How Much Does Breast Reduction Cost?

Women seeking breast reduction surgery are driven by a myriad of negative side effects related to overly large breasts. From neck and shoulder pain and severe back problems to trouble fitting into clothes and undesired attention, having disproportionately large breasts can be a major cause of distress for women. Many women seek breast reductions to help alleviate this pain and discomfort.

Fortunately, a successful breast reduction procedure can reduce or eliminate most of these symptoms, thus increasing the patient’s quality of life.

While this procedure remains the only significant way to address the drawbacks of having large breasts, it also comes with a substantial cost to the patient. In some cases, health insurance may cover breast reduction surgery, but this isn’t always the case. Let’s take a look at the average breast reduction surgery cost most patients can expect to pay for this procedure.

How Much Does Breast Reduction Surgery Cost?

You may have seen cost estimates for breast reduction ranging from around $5,000 to $6,000. Keep in mind that this is just an estimate. Many factors will be considered when drawing up your itemized estimate. In fact, the only way to know how much a given plastic surgeon is going to charge for breast reduction surgery is to book a consultation with them and ask for an itemized estimate.

With this in mind, we can discuss a few of the determining factors that are going to go into that estimate. First, there’s your surgeon’s fee. No matter what plastic surgeon you go to for a consultation appointment, you’re always going to get a different fee quote because all surgeons charge a different fee for their services. Oftentimes, a surgeon who has more extensive training and experience with a given procedure will charge more.

Another consideration is the geographical location where you plan on having your breast reduction surgery. In more populous areas and larger cities, medical costs are going to be higher because the cost of living there is higher. Anesthesiologist and surgical facility or hospital charges are going to be higher in these areas as well.

Finally, the extent of your planned reduction is going to play a role in the overall cost. If you need more fat, tissue, and skin removed for your breast reduction, your bill will indeed be higher than it would be for someone who wants less impactful changes.

Is breast reduction covered under insurance?

With the current economy, breast reduction cost insurance often enters patients’ minds. There are a lot of misconceptions about this surgery and whether insurance will cover it or not.

First, many people think that absolutely no plastic surgery could be covered by health insurance, and this isn’t true. Some procedures — including some breast reduction surgeries —  may be covered, in whole or part, by health insurance (no cosmetic surgery is covered, however). The bottom line question when determining coverage is typically, “Is this surgery medically necessary?”

With that said, many people also have the misconception that every health insurance plan covers breast reduction surgery and that as soon as you notify your provider that you need this surgery, you’ll get it covered. This isn’t true either. Many health insurance companies will not cover breast reduction, and nearly all providers have strict guidelines for their coverage.

For example, if your main motivation for looking into breast reduction procedures is the back pain you’ve been experiencing due to excess breast tissue, your insurance provider will want t o know that you’ve tried other ways to fix your back pain before resorting to plastic surgery. They might want to know that you tried to lose weight if your weight was a contributing factor.

They may want to know that you’ve sought physical therapy help or that you’ve tried different bras and undergarments. In general, they want to know that you’ve made several appointments with doctors over the years to examine and hopefully fix this issue on your own without a breast reduction surgery.

Beast reduction surgery recovery

Although the majority of the breast reduction surgery recovery healing process following a breast reduction procedure occurs within the initial four to six weeks, it’s important to note that lingering swelling may persist for approximately three to four months. Complete recovery of your breast reduction scars may extend from six months to a year, during which they will progressively fade in color and flatten.

The use of liposuction in breast reduction surgery

When undergoing a liposuction breast reduction the surgeon performs the following steps: creates an incision encircling the nipple and areola, extending down each breast; eliminates surplus breast tissue, fat, and skin to diminish breast size. They then reform the breast while repositioning the nipple and the surrounding area, known as the areola.

FAQs: Breast Reduction Cost & More

How much does it cost to reduce breast size?

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, breast reduction surgery costs around $6,000. This does not necessarily include many major fees such as your surgeon’s fee, however.

What size breasts qualify for a lift?

There isn’t a fixed minimum breast size requirement for reduction, as it varies based on individual body proportions and preferences. Nevertheless, surgeons commonly advise that candidates for breast reduction surgery generally have a cup size of at least C or larger.

Does a breast reduction include a lift?

Did you know that a breast reduction involves a breast lift? Indeed, it’s true. While tissue removal contributes to the process, the lifting component can offer significant relief from neck, back, and shoulder pain. Additionally, the areola tends to become smaller during the procedure.

What does breast lift and reduction cost?

While the ASPS claims breast reduction surgery costs around $6,000, on average, in reality, most breast reduction costs are going to be higher than this because $6,000 is only a baseline price.

In addition, if you have sagging breast tissue and stretched skin and are hoping to have a breast lift as well, you should expect to add on several thousand dollars for this portion of the surgery. Some patients choose to recover from their breast reduction first and then wait several months before getting a breast lift.

What is the weight requirement for breast reduction?

For insurance coverage, most providers want to know that you are at a stable and healthy weight and that you’ve attempted to lose weight if weight was a factor that may have contributed to symptoms related to having large breasts.

Likewise, plastic surgeons also want their breast reduction patients to be at a stable and healthy weight. This varies from person to person, so you’ll need to speak directly with your plastic surgeon to know what a healthy weight range is for you.

Is a breast reduction worth it?

Breast reduction surgery is commonly regarded as one of the most successful surgeries in terms of patient satisfaction. The majority of patients regret not getting this plastic surgery sooner.

How long does a breast reduction last?

As long as you maintain a healthy weight and live a healthy lifestyle, your breast reduction results should be permanent.

Schedule a Consultation With Dr. Ramanadham

If you have been considering breast reduction, be sure to contact our office to request a consultation with Dr. Ramanadham. As a female board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience, Dr. Ramanadham is uniquely situated to perform breast surgery. Contact us today to learn more and book your appointment.

References

https://www.plasticsurgery.org/reconstructive-procedures/breast-reduction/costs