Breast Reduction Surgery

 Women with large breasts often suffer from back and neck pain due to the uneven distribution of weight on their bodies. Large breasts also can make a woman feel uncomfortable in certain styles of clothing and limit her ability to participate in physical activities. Finding appropriately fitting bras and clothing can be extremely difficult. Some men also have excess breast tissue, a condition called gynecomastia, and seek treatment to achieve a flatter, more natural-looking chest. If you are considering breast reduction surgery, Dr. Jones can help you choose the option best suited to your aesthetic and physical goals. To see before and after pictures, click on Gallery, above.

Insurance will often cover the cost of breast reduction surgery.  If you are interested in your insurance company paying for your breast reduction, there are usually several requirements.  Insurance companies generally want records from other physicians showing that you have tried other nonsurgical options.  For instance, NSAIDS (like ibuprofen) and physical therapy, or having seen a chiropractor.  They require documentation of other symptoms like bra strap grooving, back pain, and intertrigo.  Intertrigo is an inflammatory condition of skin folds (like the inframammary fold under the breast) aggravated by heat, moisture, friction, and lack of air circulation. Intertrigo frequently is worsened by infection, which is most commonly caused by yeast.  Opposing skin surfaces rubbing against each other, can cause erosions that become inflamed.  All of these things need to be documented by other physicians before your appointment with Dr. Jones.  If you intend on your insurance company covering the cost of your breast reduction, you need to bring these documents with you when you come to your appointment with Dr. Jones.  The other important requirement your insurance company will consider (and different insurance companies have different requirements) is a calculation of body surface area which is based on your height and weight.  This is not BMI, or body mass index.  Insurance companies use something called the Schnur Sliding Scale which uses height and weight calculations to determine how much each breast would have to be reduced for them to consider covering the procedure.  During your appointment with Dr. Jones, he will take pictures that will be submitted to your insurance company along with a letter from Dr. Jones, and the documentation you bring with you from your primary care physician, physical therapist and/or chiropractor.  Once all of the information is submitted to your insurance company, we wait for a letter of approval or denial. 

If you are not approved by your insurance company, your insurance company is requiring so much breast tissue be removed that you would have very little breast left after the reduction, or you simply want the size of your breasts reduced, you are always welcome to come in for a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Jones.  In that case, we would give you a price quote for the cost of the procedure, including physician, anesthesia and hospital fees.  If needed, there are several companies that offer financing for cosmetic medical procedures.

The typical breast reduction incision is the same anchor shape as in a standard breast lift, or mastopexy.  The incision goes around the areola (which can be reduced in size if desired), down the center of the breast to the inframammary fold and along the inframammary fold.  Sometimes, when the reduction is large enough, Dr. Jones is able to do a no vertical scar reduction.  Drains are usually placed for a few days.  Most patients return to of their normal activities within 2 weeks, not including lifting of heavy objects (including children).  As with all surgery, if you take it easy following surgery (which does not include staying in bed), you will recover more quickly, with less pain and be able to return to your normal activities sooner.

Gynecomastia

For male patients with gynecomastia, or development of breast tissue, insurance companies usually require an endocrine work-up to check hormone levels.  So if you want your insurance company to cover surgery to remove the breast tissue, we will need records from your primary care physician, as well as an endocrine work-up and letter from an  Endocrinologist.  Then, Dr. Jones will take pictures and write a letter to your insurance company along with the other medical records provided.

If your insurance company denies the procedure, or if you simply want to have the procedure done, you can make an appointment for a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Jones. At the end of your appointment, we would give you a price quote including all the fees (physician, anesthesia and facility fees).  If needed, we have several companies that finance cosmetic procedures.