About Breast Reduction
While some women worry about their lack of breast development, other women deal with the problems of over-developed breasts. Overly large breasts can cause physical pain (neck, back, and shoulder pain, trouble breathing, slumped posture), lifestyle problems (finding clothes that fit, being unable to participate in some activities), as well as emotional problems (unwanted attention, self-consciousness, lowered self-esteem). Breast reduction surgery (also known as a reduction mammaplasty) by double board-certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Suzanne Trott removes excess breast tissue to balance the proportions of the chest to the rest of the body. Breast reduction surgery can also alleviate physical pain, allow you to participate in more physical activities, and make it easier to find clothes that fit. Schedule a private consultation at Suzanne A. Trott, MD, FACS in Beverly Hills, CA to discuss your concerns and goals, then learn more about your breast reduction options.
Reviews
Best Candidates
Breast reduction is appropriate if you experience:
- Disproportionate breasts to the body
- Painfully heavy breasts
- Bra strap grooves in the shoulders
- Limitations on activity
- Slumped posture
What to Expect
During a reduction mammaplasty, the surgeon will skillfully remove excess skin and tissue before re-contouring the breasts. The surgeon can choose to implement these incision patterns:
- Incision around the circumference of the areola
- Vertical incision from the bottom edge of the areola to the breast line
- Horizontal incision on the breast line
Liposuction may also be used to safely remove excessive tissue in the breast and will minimize scarring as it requires a much smaller incision. It also reduces the risk of losing nipple sensation and discoloration of the areola due to poor blood flow during surgery. The surgeon will discuss the difference between the techniques and help you determine which is best for your needs and goals.
Other Considerations
After breast reduction surgery, you may feel immediately lighter, due to the amount of tissue removed. After the surgery, you should wear a compression bra to support the healing process for the first couple of weeks. You will also be given post-operative care instructions and you can pre-schedule your follow up appointments to help you stay on track during your recovery process. You will need to rest for at least 7 – 10 days before returning to work. Regular physical activities can be resumed within 6 – 8 weeks. In some patients, it may take a year for nipple sensitivity to return to normal.
Will insurance cover this?
Once a patient has decided that a breast reduction is right for them, the next step is to find out whether their insurance company considers the surgery medically necessary.
In the consultation, Dr. Trott will perform a History & Physical exam. She will make record of the patient’s symptoms (such as: back pain, neck pain, bra strap grooving, rashes under the breasts, inability to exercise without two sports bras on at once, and interference with the patient’s livelihood).
Dr. Trott will use her extensive knowledge and expertise to evaluate how much tissue will be removed, and then she will refer to the Schnur Sliding Scale criteria.
The Schnur Sliding Scale
The scale helps determine the minimum required amount of tissue that needs to be removed from each breast in order for it to be considered a medically necessary procedure. It compares the patient’s body surface area (BSA) to the weight of breast tissue to be removed in surgery.
Despite your symptoms, if the weight of breast tissue to be removed for their body surface area is not enough to satisfy the criteria of the Schnur Sliding Scale, then the surgery is deemed cosmetic in nature. It is unlikely to be approved by a health insurance company.
Use this calculator to find out your BSA:
Freedom From Pain
Imagine living with lighter, more proportionate breasts that allow you to be comfortable in your clothes. Relieve your neck, shoulders and back of the aching from carrying around extra weight. Contact our office to schedule your initial consultation to learn more about breast reduction surgery.
