Breast Reduction

When you meet with us for your breast reduction consultation, we will have an honest discussion about your desires, expectations, and concerns, as well as the limits and risks of the surgery. We will review your medical history and recommend options that can best help you achieve your goals. We will give you thorough written instructions to prepare for your surgery and will answer any questions you have.

At Summit Health, the patient experience is of primary importance to us. We customize every single surgery we do so that it is tailored to what is best for you and you alone. With a breast reduction, the primary considerations have to do with the type of incisions that will be used and the size that you wish your breasts to be after the surgery.

Breast reduction surgery is performed at our on-site surgery center or the hospital as an outpatient procedure. The surgery usually takes 2 to 3 hours and is almost always performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will ask you to limit your arm movement, heavy lifting, and exercise for some days, and someone must drive you home after the surgery.

In a breast reduction, excess fat, glandular tissue, and skin from the breasts is removed to make them smaller, lighter, and firmer. The areola is usually made smaller to match the smaller overall size of the breasts. In some cases, the nipple and areola are lifted to a higher, more youthful position on the breasts. For most women, the surgery is a breast reduction and breast lift, bringing the nipple and areola to a higher position on the chest.

There are a number of different incision patterns that can be used. The pattern is chosen based on the particular anatomy of the patient, preference to reduce incision and scar sites, and the amount of tissue that is estimated to be removed. We will advise you which technique we believe is best for your case and why.

The short-scar or lollipop incision technique involves 2 incisions: one around the outer edge of the areola and another vertical incision down the center of the breast to the crease. This is usually used on women who need a small or moderate reduction and lift.

The Wise incision pattern is a very common technique in the USA. This pattern is also sometimes called a T-incision, T-scar, or inverted T-pattern. It involves 3 incisions that create an anchor pattern: one around the outer edge of the areola, one vertically down the center of the breast to the crease, and another horizontally under the crease of the breast. This technique is used for women who need a large amount of tissue removed and/or significant lifting.

The Robertson technique is used infrequently, and only for extremely large breasts which need the nipple to be moved. The women who need this technique often need more than 2-3 pounds of tissue removed per breast. We employ this method only if absolutely necessary because nipple sensation is usually lost, and the color of the areola may also change.

You may have heard about the use of liposuction to reduce breast size. This is a procedure we offer, but it does not work for the majority of patients. We find that approximately 1 in 50 patients is a candidate for this technique. It is only appropriate if you have no breast sagging or stretched skin and if the breast consists mostly of fatty tissue rather than glandular tissue. In that case, the fatty tissue can be removed with liposuction in order to reduce breast size.

Most women have too much glandular tissue for this procedure, and the breasts also usually sag with some stretched skin and often a stretched areola. If liposuction is performed, you lose the 3-in-1 nature of traditional breast reduction surgery. Liposuction does not lift the breasts and could leave them with excess skin and an areola that is out of proportion to the new breast size. The result would not be aesthetically pleasing.

In the few women who are candidates for the procedure, however, it is an excellent and less invasive option with less scarring. In those cases when the patient qualifies, this is a wonderful way of performing nearly scarless breast reduction.

Note that liposuction is never covered by insurance, even if the breast reduction is deemed medically necessary, so women who qualify for this technique as a candidate have to pay all of the expenses out of pocket for the liposuction treatment.

Due to our advanced and customized care protocols, we have reduced breast reduction recovery to just 1 week for 90% of our patients, after which you can return to work. You should avoid strenuous activities and exercise, however, for about 4 weeks.

You will be able to see results immediately, but it may take 6-12 months for your breasts to settle into their final shape.

After surgery, your breasts will be covered with soft gauze, and the chest will be wrapped in a comfortable halter top overnight The bandages will be removed a day or two after surgery in our office when you visit our expert nurses, and a soft surgical bra will then be provided for your to wear for a few weeks. During your follow-up visit, the surgeon will determine when you are ready to move back into a regular bra.

Soreness, swelling, and bruising are inevitable after any kind of surgery, but most of our patients say that the discomfort is not extensive after breast reconstruction. You can take Tylenol or stronger pain medications that we prescribe to manage any discomfort that you experience. Pain and bruising usually subsides within 1 to 2 weeks, and most of the swelling disappears within a few weeks. We will see you for follow-up examinations to ensure that you are healing properly.

Most patients receive dissolvable stitches. Breast reduction surgery leaves visible, permanent incision lines, but these can typically be covered with a bra or bathing suit. The scars become less visible over time as they fade on most patients. The plastic surgeons at Summit Health are experts in their field and will make every effort to reduce scarring.

Breast reduction results are permanent. However, the surgery cannot prevent breasts from changing shape, becoming less, firm, or sagging as a result of weight gain, age, pregnancy, or gravity.

Breast reduction surgery is often covered by medical insurance, but there are some plans that do not cover it. If you are hoping for coverage of your breast reduction by insurance, we ask that you check carefully with your insurance carrier prior to scheduling a consultation. When you contact your company, ask these specific questions:

• Is breast reduction a “covered benefit” under MY plan? Be sure to use those exact words, as it’s different from simply asking if they cover breast reduction.
• What does the plan require in order for breast reduction surgery to be a covered benefit? Some plans require 6-12 months of physical therapy, one year of non-surgical treatment by your primary doctor, visits to chiropractors or orthopedic surgeons, exercise and weight loss programs, or other criteria before the surgery is covered.

Below are links to the major insurance carriers so that you can check their requirements for breast reduction:

• Aetna Breast Reduction Policy
• AmeriHealth Breast Reduction Policy
• Cigna Breast Reduction Policy
• Horizon Blue Cross Breast Reduction Policy
• United Healthcare / Oxford Breast Reduction Policy

If you wish to have the procedure done without the involvement of your insurance company, you may pay with cash, by check, or a major credit card at your pre-surgical visit 2 weeks before surgery.

We also offer flexible payment options through CareCredit to offset breast reduction cost, which are specifically designed for cosmetic surgery. For your convenience, we accept CareCredit Patient Payment Plans. You can apply online or contact our office for more information.

To learn more about CareCredit, please visit CareCredit.com and/or contact our office. You can also “Apply Now” by clicking below and filling out an online application.