Breast Reduction Relieves Pain and Irritation Caused by Oversized Breasts.
Breast reduction plastic surgeons commonly refer to as reduction mammoplasty, is ideal for women with large breasts who experience chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain. Other symptoms which qualify women for breast reduction surgery may include: shoulder indentations from bra straps that must hold excessive breast weight, headaches, inability to exercise without pain, inability to maintain weight loss, and even some breathing problems. Some patients even have trouble finding clothes that fit on both top and bottom. This is one breast surgery that insurance companies will often cover the procedure due to the associated health problems due to the size of the breasts.
In most cases, breast reduction surgery is covered by health insurance. The criteria for insurance coverage varies from carrier to carrier, but when the criteria mentioned above is present, insurance will step in to cover most of the cost. Additionally, most candidates for breast reduction surgery have already tried other means of dealing with the problems caused by the weight of their breasts such as: support bras, anti-inflammatory medications such as Ibuprofen, Alleve, and Motrin to treat their pain, as well as exercise or physical therapy to help manage their neck, shoulder and back pain. If there is documentation of treatment for rashes on the underside of one’s breasts by one’s primary care physician, it is helpful in the pre-certification process.
Breast reduction offers many benefits for women with large, sagging breasts. Most of the aforementioned symptoms and problems are alleviated by the surgery, leaving women happier and healthier after the surgery.
Breast reduction surgery takes about three hours under general anesthesia in an outpatient surgical facility. Various techniques can be used to reduce breast tissue. The “inferior pedicle” technique is when excess tissue is removed and the nipple and areola are moved upward to accommodate the new breast size. Skin from both sides of the breast is brought down around the areola to reshape the breast effectively giving the patient a breast lift in the same procedure.
Pain is controlled easily by medication after surgery and subsides in a few days. Breast reduction scars are largely hidden in the crease under the breast but a vertical scar midline below the nipple should not be noticeable even in a bikini.
Reduced activity is required for the first two weeks. After breast reduction surgery, follow up visits are required.
Women who have had to face each day with the pain of excessive breast size and its effects on their health, find that a breast reduction will diminish those problems and allow them to participate in activities that they couldn’t engage in previously.
