Breast reduction is a very common plastic surgery procedure. In fact, over 90,000 of them are performed each year in the United States. Despite this, there are a lot of people that don’t know about the procedure. To help clear up the confusion, here are five breast reduction FAQs and their answers.
1. Why Would Someone Want to Reduce Their Breast Size?
Breast reduction isn’t for everyone, but for many women, it is key to a better quality of life.
For many people, the idea of getting a breast reduction sounds odd. Our culture has long held up large breasts as a standard of beauty, with thousands upon thousands of women paying to have their cup size enhanced every year. However, there are many valid reasons for women to choose a breast reduction.
One of the most common reasons is pain that is caused by overly large breasts. Women whose breasts are excessively large often have neck, shoulder and back pain as a result. The strain of supporting their breasts can even result in chronic conditions, such as migraines.
Other reasons someone might choose a breast reduction include rashes under the breasts, an inability to purchase clothes or bras off the rack and negative attention due to their breast size. Ultimately, the reasons for choosing a breast reduction are personal and as unique as the individual.
2. Will My Reduction Be Covered by Insurance?
One of the breast reduction surgery FAQs most people considering the procedure ask is if their surgery will be covered by their insurance. Unlike most other plastic surgery procedures, the answer often is yes because breast reduction surgery is almost always undertaken, at least in part, to address physical ailments related to large breasts.
Your insurance company may have specific criteria that must be met, often including a recommendation from a doctor and possibly diagnostics, such as x-rays, to demonstrate the impact your breasts are having on your health and posture. Oftentimes, plastic surgery practices can help you with the process of getting your insurance to cover a breast reduction.
3. Are the Results Worth the Recovery?
This is an important question to ask yourself, but the answer is subjective. Recovery from any surgery takes time and commitment. However, a breast reduction has the potential to help reduce and even eliminate the sometimes debilitating discomfort that accompanies enlarged breasts.
Read up on what breast reduction recovery is like and weigh that temporary downtime against what you are struggling with on a daily basis to determine if you think it is worth it.
4. Do I Have Control Over the End Result?
To a degree, yes. This is something to discuss with your chosen surgeon during your breast reduction consultation. Your surgeon should do everything they can to meet your expectations, but at the same time, your expectations have to be realistic.
5. Are there Negative Lasting Effects of a Breast Reduction?
Perhaps the most common breast reduction FAQ is if there will be negative lasting effects from the surgery. Specifically, a loss of nipple sensation and an inability to breastfeed. While some women will have lessened nipple sensation or an inability to breastfeed, this is not universal. Your plastic surgeon will be able to explain the techniques they use and what to expect from your breast reduction surgery results.
Serving Davidson County since 1996, Plastic Surgeon Stephen M. Davis, MD, FACS, is fully committed to excellence in cosmetic surgery. At Green Hills Plastic Surgery, Dr. Davis specializes in breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tucks, facial surgery, Botox and dermal Fillers in Nashville, and much more.
