...have had breast reduction surgery, or know someone who has? the reason why i'm asking is because i'm beginning to get ready to look into undergoing surgery pretty soon. it's getting harder for me to breathe properly, plus my back and shoulders have been killing me for a while now. i heard that it's best to get the surgery done before the age of 30 or so--i'm 26 now, so i suppose i'd better get on the ball.

the only thing that's bothering me about the whole this is the cost of getting the surgery done. if i understand right, usually insurance will cover the cost of breast reduction surgery, as it's health-related and not for cosmetic means like implants and all that. i'm real skeptical about that though, because i got the feeling someone's gonna wind up denying my need for surgery (i've always been a bit untrustworthy of doctors anyway).

anyone have any advice for me?

A friend of mine had it done, but I don't know how they did the whole insurance thing. My suggestion is to get EVERYTHING on paper and speak with your insurance company before the surgery and get documentation that they will pay for it. Better to be safe than sorry.

i've known two women who had it done
and they were both thrilled with it.
one girl had to be on her feet standing all day so
she could prove a history of back pain.

i've thought about getting a consultation done but haven't

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I have a friend that had it done years ago. Insurance DID cover most of it. She said it was the best thing she's ever done. She has a bit of scarring but her boobs look great and she feels great.

If you're having trouble breathing you need to do it. I can't imagine having to deal with that. I guess I don't have it THAT bad with my A cups!

Good luck. I'll try to contact her and get the scoop for you. She lives in Cali now.

I believe my sister-in-law had it done, and I think she's very happy with it(and my brother is not unhappy either).

My sister is 49 and she had her breasts reduced last Sept. She was a 40EE and she's now a 38C. She's very glad she did it, but it was quite painful. It took her several weeks before she could even touch her boobs and a few months before she could sleep on her side and roll over without any pain. She does have a lot of scarring as they moved her nipples too, but most of the scarring is underneath, so it's not too bad. We live in Canada and her surgery was 100% covered because her Dr. said it was not cosmetic given the fact that her back and shoulders were killing her and she'd get a lot of skin tags under her breasts that were very sore too. You can't really wear a bra for a few months, so you have to buy some camisoles and you can't do any heavy lifting or exercise for months after either. Make sure you get everything in writing before you agree to anything.

Good luck!

emm said:

see, it's stuff like that i'm afraid of. why would i have to prove anything--they could just look at my chest and the indentations from my bra straps on my shoulders, that's past proof enough!

My sister had it done nearly 4 years ago. She was only 17 years old at the time, but she REALLY needed it. Insurance covered the cost, because it was causing her pain, and throwing her back out of alignment.

I took care of her during her recovery (which was no picnic, but necessary.) I would definitely suggest having someone come stay with you (or have you stay with someone) to help you out right after surgery. My sister couldn't do much more than lift a beverage, with a straw in it, to her mouth. Arm movements were painful, and we had to be careful not to accidentally bump the drainage tubes (I did that once, and she screamed bloody murder!)

Overall, I think she's glad she had it done, because she can more easily buy bras,and tops that fit. Unfortunately, one of her breasts did not heal right, and has quite a bit of scar tissue. I blame it on the doctor, because the stitches weren't secure in one spot. She also said it took over a year to get sensation back in one of her nipples. It's not that big of a deal to her now, because she's never dated anyone, but I'd like to know her thoughts once she is in a relationship.

I pondered getting it done for myself, but my skin scars terribly, and doesn't heal well. My boyfriend would also have a cow if anything happened to his 2 favorite pillows. But, I would recommend it to anyone who has serious problems due to their chest. Hopefully, a letter from a chiropractor will help convince the insurance company that this is a necessity. I wish you luck!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

just keep track of neck pain, back pain... your troubles breathing.
check to see how you would get a consultation and if you need your doctor to declare it necessary.

where there is a will there is a way
and i am sure no one would deny that they cause you discomfort

as far as a chiropractor goes...would i have to pay for a consultation from one?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Probably. Does your insurance cover chiropractic visits? If not, like you were saying, there is enough evidence that you are in pain, and need the surgery. I'm not sure what all it took for my sister to convince the insurance company to fund her surgery, but I can call her tonight and find out.

Deja, the first thing to do is see a doctor. I don't doubt they would confirm it medically advantageous (if not "necessary") and would be the best resource for getting your medical questions answered. Someone in your HR department at work should be able to help you find out who you can talk to about how it would be covered under your current insurance and what might be necessary (any additional consultations, etc.), or you could call your insurance company directly as well. I'd imagine if you have any out of pocket expenses (if your insurance only covers 80% for example), the doctor could even work with you on a payment plan as well.
Good luck.

I know someone who just had it done last week. She went from a DD to a C- or that was the plan anyway. I'll make a call and see what I can find out re: insurance, etc.

Don't worry too much about the age thing though- this person is 42 and just having it done.

i know two people who have had it done and who were really, really glad they did

XxAxX said:

im glad you feel comfortable sharing with us, but that was way too much info, yannow?

BlackAdder7 said:

good for you dear
[Edited 2/26/07 14:06pm]

.
[Edited 4/18/07 21:32pm]

i've had it done too and highly recommend it...

sosgemini said:

emm said:

I got as far as an initial consultation with a surgoen specialising in reduction mammoplasty. I was an L cup then, but after this last kid I shrunk to a G-cup, and my friend who hadn't seen me for a year pulled me aside and whispered to me excitedly "did you get your boobs done!!!!" and that was kind of enough for me to stop looking into it. I still get shoulder pain, but I don't think I am way out of proportion any more. In my dreams I would be a C-cup.

I have known 2 women who had it done and both never regretted it for a second. Can't comment on insurance stuff, sorry.