POSTED UNDER Breast Reduction REVIEWS
Finally Time to Take This Step. - Georgia
ORIGINAL POST
I've got 34G breasts, and have had problems...
kathleen in the southNovember 2, 2011
WORTH IT$6,000
I've got 34G breasts, and have had problems from them for so long. Physically, my upper back and shoulders are always sore. I like to run, but can't run long distances because they bounce. I'm embarrassed, always have been, by the kind of attention they attract. I don't like being unable to wear so many different styles of clothes (at least, not without looking like something R-rated). I've been wanting a reduction for almost 20 years, and it's time.
My surgery is set for 12/2!!! I'm both very excited, but also very scared (risks! complications! the usual and expected amount of pain!). I am a wimp when it comes to dealing with pain.
kathleen in the south's provider
UPDATED FROM kathleen in the south
25 days pre
So I'm still a month away, but I'm becoming more...
kathleen in the southNovember 7, 2011
So I'm still a month away, but I'm becoming more excited. The last several months, I've obsessed with whether or not this is something I want to do, and now I've made the decision, I really don't feel any ambivalence.
My insurance won't cover it. My doctor won't give me the letter I need to give the insurance company just to get the insurance to cover an initial consultation, because I just don't meet the criteria for getting that letter. She showed me the criteria. Here's what I did wrong:
1. I lost weight. I didn't even intend to do it, but I went from 200 pounds to 160 pounds last year, during a seriously bizarre episode of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (which cleared up incredibly when I went off the birth control pills I'd been on for many years, and quit gluten and dairy). That means smaller boobs. Not as small as I want, but I don't have as much mass to remove as I did before. I've kept the weight off for about a year now, too, with diet and exercise.
2. I went to physical therapy for back pain, and did the exercises religiously. Then I bragged to my doctor about how well it worked. I haven't had an significant documented back pain in the last 3 years! I even asked for some milder muscle relaxants to have on hand for an emergency back spasm, because I don't like to feel dopey, and never had to get them refilled.
3. I bought super expensive bras at Intimacy and the should divots disappeared. Yes, my $200 bras are now specially ordered from Denmark, but I don't have bra strap indentation.
So with all that, if I still wanted to see the doctor I picked out with hopes of insurance coverage, I'd have to put $1000 down first. I went with the free consult instead as a self-pay patient, and he affirmed that insurance would not cover me, after he examined me.
So that's why I'm going to pay out of pocket for this. I'm okay with that. Struggling to get the insurance coverage was emotionally exhausting. I'd rather give up fancy vacations for a couple years, and eat beans and rice for dinner a few times a week (along a few other austerity measures), and have this done for myself.
My insurance won't cover it. My doctor won't give me the letter I need to give the insurance company just to get the insurance to cover an initial consultation, because I just don't meet the criteria for getting that letter. She showed me the criteria. Here's what I did wrong:
1. I lost weight. I didn't even intend to do it, but I went from 200 pounds to 160 pounds last year, during a seriously bizarre episode of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (which cleared up incredibly when I went off the birth control pills I'd been on for many years, and quit gluten and dairy). That means smaller boobs. Not as small as I want, but I don't have as much mass to remove as I did before. I've kept the weight off for about a year now, too, with diet and exercise.
2. I went to physical therapy for back pain, and did the exercises religiously. Then I bragged to my doctor about how well it worked. I haven't had an significant documented back pain in the last 3 years! I even asked for some milder muscle relaxants to have on hand for an emergency back spasm, because I don't like to feel dopey, and never had to get them refilled.
3. I bought super expensive bras at Intimacy and the should divots disappeared. Yes, my $200 bras are now specially ordered from Denmark, but I don't have bra strap indentation.
So with all that, if I still wanted to see the doctor I picked out with hopes of insurance coverage, I'd have to put $1000 down first. I went with the free consult instead as a self-pay patient, and he affirmed that insurance would not cover me, after he examined me.
So that's why I'm going to pay out of pocket for this. I'm okay with that. Struggling to get the insurance coverage was emotionally exhausting. I'd rather give up fancy vacations for a couple years, and eat beans and rice for dinner a few times a week (along a few other austerity measures), and have this done for myself.
Replies (6)
November 7, 2011
Kathleen, I'm having surgery on November 30, and I'm so scared/nervous....all of your concerns are my concerns as well. I just want to say I wish you the best of luck in everything.
November 8, 2011
Thank you, Jessie, you too! It looks like we are just a few days apart!
November 7, 2011
Hi Kathleen, here's how the conversation went:
"Honey, put your glasses on, and come here," and he did. I pointed to the pictures you posted of yourself, and he asked me, "Is that you?!" that's how similar we look! I am still trying to decide, have canceled once already, thinking again, maybe about mid December. I didn't go the insurance route because no one really has enough concern unless they are directly benefitting. Feel good about the weight loss!! Good luck, and I will be thinking of you.
"Honey, put your glasses on, and come here," and he did. I pointed to the pictures you posted of yourself, and he asked me, "Is that you?!" that's how similar we look! I am still trying to decide, have canceled once already, thinking again, maybe about mid December. I didn't go the insurance route because no one really has enough concern unless they are directly benefitting. Feel good about the weight loss!! Good luck, and I will be thinking of you.
November 8, 2011
I can't believe you couldn't get covered...or that your surgeon wouldn't at least submit and inquiry for you. I was a 34H and had no problem with getting covered. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield for insurance. I'm sorry that you are having to pay for it yourself, but it will make such a difference for you! Good luck!!
November 8, 2011
Hi Kathleen! Congrats on beginning the process and thank you for sharing with all of us. I'm sorry to hear you have had so much trouble with getting your doctor to file the insurance forms. I truly feel the insurance game in this case is rigged to only benefit those who play it. If you are sincerely trying to get better and not just trying to get surgery it would seem that at least ONE THING out of their normal requirements of physical therapy, special bras, muscle relaxers, etc. would help a bit, but that that would not mean surgery was not a much better long term solution.
It's as if we pay them literally tens of thousands of dollars a year jus to have them try to pawn any little thing they can off on us. Of course they are going to prefer special bras (which they don't pay for), medication (which they only pay a portion of), and physical therapy (which they also only pay a portion of) to surgery, which they have to pay for. No matter that doing all of those things means a consider portion of our lives each week (hours of physical therapy every week, being doped up on meds, paying for expensive bras, etc.) would have to be dedicated to managing out large breasts.
Basically, they have no concern for our quality of life, jus their bottom line.
It's as if we pay them literally tens of thousands of dollars a year jus to have them try to pawn any little thing they can off on us. Of course they are going to prefer special bras (which they don't pay for), medication (which they only pay a portion of), and physical therapy (which they also only pay a portion of) to surgery, which they have to pay for. No matter that doing all of those things means a consider portion of our lives each week (hours of physical therapy every week, being doped up on meds, paying for expensive bras, etc.) would have to be dedicated to managing out large breasts.
Basically, they have no concern for our quality of life, jus their bottom line.
UPDATED FROM kathleen in the south
22 days pre
I dreamed last night that I had the procedure, and...
kathleen in the southNovember 10, 2011
I dreamed last night that I had the procedure, and was so ridiculously happy to have small boobs. Of course, it was a dream, and weird the way dreams are, but it's nice to know my subconscious is happy about this.
I wonder how it is for people who go for other kinds of plastic surgery. People with breast reductions seem almost universally happy to have done it, so I'm looking forward to that kind of happiness. At the same time, I want to be realistic, and not count on a plastic surgery to make me happy-- does that make sense?
I guess I want realistic expectations. I'm not going to have perfect boobs, and it's not going suddenly make me completely happy with my body. But, I'm still excited.
I wonder how it is for people who go for other kinds of plastic surgery. People with breast reductions seem almost universally happy to have done it, so I'm looking forward to that kind of happiness. At the same time, I want to be realistic, and not count on a plastic surgery to make me happy-- does that make sense?
I guess I want realistic expectations. I'm not going to have perfect boobs, and it's not going suddenly make me completely happy with my body. But, I'm still excited.
Replies (5)
Good luck to you and can't wait to read of your journey!
I just had a BR 5 weeks ago and i feel amazing! :D
Dont be sorry worried about the pain. Its tolerable and the meds they give you will help ease the pain. I havent had any complications this far and i dont think i will. As far as the pain goes all i can say is take it easy and get lots of rest. I on the other hand didnt do that. lol. I was up and moving on the first day. I acted as if i hadnt even had the surgery. thats how minimal the pain was for me..
if you would like to see how recovery can be expected, you can follow my breast reduction journey on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/user/keshia46 that is where you can find some good informative fter information about before and after surgery