Can my daughter get a breast reduction at 15?
My daughter is 15, turning 16 next year February. She’s 5’ 7” and around 110 lbs but for almost a year has been complaining about her chest size. She has been wearing a 32 triple d bra for a year or so now and as a result of her breast size, she has quit cross country and track because of feeling uncomfortable and back and neck pain when she takes off her sports bra. I wasn’t exactly sure how to proceed when she requested a breast reduction. The cost is high and I heard it’s possible for getting insurance coverage, but I don’t even know where to start. I heard that it’s possible her breast can still grow and she should wait longer, but she’s very set on getting it down as soon as possible so she can “enjoy” her teenage years and play sports in high school like she used to enjoy with her peers. We have done a lot of research on the actual procedure but I can’t find a solid answer if it’s a good idea and I don’t want to go to a consultation without getting an idea if it’s going to be covered by insurance or if they will even perform the surgery for her now. She’s naturally small and athletic built and I can understand why she feels the way she does so I honestly want to get any advice to make the best decision going forward for her.
Yes. Your daughter can get a reduction at age 15. It sounds like a reasonable thing to do. And, Insurance should cover it since she is having pain symptoms as long as the weight of the breast tissue removed meets your insurance company's requirements. And also, yes, her breasts may continue to grow. Some women's breasts grow up to age 22, but, most do not. So, if her large breasts are causing her pain and having such a big impact on her life, I would agree with getting breast reduction surgery with the understanding that it may need to be redone in the future if her breasts continue to grow. The best place to start is to call a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and setting up a consultation.
Good luck to you.
Thank you for your question. It is difficult for a 15 year old girl to feel comfortable if she cannot participate in sports due to her breast size. We perform breast reductions on young teenage girls very regularly if the size of their breasts limits their physical activity or causes pain along the neck, shoulders and back. Even if pain is not present but the size of their breasts is excessive and causes emotional discomfort, surgery can be a good option at her age. If she is 5'7" ad 110, then her breast size is not due to weight issues. In order to determine if insurance would cover her surgery, it is best to find a board certified plastic surgeon who performs many breast reductions per year and schedule a consultation. Upon examining your daughter, they can write a letter to your insurance company based on their findings to determine if her surgery would be covered.