can have a very positive influence on your quality of life. To truly determine if you are a good candidate and in good health to undergo breast reduction surgery, you need to consult in-person with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

It does sound like you are a candidate for a breast reduction. I recommend an evaluation by a board certified plastic surgeon for an examination. You want to make sure that if you have other medical problems, these will not be an issue for general anesthesia so I also recommend seeing your primary doctor to make sure you are fit for surgery. #PlasticSurgery #BreastReduction #candidateforsurgery

Jaime Perez, MD · Answer

It sounds like you would greatly benefit from breast reduction surgery. Keep in mind that surgery is the safest on individuals who don't smoke, have a BMI under 30, and have no history of blood clots, heart problems, or autoimmune disease. If you have proof of how severely your breast size has affected your quality of life, you may be able to get insurance to cover your surgery as well. Talk to a board certified plastic surgeon in your area about your options. Best regards.Jaime Perez, MDPlastic Surgery Center of Tampa

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

From your description it sounds as though you have enormous breast that are creating significant symptoms. A breast reduction should substantially ameliorate these and often times leads to subsequent overall weight loss is physical activity becomes more practical.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

I am sorry to hear about the problems you are experiencing. Based on your description, you may be a good candidate for breast reduction surgery at some point; best to achieve your long-term stable weight prior to proceeding. “Official” recommendations of course would necessitate in-person consultation.
Breast reduction surgery is one of the most patient pleasing operations we perform. By removing “excess” breast tissue, adipose tissue, and breast skin  this operation reduces AND lifts the breasts to a higher position on the chest wall (in other words, the breasts are "automatically" lifted when a breast reduction is performed). By doing so, patients often find improvement in neck, back, and shoulder discomfort and find it easier to form their activities of daily living and exercise.
Timing of the operation will depend on the patient's life circumstances. Sometimes breast  reduction surgery is covered through health insurance. The best way to obtain insurance coverage for breast reduction surgery involves some “hoops” to jump through. The more documentation you have (for example, from your primary care doctor, physical therapist, chiropractor etc.) the better when it comes to obtaining insurance “authorization” for the procedure.
 This documentation and letter/pictures from your plastic surgeon will help you obtain authorization.
When the time is right,  seek consultation with well-trained/experienced board-certified plastic surgeons. Ask to see lots of examples of their work and communicate your goals clearly. Best NOT  to communicate your goals in terms of achieving a specific cup size; this type of communication can be a source of miscommunication. In my practice, I prefer the use of goal pictures during this communication phase;  many patients wish to remove enough breast tissue to improve/alleviate symptoms while maintaining upper/lower body proportionality.
I hope this, and the attached link (dedicated to breast reduction surgery concerns), helps.

Eric A. Marchant, MD, FACS · Answer

It does certainly sound as if you are a good candidate for Breast Reduction Surgery as long as you don't have other serious medical conditions that might interfere with your ability to tolerate general anesthesia.  Unfortunate, your plastic surgeon is not the only one involved in deciding whether you qualify.  Insurance companies also take other things than back and neck pain into account.  Often they would want to know things like BMI.  Nonetheless, you seem to have a good shot at being covered and I would encourage you to consult with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

It sounds like you may be an excellent candidate for a breast reduction. Best to see a surgeon to be evaluated

Jeffrey Gusenoff, MD · Answer

Breast reduction surgery is often covered by insurance, but you should check to see what the requirements are. Some insurance companies now require a period of conservative care with physical therapy before approving the procedure. See a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who accepts your insurance to see what options are available for you. Goood luck!

Sofia K. Kirk, MD · Answer

Hello, and thanks for your question.It certainly sounds like breast reduction surgery would be indicated to relieve those symptoms.  The only way to know for sure would be to set up a consultation with a Board Certified plastic surgeon.  The issue of whether insurance would cover the surgery could be addressed at that time. Breast reduction is very effective if the pain, grooves in the shoulders and skin irritation is caused by having large breasts.  It has a high satisfaction rate in patients who have these symptoms

I'm 58. My bra size is 44DDD. I have had back surgery , neck pain, rashes under my breast, and marks on my shoulders

Answers (9)

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