Are my breasts too small for a reduction?
I am 21 and 5'2 and weigh about 125-130lbs. I currently have 34D breasts, which looks disproportionate to my petite frame. I know I have moderate to little fat on me to lose, but no matter how active I am, I can't lose it in my breasts. I know my breasts are not super over-sized, but I am not comfortable with them. Are they too small to be reduced?
Breasts can be reduced no matter what size they are... but if you are wanting your insurance to cover this, then you will have to see a surgeon to be evaluated where it can then be estimated how much tissue can be removed for your procedure. This amount will have to be met surgically for your insurance to cover it as they will authorize the procedure for a certain minimum excision. If you just want them smaller (and perkier), you can choose to do this cosmetically and pay for the fees out of pocket. In this scenario, you get to choose just how much smaller you wish to be and calling around for fees can save you considerably. In my practice, if you chose to do a cosmetic reduction, you would only be charged the mastopexy fee (about half of what a reduction fee is) so be a savvy patient.
Breast reduction is a very good procedure and can be done for a variety of breast sizes and shapes. The main issue tends to be if it is a therapeutic procedure covered by insurance or a cosmetic procedure for which you would pay out of pocket. Different insurance companies have different standards for tissue removal so make sure you understand your policy and don't be shy about asking for clarification of the policy language if necessary. After consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon, if you feel the estimated tissue removal would be too much, you could opt for a cosmetic reduction and there would be no minimum amount of tissue that would need to be taken out. It is important to communicate your expectations clearly with your surgeon and not to compromise your desired results just to get it covered by insurance. Best wishes on a great result.
Thanks for your question. As you can imagine, breast reductions vary according to the amount removed. For someone that is petite like you, having a reduction in volume and a re-suspension of the breast can make a big difference. In one patient I might remove 1000gm/side while in another I might remove only 200gm/side. Each patient however gets the same amount of symptom release. Hopefully you can meet with someone and discuss your desires and see what your options might be.
Best of Luck!